Strawberries are a symbol of the changing seasons, signifying the arrival of spring. As the year progresses, we say goodbye to apples and pears until they come back around. We purchase the first strawberries of the year from Fifer Orchard, which is located in Camden-Wyoming, Delaware and is about 89 miles away from our warehouse. We consider anything within a 150-mile radius of our warehouse to be local. We chose Fifer Orchard to start the season because it is an incredible farm with a rich history of farming the fertile soils of Kent County Delaware for over 100 years. The farm takes great pride in preserving acres of land for farming, orchards, woods, and open space, which are home to many species of wildlife, native plants, forests, and ponds.

We support the farming practices of Fifer because we believe that taking good care of the land is crucial for the long-term success of farming. Fifer is dedicated to this belief and takes great care to preserve the land they farm. They focus on safe and sustainable farming techniques that protect the environment and reduce waste. They achieve this by using regenerative agriculture methods that promote quality, freshness, and nutrition. Fifer is proud to be a certified farm under the Global G.A.P standards, which promote safe and sustainable food, responsible use of resources, animal welfare, worker welfare, protection of scarce resources, and reassurance for consumers.

Fifer Orchards grows safe, nutritious fruits and veggies with the following regenerative ag stewardship practices:

Crop Rotation - rotating crops annually to ensure that nutrient levels are being replenished naturally through rotation
Strip tillage - Strip tillage conserves more soil moisture compared to intensive tillage systems and help reduce carbon release into the atmosphere
Cover Crops & Soil Enrichment - Cover crops provide erosion control and build soil structure. Plus, cover crops add organic matter which provides essential nutrients and tilth to the soils
Drip irrigation - orchards and fields utilize drip (or trickle) irrigation technology to reduce water consumption
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - IPM strategy of farming considers life cycles of insects and diseases plus the ability of the crops to tolerate some damage. There are many insects and mites that are beneficial because they naturally consume other pests that harm the crops

Fifer Orchard is an impressive family farm that has set an example for sustainable energy practices. They have installed over 2,000 solar panels on their farm, which provides more than enough energy to meet their needs. This renewable solar technology is a clean and sustainable source of energy, not just for their farm, but also for the community. It is a great initiative towards a greener future.

The 3rd and 4th generation Fifer family members are working hard to uphold the legacy of Charles Frederick Fifer and their family's tradition of producing top-quality fruits and vegetables. Despite the agricultural industry being challenging and continuously changing, the family farm constantly looks for innovative ways to remain viable and successful as a family business. We feel honored to team up with such a great family, like the Fifers, who are passionate about sustainable agriculture and producing wholesome food to nourish their community.