The hallmarks of summer include a lot of favorites -- the warm sun, the pool - -and the perfectly ripe, fresh picked strawberry.

And while the economy has made a lot of businesses take a nosedive, the u-pick berry farms say they're seeing a tidy profit.

Dan and Tammy Sam have grown strawberries for the past 15 years on their farm just southwest of Durand.

They say despite most businesses feeling the squeeze of the economy their u-pick strawberries are almost flying off the vine.

Picking strawberries is a fond pastime for the Anibas'. Dale Anibas says, “I like the taste of strawberries, I always have since I’ve been a little kid and always liked ‘em, and I can eat a lot of them.” His wife Cheryl says, “It's just fun, and it tastes good.”

And like so many other customers at Sam’s Produce -- their favorite part of picking the berries -- is eating them later.

Dale says, “She makes strawberry shortcake sometimes, we have it plain or other times with ice cream, it's really good, fresh strawberries are the best!”

The Anibas' say picking the berries themselves saves them money -- and the owner of Sam's Produce says he's seen lot more people choosing the u-pick option.

Dan Sam says, “I've noticed this year that some people who might normally buy pre-picked berries have been coming out and picking their own and find out it’s not too hard and save a little that way too.”

And you do save -- nearly a dollar per pound -- if you pick your own.
And Sam says -- what could be better than spending an afternoon in the fields, and taking home a juicy basket of fruit at the end of the day.

Sam says, “I always like it when they come in thank me for the beautiful crop we've got here, and I can't think of nothing better than people thanking me for harvesting our crop.”

Sam's produce opened up their seven and a half acres of strawberries to customers last Thursday -- and the strawberries should be good through at least the end of next week.