Summer is the best time to celebrate a milestone, though I am definitely biased. I was born during strawberry season, and picking the vibrant fruits at local farms was a birthday tradition throughout my childhood. I have fond memories of kneeling in the sun-drenched rows, navigating the ternate leaves to find rosy fruits, and picking and sampling until my hands were sticky and lips stained red—the quintessence of summer.
Our area is chock-full of berry farms, and we’ve compiled a list of area destinations. If you missed strawberry season in mid-June, look toward blueberries and cherries in late July or raspberries and blackberries in August. We hope you’ll visit local farms to find the freshest fruits from passionate growers.
Speaking of summer celebrations, we’re excited to share the results of our Best of White Bear Lake readers’ choice poll. The all-new, streamlined voting process went live in February, and we shared the finalists on our website in March. Discover the results of your votes here. Thank you for participating and celebrating the people and businesses that make this community shine!
On that note, I hope you’ll hear from four creative community members who are sharing their talents on a big stage: The Minnesota State Fair. It’s an annual tradition for many, made all the more fun by participating in a variety of competitions. So, whether you’re a baker, dancer, painter or woodworker, there’s a way to join in the community festivities. Not ready go compete at the state fair? Check out exhibition opportunities at the Washington County Fair, which runs from July 29 to August 2.
Wishing you a summer of abundance!
