TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Strawberries Plentiful At Goodson Farms

ADVERTISEMENT

By LOIS KINDLE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2007

Updated: 12/17/2007 09:23 pm

BALM - Although its produce market opened quietly Dec. 6, people are already flocking for Goodson Farms strawberries.

"So far, it's just been word of mouth," said Jimmy Lott, who manages the market with the help of his wife, Annette. "Every day, more and more people show up."

Sitting outside, snowbirds Tom and Mary Lou Ferris of Manatee RV Park, enjoyed their favorite Goodson Farms desserts.

"I always get a strawberry sundae, and Tom gets strawberry shortcake," Mary Lou said. "I really like their hot dogs, too."

"Their pressed Cubans and barbecue sandwiches are also good," Tom said. "We've been coming to Goodson Farms for the past 13 years. We drive 23 miles two times per week while we're here."

Goodson Farms has sold strawberries from 140 acres in Balm and Wimauma for 25 years. Owned by Janet Goodson and sons Mike and Rick, the large, air-conditioned market opened in 2006. Prior to that, strawberries and other food items were sold from a small produce stand at Balm-Riverview Road and County Road 672.

"Since we opened the market last year, business has doubled or tripled," Lott said. "Our growth in past years was mostly due to the seasonal influx of Sun City Center snowbirds. We still have lots of them, but now all the development around us is drawing more people than ever."

David Letsche of Temple Terrace would agree. The county worker stopped in for lunch with his brother Daniel.

"The food's delicious," he said, polishing off his oversized hot dog and shortcake. "The place is nice and clean, and you can sit outside and look at the strawberry fields while you're eating. We'll definitely be back."

In addition to its popular shakes, shortcake and lunch items, Goodson Farms sells fresh-off-the-vine strawberries by the half flat or quart.

At $10 and $3 respectively, Lott acknowledges prices are higher than at other area strawberry stands. "But our quarts hold one and a half pounds of strawberries compared to the pound you usually find at the supermarket," he said.

"These are top-quality strawberries," he said. "From top to bottom, we guarantee customer satisfaction. The berries we sell in the market are picked fresh, daily. They've been touched only one time, and that's by the picker."

Lott said at day's end, unsold strawberries are stemmed and cooled for use the next day in the kitchen.

"Our cakes are homemade and the whipped cream is real," Lott said. "During the peak of the season January and February, we sell 500 shortcakes every day."

GOODSON FARMS

WHERE: 12405 County Road 672, Balm

HOURS: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday

INFORMATION: (813) 634-7790

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT