U-Pick farms prepare for season despite virus

Blake Farms has invited customers to pick their own crops on its property since the days just after the end of World War II.

There was some concern that the suburban Detroit farm might not be able to offer U-Pick this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, but things are now looking up.

"We feel very, very confident that this is something that's going to be a kind of a bright spot in the months to come, that's something that families can do safely and responsibly, get out and Mother Nature and kind of get back to their roots," said Andrew Blake, president of Blake Farms.

The state has decided to allow U-Pick operations to proceed, but it is recommending a number of safety protocols to keep customers safe.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is asking U-Pick operators to screen staff daily for symptoms and provide and require the use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, face shields, and face coverings. MDARD also wants farms to maintain social distancing in sale and retail areas and in fields.

"There's nothing like a little bit of Michigan apples or strawberries or asparagus in the summer. But we need to be able to do that in a safe way," MDARD spokeswoman Jennifer Holton said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

When Blake's opens on June 15 for asparagus and strawberry picking, it will be providing gloves and masks to customers. And those customers will not be transported in groups to the U-pick area, but will have to drive themselves.

Michigan has been particularly hard hit by COVID-19, with more than 5,000 deaths. And Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order has been in effect for more than two months.

But Andrew Blake said he is expecting "larger than average attendance to our U-Pick operation this year."

"The reach-out that we've had via social media, email of customers looking to see what the status of U-Pick is has been overwhelming," he said Wednesday, standing in the middle of what will soon become a picking paradise for customers who visit the farm's fields in Macomb County's Armada (ar-MAY'-deh) Township.

"I think people are pent up, they're in their house, they're looking to get outside, the weather's getting nice. And they want to know if this is something that they can plan around," Blake said.