Flanagan Farms U-Pick is an absolute must see in Pungo Ridge.
Brian Madden|Marlin Chronicle
Imagine biting into a bright red strawberry that you picked yourself. Sounds delicious, right? If you visit Flanagan Farms at 1707 Princess Anne Road you won’t have to imagine. Flanagan Farms just opened their U-Pick strawberry farm about a week ago, so now is the perfect time to go.
Approaching the farm, it almost comes out of nowhere, as big fields and other farms surround the area.
The small shack where they sell their strawberries provides a great experience for customers. The process is extremely easy: they give you a small bucket and you go and roam the rows and rows of strawberry shrubs. When you’re finished, you pay at the shack and are on your way to enjoying the freshest strawberries you have probably ever eaten.
Flanagan Farms is family-owned by Roy and Jeanie Flanagan. They run the farm with their five children. Everything is about family to them. “I like the interaction between me and the customers, I see a lot of family and friends too,” Fletcher Flanagan, one of the daughters, said. The way they interact is genuine from the start. Even friends are part of this amazing atmosphere and seem like they are part of the family. “I started working here freshman year, two years ago,” one of the workers at the cash register, a family friend of the Flanagans, said.
The history of the farm goes back further than just Roy and Jeanie. Currently farmed by the fourth and fifth generations, the farm started with more than fruits and vegetables. “We used to do turkeys for turkey killing, we would raise them and that was going on for like 100 years. But my parents started the strawberry farm, and I think they’ve been doing it for 27 years,” Fletcher said. The Flanagan family is equipped with experience spanning generations.
Baskets and baskets of summer strawberries.
Brian Madden|Marlin Chronicle
The farm’s location in Pungo Ridge is part of their success. Located in southern Virginia Beach, Pungo Ridge has rich soil perfect for growing fresh fruits and vegetables.
“We have a good climate for it because during the strawberry season, it’s actually hot enough,” Fletcher said. They grow a variety of fruits and vegetables from spring through to fall.
Preparation is a huge part in making sure the farm stays in good shape throughout their whole growing season. There is a whole process devoted to making sure the strawberries are ready to pick and grow correctly. “We laid it, covered it and then we put down fertilizer. And then we bed it with the fruit with the black plastic,” Colby Flanagan, who mostly helps out with the farm side rather than retail, said. “There is so much that goes into making sure you and I can go and have a wonderful experience picking strawberries. Some things may be simple compared to everything else,” Colby said. When asked about his favorite part about working at the farm Colby said, “driving the tractor.”
Flanagan Farms prides themselves on providing the best customer experience, which is evident as soon as you arrive. Freshness and quality at a fair price is what they try to provide.
Rows of strawberry shrubs ready to be picked by excited U-Pick crowds.
Brian Madden|Marlin Chronicle
Sustainability is a big part of making sure that Flanagan Farms can provide at their best. As fourth and fifth generation farmers, they practice sustainability in their production. They follow integrated pest management, using the right treatment only for pests causing significant damage, whether that be chemical or biological control.
Though Flanagan Farms is a bit of a drive from campus, it is a great idea to check them out along with other farms or locations in the Pungo area. Flanagan Farms is a great place to get some fresh strawberries, enjoy the view or just spend some quality time with people close to you in an amazing family-friendly environment.
By Brian Madden
bvmadden@vwu.edu
