Sunnycrest Farm Faces Strawberry Crop Stress Amid Dry Soil and Heat

Sunnycrest Farm, a family-run operation in Londonderry, New Hampshire, reports that its strawberry fields are under significant stress this season. The farm attributes the difficulty to dry soil and elevated daytime temperatures that have persisted despite recent rainfall.

WMUR9

Owner Danny Hicks notes that strawberries are a “pretty tough crop to grow in New England.” He adds that growers often “pray for water” to sustain the plants, underscoring regional climate challenges.

WMUR9

• Early season: Dry soil and hot days create stress for strawberry plants.

WMUR9

• Recent rain event: Rainfall occurs but evaporates at the surface, failing to reach plant roots.

WMUR9

• June: Pick-your-own strawberries are offered; the farm implements price increases and intensifies irrigation use.

WMUR9

Danny Hicks, who manages Sunnycrest Farm, provided on-the-ground insight to News 9. His observations frame the farm’s operational challenges and guide the response strategy.

WMUR9

In reaction to the moisture deficit, Sunnycrest Farm has raised strawberry prices and increased reliance on its irrigation system. Management says the irrigation infrastructure is now used more intensively to deliver water directly to the root zone, counteracting surface evaporation.

WMUR9

The price increase directly affects customers who visit the farm’s pick-your-own strawberry program, open throughout June. Higher costs may influence consumer purchasing decisions in the local market.

WMUR9

Sunnycrest Farm has raised the retail price of its strawberries, though the exact amount was not disclosed. The pick-your-own program runs for the entire month of June.

WMUR9

Sunnycrest Farm’s public communication emphasizes two actions: adjusting retail prices to reflect higher production costs and expanding irrigation to mitigate soil dryness. The statements underscore a commitment to maintaining the pick-your-own experience despite environmental constraints.

WMUR9

No dissenting viewpoints or criticism were presented in the source material. Coverage focuses solely on the farm’s perspective and operational adjustments.

WMUR9

• “Strawberries are a pretty tough crop to, to grow in New England, so you kinda just pray for water to be honest with you,” — Danny Hicks, Owner, Sunnycrest Farm

WMUR9

• “So, you can have a little bit of rain, and you think everybody is gonna jump for joy, but you have that hot day, and it evaporates right on the surface. It doesn't even get down to the roots.” — Danny Hicks, Owner, Sunnycrest Farm

WMUR9

Sunnycrest Farm will continue its pick-your-own strawberry offerings throughout June.

WMUR9