High gas prices might curtail some summer travel, but it’s not keeping families from picking berries at some area farms.

U-pick customers wanting fresh strawberries have been 25 percent of the farm’s business this year, doubling the number from last year, said Mike Boxx, co-owner of Boxx Berry Farm in Ferndale.

“The strawberries were fantastic this year,” Boxx said. “The quality at the peak season was excellent.” Warmer weather would have forced the strawberries to mature quickly and crank out smaller berries, he said. Cold weather, which delayed the berry season by about a week, benefited the strawberries by allowing them to get nice and big, Boxx said.

Other local farms were also delayed by the cold weather.

McPhail Berry Farm in Lynden was behind by about two weeks this season, co-owner Todd McPhail said. One of the biggest challenges of running a berry farm is the weather, McPhail said. Last summer, it rained during the harvest and then the temperature rose up to 99 degrees and wiped out the surviving berries, McPhail said. This year the cold, wet spring made everything late, he said.

Both the Boxx and McPhail farms have ended their strawberry seasons and are now offering U-pick raspberries for $1.75 per pound.

Last year, Boxx Berry Farm offered U-pick raspberries for $1.50 per pound, and McPhail Berry Farm sold U-pick raspberries for $1.25 per pound. Both of the farms have raised their prices from last year to help recoup costs.

According to McPhail, the U-pick industry hasn’t had much growth in Whatcom County in the last 10 years. The high price of land combined with all the costs it takes to run the business make it almost impossible to start a farm from scratch, McPhail said.

Existing farms, such as Boxx’s and McPhail’s, also have struggled with the rising prices.

“All of our costs have gone up,” Boxx said. “Fertilizer’s doubled, and you know what fuel has done. Labor, parts, supplies have all gone up. It’s a sign of the times.”

Even with the raised rates, picking one’s own berries is still cheaper than buying already-picked berries or going to a grocery store, Boxx said.

People from all different areas are choosing to pick their own berries, McPhail said.

“We get a lot of people from Bellingham, Blaine and even Canada,” he said.

Another benefit of choosing U-pick is that it’s fun for the whole family, Boxx said.

“Families come out and do a lot of sampling. We encourage that,” Boxx said. “Eat all you can and have fun."