Recent chill won't stop Strawberry Festival

January's chilling temperatures will have no impact on the strawberries that will be ripe in time for the 24th annual California Strawberry Festival celebration Sat. and Sun., May 19 and 20, according to Dean Maulhardt, chairman of the California Strawberry Festival.

"The winter berry harvest usually takes into account the potential for poor weather. The plants are still in the very early stages and should fully recover within approximately six weeks. Actually, the frost can even be beneficial to stimulate later production because the flowers that are a part of the regrowth become the next fruit," Maulhardt said.

For more information, visit www.strawberry-fest.org.