Art Atkins and Reid Greene have teamed up as strawberry growers. On Oct. 10, 18,000 plants were put out in the old hay field, which was just lying dormant with a small garden.

How did two friends decide to become strawberry growers?

"We were sitting in the office one day," says Greene, "and we began talking about growing strawberries. We have been friends for many years, and I wanted to try something I hadn't done before. Since Art has been a farmer for more than 25 years, I figured he could be my teacher. I had a hay field that was not being used, so why not grow berries on the 1-1/4 acres that were just sitting there?"

Not only have Atkins and Greene become strawberry growers, but also they offer four varieties to their customers.

"We will be growing four kinds of berries," says Greene. "The majority will be the Chandler berry, an early season very sweet-tasting fruit. They come in like gangbusters and fruit pretty steadily."

Greene explains that the two will also grow Camarosa.

"This berry ships very well," he says.

Festival is a newer berry that the two will grow.

"We have seen good reports on this berry," says Greene. "Sweet Charlie is a cold weather berry, and the earliest one to come off the plant. It appears mid- or late April. We get e-mail reports from North Carolina State University regarding plants. Because of the hard freeze we had in March, it will be a bit later for the berries to mature."

"I'm a third generation tobacco grower," says Atkins, "but I wanted to grow strawberries with Reid." Having been a farmer all his life, Atkins also grows watermelons and other crops. He owns land between Cameron and Vass on Atkins Road.

"We also plan to grow 8 to 10 acres of watermelons this year," Atkins says.

The duo plans to offer specialty melons such as Sprites and Juan Canaries.

"They are similar to honeydew melons and are very tasty," says Greene. "We hope everyone likes them as much as we like them."

Reid and Atkins plan to grow green beans and squash.

"We want to put up a roadside stand and sell vegetables," Atkins says.

So far as prices are concerned, Greene says they will stay in line with other growers.

They have an overhead set-up for their irrigation system, in case of a hard freeze, which runs underground from the lake through two swimming pool filters. Woven fabric is used for row covers.

"We fertilize using an injector system," says Greene. "The only major problem might be spider mites, but they usually don't get too bad. Berries begin to bloom in March and we can stretch into June sometimes. Hopefully we won't have any problems."

When strawberry-picking time is over, the partners will recycle the plastic and start all over again.

"We turn the land over and let it sit awhile until we begin fresh," Greene says.

The berries will be pick-your-own or those who'd rather not get in the field can call ahead and order the berries.

The field is located on Pinelake Lane off U.S. 1 in Southern Pines, near Dunrovin. Call 690-9973 for further information.

Contact Raleigh freelance writer Anita Stone at writer7136@yahoo.com.