And you think you're tired of this rainy spring weather?

        Talk to Bob Ullrich of Hidden Valley Fruit Farm near Lebanon, Bill Beiersdorfer of Beiersdorfer Orchards outside Guilford and Donna and Dan Rouster of Rouster's Apple House in Milford. They'll tell you tired.

        All are farmers who raise fruit and vegetables for Tristate you-pick markets, and all are weary of the spring deluge.

        Usually, rain is a good thing for fruit and vegetables. But not this much rain. Wet weather promotes disease and fungus in berries and tree fruit. Bees also don't care to buzz about in the rain, which means fewer berries and fruit are pollinated. And, rain and high wind (we've had plenty of that, too) can knock off fruit blossoms before the bravest bees can do their work.

        Worse, our wet weather has turned fields into soupy muck, which has kept farmers from planting corn, tomatoes, beans and other crops on time.

        But all is not lost. Farmers report berries and tree fruit look promising — although it may ripen late. Most of the fruit appears to have escaped damage from that scattering of frost last week.

        Once it's planted, sweet corn and other field crops will grow if and when the weather turns dry and warm for good. No doubt, though, you will have to wait a few weeks later this summer — probably until at least mid-July — to bite into a fresh, locally grown ear of corn.

        Patience is the watch-word for you-pickers and farmers this season. Everything will grow. You'll get to make those pies, can that jam and shuck that corn.

        All we need is sunshine.

You-pick produce farms
        Following is a list of area orchards and farms and the you-pick produce available during summer and fall. Call ahead to check availability and operating hours.

        (If we missed your farm, drop a note to YOU PICK, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati OH 45202.)

Ohio

        A&M Farm Orchard, 22141 Ohio 251, Midland. 875-2500. Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-8 p.m. Sunday.

PICKING TIPS

Don't forget . . .     To call the farm to double-check picking times and availability.     To wear a hat and rub on sunscreen.     To wear long pants and long sleeves to protect against briars and brambles.     To wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.     To bring shallow, lightweight pails or baskets — in case the farm doesn't provide them.     To bring a water bottle or thermos.     To bring cash or checks (most farms don't accept credit cards).

PRESERVING TIPS

Online     • www.canning-food-recipes.com     • www.homecanning.com.     • http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5350.html     • www.picklenet.com Books     • Ball Blue Book: Guide To Home Canning, Freezing & Dehydration (Alltrista Corp.; $4.95) Available at some stores and by mail order: (800) 392-2575 or www.homecanning.com.     • The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest (Storey; $18.95)     • The Busy Person's Guide to Preserving Food (Storey; $14.95)     • Putting Food By (Penguin;$15.95)     • Stocking Up: The Third Edition of the Classic Preserving Guide (Fireside; $20)

        Late May-early June: strawberries. September-October: apples and grapes. Containers provided.

        To get there: I-275 to Ohio 28 to Blanchester, then south on Ohio 123 to Ohio 251; farm is 1 mile north.

        Barn 'n' Bunk Farm Market, Ohio 73 and Wayne-Madison Road, Trenton. (513) 988-9211. Call for hours and availability.

        Late May-early June: strawberries and snow peas. Late June- August: half runner beans, stringless beans.

        To get there: I-75 to Ohio 63; go west on Ohio 63 to Ohio 4 and then north on Ohio 4 to Ohio 73. Go west on Ohio 73. Farm is near Ohio 73 and Wayne-Madison Road.

        Barrett's Strawberry Farm, 11434 Fairfield Road, Leesburg. (937) 780-4961. Hours: 8 a.m.-dark daily.

        Late May-early June: strawberries.

        Containers provided.

        To get there: I-275 to Ohio 28, go east to Leesburg. Turn right on Ohio 771, continue for 3/4 mile, turn right on Fairfield Road. Follow signs to farm.

        Bergefurd's Farm Market & Greenhouse, 234 Ohio 350 West, Corner of U.S. 68 South and Ohio 350. (937) 383-2133. Hours: 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. every day.(New listing)

        May-June: Bibb lettuce, Romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce, radishes,, scallions/green onions.

        July: Tomatoes, sweet corn, summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, hot peppers, Bibb lettuce, Romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce, radishes, scallions/green onions, cantaloupes, cut flowers.

        August: Same as July plus yellow and white sweet Spanish onions, honeydew melons, watermelon, cut flowers.

        September-October: Same as August plus winter squash, turnips, gourds, ornamental Indian corn, hardy mums.

        Bet-ter Farms, 1971 Sicily Road, Mount Orab. (937) 446-2593. Hours: 8 a.m. until closing Monday-Saturday.

        Late May-early June: strawberries. Containers provided.

        To get there: I-275 to Ohio 32, go east to Sicily Road past Mount Orab. Turn left; farm is 3 1/2 miles beyond.

        Blooms & Berries, 9669 Ohio 48, Loveland. 697-9173. Call for picking times and availability.

        Late May-early June: strawberries. Late June: raspberries, green beans, tomatoes. October: pumpkins.

        To get there: I-71 to Ohio 48 exit (Lebanon). South on Ohio 48, through Maineville. Farm is about 2 miles on right, south of Maineville.

        Hidden Valley Fruit Farm, 5474 N. Ohio 48, Lebanon. (513) 932-1869. Call for picking times.

        Late May-early June: strawberries. Late June: early apples. Late June-early July: blueberries, red raspberries, blackberries, apples, green beans. Late July-August: peaches. August: pears, sweet corn. August-September: apples, Concord, Fredonia and Niagara grapes. September-October: apples, pumpkins.

        To get there: I-75 to the Middletown exit (Ohio 122). Go east 7 miles to Ohio 48. Go north 2 miles to farm.

        Irons' Fruit Farm, 1640 Stubbs Mill Road, Lebanon. (513) 932-2853. Call for picking times and crop availability.

        Tart cherries, blueberries, thornless blackberries, red raspberries, apples, pumpkins. Containers provided.

        To get there: I-71 to Ohio 123. Go north toward Lebanon; turn left on Stubbs Mill Road and watch for signs about 2 miles beyond on left.

        Rothschild Berry Farm, 3143 East Ohio 36, Urbana. (800) 356-8933.

        Mid-August-early October: red raspberries. Cut your own herbs.

        To get there: I-75 to I-675 (near Dayton) east toward Columbus. Take Ohio 68 north and follow signs to Urbana. At traffic circle in town, turn right on Ohio 36. Farm is about 3 miles east of Urbana, on right.

        Rouster's Apple House, 1986 Ohio 131, Milford. 625-5504. Hours: 8 a.m.-noon call for days.

        Late June-August: blueberries. Late June-early July: red and purple raspberries. Mid-July: thornless blackberries. Containers provided.

        To get there: I-275 to Milford Parkway exit 59-A. Follow parkway onto Ohio 131; farm is 6 miles beyond intersection of Ohio 131 and U.S. 50. Blueberry plantation is 500 yards before apple house, on right side of road.

        Spaeth Farm, 1469 South Ohio 741, Lebanon. (513) 932-2151. Call ahead for availability and picking times.

        Late May and June: strawberries. Late July: tomatoes, green beans.

        To get there: I-71 to exit at Paramount's Kings Island (Exit 25); left on Ohio 741; farm is about 5 miles north on the left. From I-75 north, take Exit 29 and turn right on Ohio 63. Turn right on Ohio 741. Farm is on right.

        Dale Stokes Fruit Farm, 3182 Center Road, Wilmington. (937) 382-4004. Hours: 8 a.m.- dark daily.

        First week of June: strawberries. Third week of June-early July: black and red raspberries. Containers provided.

        To get there: I-71 to Ohio 73. Drive east to Williams Road; turn left. Turn right on Center Road to farm.

        Windmill Farm Market, 1454 East Ohio 73, Springboro. (937) 885-3965. Call for availability of produce.

        Early June: red raspberries. Mid-June: blueberries, black raspberries. October: pumpkins. Containers provided.

        To get there: I-71 to Ohio 73. Go west 13 miles. Follow signs to farm on right, 5 miles west of Waynesville and 3 miles east of Springboro.

Northern Kentucky

        Barker's Blackberry Hill Winery, 16629 Mount Zion-Verona Road, Crittenden. (859) 428-0377. Call for picking hours.

        July-August: Blackberries.

        To get there: I-75 to Ky. 491, go west on 491 to Mount Zion-Verona Road and go south. Farm on the left.

        McGlassen's Farm, Ky. 8, Taylorsport. (859) 689-5229. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call ahead.

        August-October: green beans and tomatoes. October: pumpkins, turnips and mustard greens.

        To get there: I-275 to Ky. 20 north; turn right on Ky. 20, which dead-ends into Ky. 8; turn left onto Ky. 8; farm is 3 miles on right.

Indiana

        Alpine Berry Farm, 26185 Pocket Road, Batesville, Ind. (812) 934-6677. Call for hours and availability.

        June 20- September: blueberries.

        To get there: I-74 to Batesville exit. Turn left on Ind. 229; turn right on Ind. 46 and go 1 mile. Turn right on Huntersville Road; go 1 mile; turn left on West Pocket Road. Farm is 1.8 miles on right.

        Beiersdorfer Orchard, 21874 Kuebel Road, Guilford, Ind. (812) 487-2695. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sunday.

        Late June: tart cherries. Sweet cherries: Call for availability.

        To get there: I-275 to Lawrenceburg (Exit 16). Go 5 miles north on Ind. 1. Turn left on Yorkridge Road, and follow for 4 miles. Turn left at Kuebel Road. Look for sign.

        The Berry Patch, 9429 Yorkridge Road, Guilford, Ind. (812) 623-3774 or (812) 623-1433. Call ahead for hours and availability.

        Late May-June: strawberries. July: blueberries and blackberries. September-October: pumpkins.

        To get there: I-74 to St. Leon exit (Ind. 1). Turn left and stay on Ind. 1 to Dover. Turn right on North Dearborn and drive about 2 miles to New Alsace. Turn left on Yorkridge Road. Farm is on right.

— Compiled by Mona Bronson-Fuqua

Produce markets

        Here are Tristate markets where fresh, locally grown produce is available. (If we missed your market, call 768-8507 or e-mail cmartin@enquirer.com.)        

        Tailgate Markets, Inc. Tentative opening dates for each location are in parenthesis. Weekday markets open at 3:30 p.m. and close at about 6 p.m. Saturday market opens at 9 a.m. and closes by 3 p.m.

        Information: 251-0990.

        Monday: St. Lawrence Church, 3680 Warsaw Ave., East Price Hill (July 1); Nativity Church, Woodford and Ridge roads, Pleasant Ridge (June 10).

        Tuesday: Swifton Commons Mall parking lot, 7030 Reading Road, Bond Hill (July 2).

        Wednesday: St. Jude Church, 5928 Bridgetown Road, Bridgetown (July 1).

        Thursday: St. Therese Church, 2516 Alexandria Pike, Southgate (June 27).

        Friday: Northminster United Presbyterian Church, 703 Compton Road, Finneytown (June 21).

        Saturday: Swifton Commons Mall parking lot, 7030 Reading Road, Bond Hill (June 15).
       

        Chefs Collaborative Green Market, GTC Bakehouse, 9730 Montgomery Road, Montgomery.

        Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

        College Hill Farmer's Market, corner of Llanfair and Hamilton Avenue, College Hill. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

        Court Street Market, downtown (open year-round).

        Tuesday and Thursday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

        Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine (open year-round).

        Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (locally grown produce available in farmers' shed).

        Information: www.findlaymarket.org.

        Northside Farmer's Market, 4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside.

        Wednesday: 3-7 p.m.

        Information: 591-0083 or 541-0520.

        Ohio Valley Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (Most markets open July-November).

        Tuesday: 2-6 p.m., Sports Page Cafe parking lot, 453 Cincinnati-Batavia Pike, Mount Carmel.

        Wednesday: 2-6 p.m., Big Lots parking lot, 825 Main St., Milford.

        Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Big Lots parking lot, 825 Main St., Milford.

        Sunday: noon-4 p.m., Auxier Trucking & Excavating, 1275 Ohio Pike, Amelia.

        Warren County Farmer's Market, TSC Tractor Supply Store, 505 W. Central, Springboro. (open May-Labor Day).

        Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon.

        Information: (513) 897-5946.

Recipes

Strawberry “Shortbread”

        PECAN SHORTBREAD
        2/3 cup brown sugar
       2 cups all-purpose flour
       Pinch salt
       1 cup finely chopped pecans
        1/2 pound unsalted butter, softened
       TOPPING
       2 pints ripe strawberries, stemmed, hulled and drained
       Sugar, to taste
       2 cups lightly sweetened cream, whipped to soft peaks
       Grated nutmeg and/or julienned lemon zest, or mint leaves, for garnish

        To make shortbread, position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325 degrees. Sift sugar, flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Mix in chopped pecans and then work butter into dry ingredients until a smooth dough is formed. (You can pulse dough in food processor, but be careful not to overprocess it.)

        Pinch off a small handful of dough and lightly roll it into a ball between your hands. Place ball on ungreased cookie sheet and lightly press flat into a 2-inch round. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing cookies about 1-inch apart. Bake until cookies are lightly browned on the edges, about 25 minutes. Cool cookies on a rack. (Makes about 20 cookies.)

        To assemble shortcakes: Thinly slice drained strawberries just before serving and sweeten to taste with sugar. For each serving, place one cookie on serving plate. Top with a layer of sweetened berries and about 2 tablespoons whipped cream. Top with another cookie, another generous layer of sliced berries and more cream. Garnish with grated nutmeg, lemon zest and/ or mint leaves. (Sliced peaches and other berries in season can be substituted.) Makes about 10 servings.

— Adapted fromBeans, Greens, and Sweet Georgia Peaches (Broadway; $17.50)

Blueberry Icebox Pie

        1/4 cup cornstarch
        1/4 cup water
       5 cups fresh blueberries, picked over for stems, or 5 cups frozen blueberries, thawed
        2/3 cup sugar
        1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
        1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
       1 tablespoon unsalted butter
       1 9-inch graham cracker or other prepared pie crust

        Combine cornstarch and water in small bowl and stir until mixture is smooth. Combine 3 cups of blueberries, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Stir in cornstarch mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove pot from heat and stir in butter and remaining 2 cups blueberries.

        Scrape filling into prepared crust. Cover pie with plastic wrap and refrigerate until filling is completely set, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.

— Icebox Pies (Harvard Common Press; $16.95)
       
Garden Corn Bread

        2 cups grated zucchini
       1 teaspoon salt
       1 red bell pepper
       1 tablespoon butter
       1 cup stone-ground yellow or white cornmeal
       1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
       2 tablespoons sugar
       1 tablespoon baking powder
        1/2 teaspoon baking soda
       Kernels scraped from 2 ears corn, about 1 cup
       2 large eggs
        3/4 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
        1/4 cup canola oil

        In a colander, combine zucchini and salt. Toss to mix and set aside to drain about 30 minutes. Under a broiler or over a gas flame, char the bell pepper on all sides for about 10 minutes. Place in a bag or covered bowl to steam about 10 minutes. Slip off skin and discard, along with seeds and stem. Finely chop pepper and set aside.

        Add butter to large cast-iron skillet and place in oven. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

        In large mixing bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and soda. Mix well. Squeeze zucchini to remove any excess moisture and add to cornmeal mixture. Add bell pepper and corn. Mix until vegetables are distributed throughout.

        In separate bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk and oil. Pour the egg mixture into the cornmeal mixture. Working quickly, stir just until well-combined. Batter will be lumpy.

        Remove skillet from oven and tilt to swirl around the melted butter to coat bottom and sides of pan. Pour batter into the skillet and smooth the top.

        Return pan to oven and bake 25 to 30 minutes, until a tester inserted near center comes out clean. Makes 6 servings.

— The Classic Zucchini Cookbook (Storey; $14.95)

Fresh Berry Dessert Pizza

       1 18-ounce package refrigerated sugar cookies
       1 8-ounce package cream cheese
        1/4 cup powdered sugar
       2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
       2 cups fresh raspberries
       1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
        1/4 cup apple jelly, melted

        Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 12-inch pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray. Cut cookie dough into 1/4-inch thick slices. Arrange slices in sprayed pan. With floured fingers, press dough evenly to form crust. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until deep golden brown. Allow to cool completely.

        In medium bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar and lemon peel. Beat until fluffy. Spread over cooled crust. Arrange raspberries in large star shape in center. Arrange blueberries around raspberries. Drizzle or brush berries with melted jelly. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until set. Store in refrigerator. Makes 24 servings.

—Pillsbury: Family Pleasing Recipes (Potter; $19.95)

Vin de Peche

        120 fresh peach leaves, washed and dried
       1 750 ml-bottle red wine, preferably a light, fruity zinfandel
        1/2 cup cognac
       2 cups sugar

        Combine all ingredients in a nonreactive container, stir to dissolve sugar and cover tightly. Store in cool, dark cellar or in the refrigerator for 30 days. Strain out the leaves and bottle in a clean wine bottle. Serve as an aperitif, well chilled or over ice. Makes about 6 cups.

— Chez Panisse: Fruit(HarperCollins; $34.95)
       
       

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