Although Wish Farms found success with its tennis competition, owner Gary Wishnatzki decided it’s time for a change.
So, he and his company have created something more in tune with Plant City’s spirit: a strawberry-picking challenge.
“We feel that this is a much better fit for Plant City,” Wishnatzki says. “Not everybody plays tennis, but almost anyone can pick strawberries.”
The first Strawberry Picking Challenge, presented by Bright House Networks, is a two-day event that will benefit the Redlands Christian Migrant Association, a group that provides child care and early education services to children of migrant farm workers and low-income families in Florida.
Wishnatzki’s immediate goal is to match the success of the tennis competition.
“We have about 30 open slots on the Strawberry Joe trophy, for the names of the winners each year,” Wishnatzki says. “Once those 30 slots get filled up, well, we’ll see what we need to do for the trophy then.”
The “Strawberry Joe,” named for Wishnatzki’s father, will serve as the challenge’s perpetual trophy — essentially, the Stanley Cup of strawberry picking.
The event kicks off Friday, Feb. 7, with a dinner at the TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, in Tampa. Cocktail hour begins at 6:30 p.m., and dinner is served at 7:30 p.m.. Several entertainers, including Rodney Justo, CooCooCaChoo and comedian Thomas Brown, will perform. Dress for this event is casual.
A silent raffle also will take place during Friday’s event. Each team in the competition has its own prize box. The box of the team that wins Saturday’s competition is the one from which raffle winners will be drawn. There will be plenty of prizes to win, including new iPads.
The contest begins the next day at Futch Farms. Teams consist of three people, a celebrity and a coach, each chosen by the corresponding sponsor. A Contestant Coaching session begins at 10 a.m., with the actual competition slated to start at 11 a.m. The teams are scored according to three categories: fastest flat picked, best-looking flat and cleanest row. The highest scoring teams move to the final round, where a group of blind-panel judges select the Best Harvest Crew.
During the competition, there will be lunch and a plethora of festivities to keep spectators entertained. This includes appearances by the Radio Disney Road Crew and Wish Farms’ Misty the Garden Pixie, face painting, berry sampling and a strawberry sale.
The award ceremony will be held at 3 p.m., during which the perpetual trophy will be presented to the Best Harvest Crew.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
WISH FARMS STRAWBERRY PICKING CHALLENGE
WHERE: Dinner and silent raffle will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, 4121 N. 50th St., Tampa. The challenge takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Futch Farms, 3536 Futch Loop, Plant City.
TICKETS: Admission to the Saturday challenge costs $25 for adults and $8 for ages 12 and under; children age 3 or younger are admitted free. All-access tickets for both Friday and Saturday events are $200.
INFORMATION: Visit wishfarms.com or email to Amber@wishfarms.com.
PICK SOME FOR U, TOO
For those who would like to pick some fresh strawberries of their own, Wish Farms has you covered as early as this weekend.
At Wish Farms/Simmons Farms, at the intersection of Jerry Smith Road and State Road 60, three U-pick events will be held in the next three months.
The first event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, and packing materials will be provided. The other two events are scheduled for Feb. 22 and March 15. Pricing has yet to be determined.
For more info, visit wishfarms.com.