Washington strawberries are as sweet and delicious as a summer dream—and about as fleeting as one, too. So when these juicy little jewels of the earth show up, we bring in the best ones around—and we bring in as many as we can. To do this, we count on our friends at Our Family Farms, a family-run operation just outside Mt. Vernon in Conway, Washington. Owned and operated by Dane and Bailey Hulbert, the farm is a labor of love that’s been in the Hulbert family since the early 1900s.
Today, Dane and Bailey are cultivating more than just fruit. They’re growing a family, a community, tradition, and a bit of berry magic.
Meet the Albion: The Berry That Redefines Local Flavor
At the heart of the farm’s harvest is the Albion strawberry, a firmer, incredibly sweet variety that’s not just beautiful—it’s practical. These berries can sit on your counter for two to three days without losing their luscious flavor or texture. Unlike more fragile types that peak for just a few short weeks, Albion berries have a unique growing cycle: an early burst in late May and June, a midsummer pause, and then a second wave that runs from August through October.
Dane Hulbert calls this year’s harvest “the best yet.” After years of trial and error, he believes they’re starting to crack the code—growing a berry with California sweetness in the cool, rich soils of the Pacific Northwest.
Picked at 2 a.m., On Your Plate by 10 a.m.
It’s not just the berry that makes the difference—it’s how it’s grown. Dane and his crew start picking at 2 a.m., when the air is cool and sugar levels are peaking. By sunrise, two trucks—one heading east of the Puget Sound, the other west—are already on the road delivering berries straight to six Town & Country Markets.
That kind of dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. “The Hulberts have a lot of passion for what they do,” says Jim Foley, Director of Produce & Floral at Town & Country. And it shows—each berry is picked with intention and packed with care.
From Our Family Farms’ Fields to Your Fork (or Fingers)
Our Family Farms isn’t a sprawling corporate operation—it’s deeply personal. Dane and Bailey aren’t just farmers; they’re neighbors, parents, and stewards of their land. With help from their one year-round employee, Alphonso, and a seasonal crew of expert pickers, they manage 15 acres of strawberries alongside smaller gardens filled with raspberries, tayberries, beets, cabbage, sweet corn, eucalyptus, and dahlias.
Bailey manages 22 farmers’ markets across the Puget Sound and still finds time to work at the local school, where she’s a fixture in the community. High schoolers pitch in with babysitting, and it’s not uncommon for neighbors to stop by just to check on the family—or pick up a few flats of berries.
No Pesticides, Just Peace of Mind
The Hulberts believe in keeping it simple. “We don’t use pesticides—not even silicates,” says Dane. “I want my kids to feel free to play in the fields and eat strawberries without worry.” Their sustainable practices extend to everything from hand-pruning plants to managing the local wildlife. Slugs, deer, and rabbits may be a nuisance, but birds like the killdeer help out by snacking on pests.
And even the challenges of farming in heavy Washington soil haven’t stopped them. In fact, the Albions thrive under the Hulberts’ care, producing two growing seasons from a single plant.
More Than Berries—A Taste of Something Real
There’s a moment Dane treasures: delivering strawberries to Town & Country Ballard, watching customers spot the pallets, and immediately start hunting for the juiciest box. One shopper saw the dirt on his boots and smiled—she knew those berries were picked just hours ago by the farmer who handed them over.
That’s the kind of connection big agriculture just can’t replicate.