Strawberries have always been a guilty pleasure because they’re often shipped in from distant places like Guatemala, California, and occasionally Saturn. Buying produce out of season usually means a hefty carbon footprint because those little delectables are shipped here in the dead of Winter. But not here in Charleston during April and May.

Take a trip out to Boone Hall Farms, part of Boone Hall Plantation, to enjoy the tail end of their annual strawberry festival. I took the family out there yesterday, and we got the reddest, ripest, sweetest strawberries for about 1/4 the cost of their store-bought cousins — and to top it off we picked them right off the vines. Not only was it fun to get out and enjoy a working plantation, but knowing the berries didn’t contribute to our little carbon emissions problem made them all the sweeter.

There seemed to be enough berries coming to last through next weekend. So if you’re into supporting local growers, love strawberries, and are looking for some outdoor fun, head up Highway 17 just north of Longpoint Road and get your pick on!