Huul-of-a-Party

Hull-of-a-Party

For seventy-three years, always two evenings before Father's Day, a group of people congregate at North Canton Community United Methodist Church to prepare for the the church’s annual Strawberry Festival: hulling the berries. Just as their parents and grandparents did before them, and their children are doing now, the church fills with people who don’t mind having the sweet, slightly sticky juice trickling down fingers turned red.

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Volunteers, wearing aprons, sit at tables covered with plastic tablecloths. There is some chatter, but a big job to do. Many hands do seem to actually make quick work,

“There is no right or wrong way to hull; each huller finds the best way and the job gets done,” says Dru McNeil, a long-time volunteer. When the flats of berries arrive, each person grabs a bucket, a bowl for the stems, and sometimes a berry huller. Dru says she prefers to use a knife, because “it really gets every piece of stem out.”

As the last bucket of berries is hulled, someone calls “last berry,” and the evening’s work is done. The berries are ready for slicing and sugaring and tomorrow will be sitting on homemade biscuits to be topped with real whipped cream. The kitchen will be a humming hive, producing the 600-plus shortcakes, sundaes, and bowls of berries.

According to volunteer Sue Gannon, “This event really brings together families, near and far. It’s a great time to see everyone.”

This year’s festival is on June 20th from 11-4 at 3 Case Street, North Canton. Come hungry.