Devastating hailstorm ends 11 year tradition at local farm

April 12, 2024

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Staff,

CAMDEN, Tenn. — Mike’s Produce Farm, located in Camden, has had their strawberry picking season for the past 11 years, but due to the storm earlier this week they are closing.

On Monday, April 8th, a few counties across West Tennessee faced marble to golf ball sized hail.

This storm damaged vehicles, buildings, and for Mike’s Produce, their entire strawberry patch.

Their barn, which was a couple of yards away from the patch, was also hit during this storm.

“Monday night, torrential hail about four five inches in some areas. Completely devastated, completely devastated strawberry crops even the roots. The wind like a microburst kinda storm to along with some hail. Complete damage complete loss,” said Mike Katrutse, owner of Mike’s Produce Farm.

In the previous years, people from all over West and Middle Tennessee would come to the patch and pick strawberries.

“I’ve done this 10 years it’ll be my eleventh year at the u- pick option as well as the pre pick so people come through and pick as well as the kids give the experience of picking out of the field,” said Katrutse.

Katrutse stepped outside before the storm began and heard the storm from inside his home.

The aftermath however was not what he was expecting.

“I didn’t know it was going to be that bad until I come up here Tuesday morning checked and said well maybe you know maybe the pea sized hail maybe it’ll pass but it got us, completely,” said Katrutse.

This storm also affected the land beside the patch

“It even got the leaves off the trees and even got the weeds and cut them down. It’s like someone to a bush and mowed it all down,” said Katrutse.

But he isn’t letting this bad weather ruin his summer.

Katruste will be selling vegetables beginning in July.

“So about 25 acres of vegetables that will start getting ready in July and get it all the way until October so hopefully have a good turnout for that and good support from the community. Hopefully 25 will be a better season keep my fingers crossed,” said Katrutse.

For more information about Mike’s Produce Farm, click here.

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