KINGSTON — With the start of May, raspberries are beating out blueberries 2-1 and strawberries 2-0, at least as far as President of Kingston Kiwanis Dan Price and Kiwanis members Jeff Petersen and Dave Muller are concerned.

Price and Petersen both enjoy raspberries, while Muller is fond of all kinds, but prefers blueberries.

“Strawberries are good for strawberry shortcake, and raspberries are good, but they get mushy,” Muller said on the controversial topic. “But blueberries, blueberries are pretty darn good all year round if you freeze them.”

North Kitsap residents can now weigh in with their opinions as they fill out order forms for the Kiwanis annual berry fund raiser.

“The money goes directly to the Kiwanis scholarship fund,” Price said. “We give those scholarships to local high school seniors.”

This year, the three recipients are Brian Parrott and Ione Shepherd-McNamara from North Kitsap High School and Trevor Hansen from Academy Northwest in Seattle.

“We just mailed out the order forms this week,” Petersen said. “It’s too early to tell how it’ll go this year. We’ll start getting the order forms next week.”

The Kiwanis will then be able to plan how it will disperse its funds.

Although the group’s annual rummage sale may not be happening this year, Price said Kiwanis will instead be auctioning off a car this summer to help make up for the money that normally goes to the North Kitsap Boys & Girls Club.

Last year, the berry fund raiser brought in $3,400, Petersen said. This year, Kiwanis are hoping for somewhere between $5,000-$10,000.

“The berry farm is in Mount Vernon,” Muller said. “Mike and Jane’s Berry Farm. They have excellent berries, not quite organic, but the next best thing. We go up and pick up the berries, then bring them down and deliver them that day.”

Strawberries ($26, 2.5 gallons) will be picked up and delivered June 17; raspberries ($28, 2.5 gallons) July 15; and blueberries ($23, 10-pounds) Aug. 5. Order form deadlines are June 12, July 10 and July 31, respectively.

“The biggest problem with the fund raiser is people don’t pick up their berries,” Muller said. “They forget. But people just love them, and we’ve gotten a good response.”

To entice those who place orders, free shortcake is offered, along with a cheery and fun environment.

“It’s a big party when we deliver them,” Petersen said.