To starving travellers in the unrelenting wilderness of medieval Europe, the sight of strawberries poking out among the leafy litter and debris must have seemed like a miracle. There is much to love about strawberries – there is just something so quintessentially summer about the juicy taste of a freshly picked strawberry. Although strawberry picking isn’t as popular as, say, apple picking, it is still a fun activity to try.
Throughout May and June, strawberries begin to ripen. Since the optimal times for strawberry picking vary by state, check out your local farms to see whether there’s any opportunities available for strawberry picking.
Optimal Times for Strawberry Picking:
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Northeast (including Vermont): Early June to early July
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Mid-Atlantic: Mid-May to late June
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Southeast: April to early June
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Midwest: Late May to late June
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Pacific Northwest: June to July
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California: Year-round in some areas, with peak from April to June
Guide to Strawberry Picking
Early in the morning is the best time to pick strawberries, so make sure to arrive early, ideally an hour after the farm has opened. Always call your destination farm to ensure times of availability and operation.
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Bring the essentials: Make sure that you pack the essentials, including a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, cash, reusable water bottles, and cooler with ice packs. While farms offer containers for strawberries, they cost money, so it’s better to bring your own. Strawberries should be kept in a plastic container (Glad brand is recommended) or metal baking pans.
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Choose glossy, red berries: The best berries look like they come from the pages of a magazine – they should be completely red and firm to the touch – neither too soft nor rock-hard. Ripe strawberries exhibit a palpable, sweet aroma.
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Don’t over pick: Strawberries tend to go moldy notoriously fast, and even in the refrigerator, remain edible for only 2 – 3 days. Don’t get too greedy – it’s always better to pick a few for yourself and save the rest for others.
The History of Strawberries
In medieval times to the Renaissance era, the strawberry gained an almost-mystical status due to its association with Christ-like imagery. The small, white flowers symbolized purity, while the red color was likened to the blood of Christ.
The rise of the garden strawberry, now common in supermarkets, is one of intrigue – legend claims that a French spy named Amédée Francois Freszier brought a white-formed subset of the Chilean strawberry to France from Chile. Endemic to the Nahuelbuta mountain range, the fruit of these unusually colored strawberries was larger in size, with a peach-like taste. The Chilean variety (Fragaria chiloensis) was eventually crossed with the tougher Fragaria virginiana, resulting in the modern garden strawberry (Fragaria ananassa). The English later refined the hybrid to improve upon its favorable traits.
Today, only a few farmers retain the knowledge of cultivating these coveted strawberries, priced ten times higher than common strawberries at local markets. Currently grown in only a few areas and threatened with climate change, they are unfortunately on the verge of extinction. While there are white strawberries on the market, namely the “pineberry,” none of them are the elusive white strawberries from centuries ago.
Strawberry Nutrition and Trivia
Strawberries are low in calories, with a half cup amounting to 32 calories. They’re also rich in vitamin C (just once serving contains more vitamin C than an orange), folate, and potassium. Due to their high vitamin C content, they have been known to promote healthier skin.
Growing Strawberries in the Garden
A favorite of gardeners, strawberries are a fruit that many flock to. In the garden, there are three varieties that can be grown: June-bearing, ever-bearing, and day-neutral. Ever-bearing strawberries produce two crops, one in early summer and another in the fall. June-bearing strawberries, the most popular type, bear a large concentration of fruit over a period of three weeks. Day-neutral are regarded as an improved variety of ever-bearing strawberries that are not affected by day length.
Strawberries can be grown in the spring, ideally in April or March. For beginner gardeners, it’s recommended that they grow strawberries in raised beds. Place in an area that receives the most sun, then fill the bed with a mixture of slightly-acidic topsoil and organic matter that is well-draining. Space plants 8 – 10 inches apart. Avoid growing strawberries next to soil where crops from the tomato family have been growing.
Strawberries benefit from consistent watering – drip irrigation is a highly efficient way to water your plants by delivering water directly to the roots. Strawberries are ready to harvest once the berries are fully ripe and give off a sweet fragrance.
Recipes with Strawberries
Although fresh strawberries are superior in taste, there are many applicable uses for your leftover strawberries that are exquisitely sweet.
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Strawberry Crisp Recipe: With a few simple ingredients, this dessert is irresistible, satisfying both your sweet tooth and your nostalgia for idyllic summer days gone by.
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Chocolate Covered Strawberries: Sometimes the best recipes are also the simplest, and it can’t get any simpler with chocolate covered strawberries. The only thing to make sure is to use high-quality chocolate, such as Ghirardelli baking chips, to get rid of the processed taste.
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Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream: This key lime pie, with an unexpected dollop of strawberry-infused whipped cream, is a new and improved take on a classic.
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Strawberry Lemonade: Perfect for days of excessive heat, this iced drink combines two signature flavors with a homemade taste.
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Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie: Make use of an overabundance of unappetizing pretzels by smashing them into the crust of this unique ice-box pie. The sweet strawberry flavor complements the salty taste of pretzels while bringing everything together.