Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen at The Fruit and Berry Patch and are the most popular crop we raise. The only variety of strawberries grown at The Fruit and Berry Patch is the Earlyglo variety which is the earliest variety to ripen and the sweetest variety of strawberries. We usually consider the first week of May to be the beginning of the strawberry season although we have opened as early as April 15 and as late as May 15 depending upon the spring weather.

Strawberries are low calorie, very high in vitamin C and contain significant amounts of other nutrients (one cup has 45 Cal, 160% Vitamin C, 20% folic acid and 16% of the fiber needed each day). Strawberries should be picked fully ripe since they do not increase in sweetness after they are picked. Picked berries should be placed into a refrigerator immediately after picking with the caps still on the berry. When preparing to serve, wash before capping and then remove the caps.

Strawberries can be frozen in several ways. The methods I like the best is to wash and cap the berries and place in a single layer on a baking sheet and put in the coldest part of the freezer until frozen. After freezing, break berries apart and put into zip-lock type freezer bags, remove as much of the air as possible, seal and return to the freezer. The frozen berries can be used as desired much the same way as fresh berries. The other method is to wash and cap the berries and add ¾ to 1 cup sugar to each 4 cups of berries (whole or sliced), place into freezer bags, remove the air and seal. Freeze in the coldest part of the freezer. Frozen berries will keep about 12 months.

The Earlyglo berry is also an outstanding berry for preserving or making jelly. It cannot be beaten for eating fresh. One word of warning; once you have eaten the Earlyglo berry, you will probably not want shipped strawberries berries again.

THE FRUIT AND BERRY PATCH
Thanks for your interest and support of The Fruit and Berry Patch
Joe Dennis, Judie and Jeffrey Fox, Owners/Operators