| When is the strawberry season and how long does it last? |
| In south central Ohio the strawberry season starts the last few days in May
and lasts until about the 18th of June. Remember, after the berry season starts,
they wont conveniently wait for nice picking weather, so you should come out
and get your berries as soon as possible; the harvest season is short. When
the berries are gone, they are gone for another year. |
| How do I pick a good berry? |
A good berry is always fresh, but a fresh berry isn't always good. When
picking a berry, make sure that it is red all the way around, including the
area on the tip of the berry that is the last to mature. The berry will last
longer if it is picked so that it includes its cap. The berry should be firm
all the way around and not be bruised. However, don't use the tips of your
finger to determine firmness because all ripe berries are tender enough to be
easily bruised.
To further prevent bruising, make sure you don't stack your berries too deeply in
your container. Shallow cartons are best. Berries must be stored in a cool place,
and should be refrigerated once you get home.
|
| How to freeze strawberries? |
| Berries can easily be frozen. Just cap, rinse, bag and freeze.
Freezers that are not frost-free are the best to store any frozen foods
for a period of time. |
| What health benefits do strawberries have? |
| Strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C. In fact, 8 strawberries
have more vitamin C than an orange. Strawberries have only 50 calories per serving
and no cholesterol or saturated fats. Eight strawberries also provide 20 percent of
the suggested daily amount of folic acid. |
| How to buy ready-picked strawberries |
| Dry, firm, red berries are best. Caps should be green and look fresh.
A box with stains on the bottom may indicate that some of the berries are overripe.
If the strawberries are in a plastic basket, check the bottom to make sure none of
the berries are crushed or moldy. Avoid berries with white tops; the white
indicates the berries are not ripe. Unlike some other fruit, such as bananas,
strawberries ripen only a little after they are picked. Likewise, pale, greenish,
or yellowish fruit is also unripe and may be hard and sour. Use berries within
three days of buying them. Leave them unwashed until you use them. Berries absorb
water from washing, which causes them to lose flavor
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