CARANDALE FARM Strawberries

WHY LOCALLY GROWN STRAWBERRIES ARE BETTER

Quality

Strawberries available at the supermarket may be large and showy, but in order to maintain shelf life and withstand the rigor of shipping and handling, they must have a firm, dry texture, which is cardboard like with little flavor and aroma.

Locally grown strawberry varieties are selected for quality (not shipping, handling and long shelf life) and therefore are juicy, fragrant, flavorful, and have a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Freshness

Strawberries that you pick yourself or are picked for you on the same day of purchase, are the ultimate in freshness. Berries picked at full maturity and consumed or frozen within a couple of days will not only taste better, but will also be more nutritious.

Food Safety

If pesticide guidelines are strictly adhered to, consumer food safety should not be a concern regardless of where strawberries are grown, but strawberries shipped in from the south are subject to many more pests than berries grown in our northern climate. Therefore, southern grown berries are usually treated with many more pesticides, increasing the risk of mishandling and possible contamination.

Sustainability

With our naturally fertile soils, adequate rainfall, and cold winter temperatures that reduce our pest problems, strawberry production locally is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than in the southern growing areas where water, fertilizer, and pest management must be largely imported for production.

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY YOUR STRAWBERRIES AT CARANDALE FARM

We are experienced and committed to management practices and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques that assure the highest level of food safety, sustainability and concern for the environment. We treat our customers with respect and do everything possible to provide an enjoyable and memorable experience.

We appreciate the beauty of nature, and love to share it with others.

TIPS FOR PICKING

Strawberries are the easiest to pick when the fruit is cool. Gently twist or snap the berry off the stem--don't pull. Look for bright red, well-shaped fruit with a shiny luster, free of hard seedy tips (color will vary greatly depending on variety, ranging from an orange-red to dark red).

You will be assigned to pick a specific row. If you are picking alone, we suggest that you pick from one side for a while and then switch over and pick the other side, making sure that when you finish, both sides are picked to the same point in the row before you place your marker flag and leave the field.

Better yet, bring a family member or friend to pick across the row from you. It is a great way to share the experience and carry on a conversation that you may not otherwise take the time to do.

Smaller fruit near the end of the season are usually sweeter and have more flavor.

Whatever you do, do not put off picking too long--the season is only about 3 weeks.

Allow ample time to pick berries--about one half hour per 10# flat should be a comfortable pace. A row assignor will assign you to a row which will be exclusively yours until you finish. The row assignor will answer questions, provide picking tips, and reassign you to a new row if required. For fields not within easy walking distance, we will give you a ride out and back on our "berry wagons".

TIPS FOR HANDLING AND PREPARATION

Give your strawberries TLC and save their delicate flavor and precious vitamin C. Refrigerate fresh berries in shallow containers as soon as you pick them. Wash berries in cold water only when you are ready to use them. Do not allow berries to soak. Berries stored with stems stay firm and retain their vitamin C longer than those without stems. Remove hulls and spread on absorbent towel until dry.

Fresh berries taste best at room temperature. Most people prefer frozen berries served icy, barely thawed for the best taste and texture. Sweetness varies by variety and growing conditions. It is always a good idea to taste one berry from a lot before you process the others. This allows you to adjust the amount of sugar according to the tartness and your individual taste (a somewhat tart berry usually holds flavor better through the freezing process.) Honey may be substituted for sugar (see freezing tips.)

TIPS FOR FREEZING

For long-term storage. Freezing is recommended. Fruits retain more nutritional value and flavor by freezing than by any other method of preservation. Berries can be frozen and safely kept for up to 1 year. Use quart or pint freezer containers or place the equivalent quantity of berries in heavy plastic bags.

There are several methods to freeze your berries:

Tray Pack--spread a single layer of fruit on trays, freeze, and remove, package and return to the freezer.

No Sugar--simply pack berries in container and freeze.

Sugar Pack--put berries into container, add desired amount of sweetener and freeze.

Syrup Pack--whole berries can be packed into a container and covered with a mixture of equal parts sugar and water. Freeze.

Berries may be sliced or mashed and packed 6 parts berries to 1 part sugar.

Honey may be substituted for sugar when freezing berries. To substitute, use 1/2 the amount of sugar a recipe calls for. For example, if a recipe calls for 1/2 C sugar for each pint, use 1/4 C honey.

To Thaw: Frozen berries retain better shape with slow defrosting in the refrigerator--never thaw by placing under running water or in the microwave.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

STRAWBERRY EQUIVALENTS

1 quart weighs about 1 1/2 pounds

12 pounds =8 quarts=13 pints frozen

1 to 1 1/2 quarts is required for a 9 inch pie

1 cup sliced fresh berries=1 10 oz. pkg. frozen sweetened berries