Strawberry season is not over

We have gotten used to very good supermarket strawberries that are shipped in year around, but they can't match the local product.
 
Up here in New England, U-Pick season was a bust due to so much rain, but a lot of growers now have out of season berries that are grown on plastic covered, raised beds, using the "Florida System". They cost more due to higher costs, and because they are in short supply, some farmers sell them from under the counter to save them for regular customers. If you stop at a farm stand, ask for some!! 

I was recently at the New England Vegetable& Fruit Conference in Manchester, NH. This 3 day show is one of the bigger and it starts the trade show season. Many of the exhibitors and speakers were at the Michigan show and the New York show coming up soon. While most of the speakers are PhD types, there is a smattering of outstanding growers who get to make presentations. (if interested you can Google show info and order a copy of the proceedings for $20) 

There are some great new ideas in northern Strawberries, both to extend the season, and in "eatability".  Vermont and Massachusetts berries are being shipped into the New York market where they are selling out at twice the price of California berries. (berries bred to ship 2500 miles need to be more firm than berries shipped 400 miles, so taste is not the most important factor for west coast berries). 

One berry that has been very popular for on farm sales is "Cabot". The berries are the size of a small peach, running in the 20g range, and have a wonderful flavor. I'd try to grow a few in my home garden but they are said to be difficult to grow, so I'll stick with the easier to grow types.  I do plan to visit 4 Corners Farm in Newbury, VT this summer, so that I can buy some. (for those brave souls who prefer to grow their own, you can buy plants from Nourse Farms in S. Deerfield, Mass.)  

The best strawberries are small, red all the  way thru, and are grown close to home

Cheers, John 

Yes they are, John. One of the things I miss the very most after moving here are the strawberries I used to pick at farms near Chambersburg, PA. Earliglow was the one I used for my preserves. They were small, burgundy in color, and super sweet and fragrant. I would trade a whole case of our Florida berries (which are in, by the way) for one pint of those Pennsylvania berries. PA does corn and tomatoes better, too. (sigh...)