I planted June bearing strawberry plants a few years ago, partly for an attractive ground cover and partly because I love eating strawberries. I also like the idea growing some of my own food. Next week my strawberries will start turning bright red and you will find me in the garden every morning for the next three weeks picking and eating.
My homegrown strawberries are a lot smaller than the giant ones I can buy at the store. However, mine are packed with so much more flavor.
Shop 
If you don’t grown your own, or even if you do, check out your local farmers market and watch for great sales on strawberries in late May, June and July. Stock up on strawberries while they are in their prime. They are easily frozen, dried or canned. That is if you don’t use them all for immediate enjoyment, in smoothies, salads and a variety of desserts and sauces.
Select berries that are firm and bright red, with bright green caps. Avoid berries that are dull, shriveled, moldy or mushy. Ripe strawberries smell like strawberries.
One Pound Strawberries Will Yield:
- 3 cups of sliced, ready for tossing in a salad or smoothie or favorite recipe
- 2 ¾ cups chopped, all set to become a topping for yogurt or cereal, or a spicy fresh strawberry salsa
- 1 ¾ cups of mashed fruit ready for the sauce or jam pot
Keep Fresh
- Do not wash or remove the green caps on strawberries until ready to eat. Added water from washing encourages mold growth.
- If berries are damp when you pick them or bring them home, put a dry paper towel at the bottom of the container.
- Store in the refrigerator for 1-3 days.
- Eat or preserve within 3 days for optimal nutrition and taste.
- Wash just before eating or cooking.
Storage
For longer storage, wash under running water, drain, remove caps and freeze in a single layer on a cookie sheet. When firm, put them in a freezer bag or container. Label, date and use within a year, if they last that long!
- Frozen strawberries are great in smoothies and other blender drinks.
- They add flavor, color, texture and cold without diluting the taste that adding ice can do.
- Simple Smoothie
- 1/2 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
- 1/2 banana, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup Greek plain yogurt
- Add your choice of milk for desired thickness and blend.
- Add to desserts, pies or homemade ice cream.
Now I want some strawberries and it is almost 9:30PM….9:30PM which is not the time for me to try to go out and shop for strawberries. But on Saturday I am going to go to the market and wait until it is my turn to go in stand 6 feet apart and grab some strawberries. Well OK, I may not be able to grab my strawberries I will probably have to ask for it!
I’m a former student and employee of CSU. I recently moved to California to work as a dietitian for the California Strawberry Commission. I’m happy to see the promotion of strawberries here! They have a full day’s worth of vitamin C, and contain fiber, folate, potassium, and powerful polyphenols. To learn about the health benefits of strawberries or for more recipes, you can visit calstrawberry.com/Nutrition!