It’s Strawberry Season!
Strawberries are a popular treat in Kawartha Lakes and around the world. Strawberries are a member of the Rose family and are grown in every province across Canada and in every state in the United States. As the only fruit with seeds on the outside, and technically an enlarged receptacle of a flower and not a true berry, strawberries are unique!
Strawberries were used as a medicinal herb as early as the 13th Century and Indigenous peoples were the first to introduce settlers to the strawberry plant in Canada.
Where to find strawberries in Kawartha Lakes
Locally there are many farms where you can go to pick your own strawberries or purchase pre-picked berries straight from the fields. Farmers’ markets and Kawartha Lakes retailers are other great places to find local berries. Strawberry season usually begins late in June, but weather can either speed up or delay the harvest. To find Kawartha Choice Members offering strawberries check out this search result on the Find Local Food Page. Refine your search to select farms, farmers’ markets and retailers offering the sweet red fruit.
Tips for storing strawberries
To make the most of strawberry season there are a variety of ways to store your berries to keep them as fresh as possible.
Cut the stems off and place the strawberries in a container.
This is the most common way to store strawberries. For this method, don’t wash the berries until you’re ready to use them. The only thing you’ll need is a paper towel and an airtight container. This method will keep your berries fresh for about a week.
Bathe your strawberries in a vinegar wash.
Fill a measuring cup with 1/4 cup vinegar and 1 1/2 cup of water. You may need more vinegar/water depending on how many strawberries you are planning to soak. Place the solution into a bowl or glass container. Let the berries soak for about five minutes. Place berries in a colander and rinse with water. Place the strawberries on a paper towel and let them dry. Line the container you plan to use for storage with a paper towel and place the strawberries inside. Make sure they are all dry. Cover the lid and label it with the date. Your strawberries should last up to two weeks.
Leave the strawberries alone.
If you want to use your strawberries right away, leave them in their original packaging, place them on the countertop and wash them right before you plan to use them. These strawberries should stay fresh for about two days. Always make sure to remove any moldy ones to prevent the others from molding as well.
Freeze your strawberries.
Freezing your berries in another great option. Simply cut off your strawberry stems and place the strawberries in freezer bag before popping them in your freezer. They will stay fresh for about 2 months. If you plan on using your strawberries for desserts or a sweet snack you can also halve your berries and use sugar before freezing. You can use as little or as much sugar as you like and these berries will stay delicious for up to 1 year in the freezer. Make sure to taste one of the strawberries before freezing so that you know it’s the right sweetness. Mixing 1/4 cup of sugar for every 10 ounces of berries is a great starting point if you aren’t sure how much sugar you like. To use this method gather some sugar, an airtight container, and your strawberries. Rinse your strawberries in a pot. Cut your strawberries in half and the remove stems. Put the strawberries back in the pot or bowl and pour your sugar in. Gently stir the strawberries until the sugar melts. The mixture should be thick but not mushy. Dump any excess water. Pour the strawberries in a freezer safe container and store.
