Contacts:
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Friday, June 19, 2009

Fresh berry season begins with strawberries - some say the most popular of all berries - and locally grown berries are ripe and ready to eat and enjoy right now in Vermont. What better way to welcome summer than by picking red, ripe and sweet strawberries? Farmers’ markets, farm stands and pick-your-own fields are awash in red, with Vermont strawberries coming into season this weekend.

Early reports from the field indicate another exceptional year for strawberries in Vermont. “It’s a beautiful year for strawberries. We have a bumper crop – size, color and flavor are all great,” said Lourie Mazza of the Mazza Farm in Colchester, Vermont.

“The berries are gorgeous; big with good color and flavor. We had very little winter damage this year,” commented Don Harlow of Harlow’s in Putney, Vermont.

Fresh strawberries have a delicious naturally sweet taste but there's only about 50 calories in a whole cup! Strawberries are highly nutritious. Eight medium size fresh berries contain about 150% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C and 20% of folate. They're also high in potassium and a good source of dietary fiber.

When shopping, choose strawberries with a bright red color and fresh green caps. Since strawberries do not continue to ripen after they've been picked, don't buy berries that are partly white and unripe. The size of a strawberry is not a factor in determining the sweetness or taste. That's determined by the variety of strawberry, weather and growing conditions, and the degree of ripeness when picked. Fully ripe berries, large or small will be equally sweet and flavorful.

“This is a great time to take the family out to enjoy the Vermont countryside and pick fresh strawberries,” commented Roger Allbee, Secretary of Agriculture. “When you buy local you are supporting your local farmers and the local community. With the rising costs of food, buying local and in bulk to freeze for later will save you money at the grocery store and on transportation costs.”

Strawberry season is a great time to stock up on berries through Pick Your Own establishments and bulk sales. Strawberries are one of the easiest products to preserve – simply wash, dry, and freeze! You can hull the berries either before freezing them or when they are removed from the freezer. Frozen strawberries are useful year-round, for smoothies, jams, sauces, ice cream, and adding a summer touch to wintertime pancakes and waffles.

Vermont has 90 strawberry producers using 188 acres with almost 2 million pounds of berries produced. Whether you prefer to purchase your strawberries at a farmers’ market or pick your own, you can find a list of farm stands, farmers’ markets and pick-your-own fields in Vermont at www.vermontagriculture.com.

Editor’s Note: Photos of Vermont strawberry farms are available by contacting Kelly Loftus at 802-828-3829 or kelly.loftus@state.vt.us.