When I moved to Florida from California, I promised myself I would find the things that make this state special for food lovers. Strawberry season is one of them. So when Wish Farms invited a few local food bloggers to their charity strawberry U-Pick, I packed up the kids, the sunscreen and a lot of enthusiasm and headed out to their field in Duette.
A day in the strawberry field
There is something wonderful about picking fruit straight from the plant. The rows stretched out in front of us, bright red berries peeking out from under green leaves, and the kids were off before I had even grabbed our flats. The rules were simple: pick what you want, try not to step on the plants, and yes, tasting along the way is part of the experience.
The berries were sweet, juicy and still warm from the sun. Nothing from a plastic clamshell at the supermarket compares. We quickly learned to look for fully red fruit with no white shoulders, to twist rather than pull, and to keep the flats in the shade between rows. By the end of the afternoon our flats were overflowing and the kids had red fingers and very happy faces.
Picking with a purpose
What makes this U-Pick special is that it supports a good cause. Visitors pick their own berries, and the proceeds help local charities. It is a lovely way to bring families out to the farm, show children where their food comes from and give something back to the community at the same time. Talking with the Wish Farms team, it was clear how much they care about the land, their growers and the people around them.
I also got to meet Heather from Ohayo Bento, a fellow blogger with a passion for creative lunches. We swapped ideas about what to make with our haul while the kids compared their best finds.
What to do with all those strawberries
Coming home with flats full of berries is a happy problem. Here is what is on my list:
- a big batch of strawberry jam for the pantry;
- strawberry shortcake, the classic, with lightly sweetened whipped cream;
- a strawberry and spinach salad with goat cheese and a balsamic dressing;
- smoothies for breakfast and frozen berries for later.
Fresh strawberries do not last long, so wash them only just before eating and keep them in the fridge in a single layer.
Will we go back?
Absolutely. A charity U-Pick is the kind of local tradition that makes me feel more at home in Florida every season. If you get the chance, go with your family, bring a hat and come hungry. I will be sharing the recipes from our haul in the coming posts.