The best strawberries are the ones you pick yourself or buy from your local strawberry fields. Farm fresh strawberries are hours old with little or no handling and no travelling. Enjoy the flavour and fragrance of fresh-picked strawberries. Look for plump, bright red and fully ripe berries. Caps should be attached green and fresh looking. The size of the strawberry is not important. All strawberries, large and small, are equally sweet and juicy.

How Did Strawberries Get Their Name?

There are many theories on this subject. The name may have come from the 19th century practice of laying straw around strawberry plants to protect them from bad weather. Or possibly from the practice of English children threading the berries onto pieces of straw for sale. But the most commonly accepted origin has to do with the strawberry plants runners, which spread outward. The 18th century Anglo-Saxon verb strew (to spread) combined with their word for fruit produced the name Streabergen, which later came to be pronounced strawberry in English.

Do Small Berries Taste Better Than Large Ones?

Flavor is influenced by growing conditions (i.e., weather), stage of ripeness when harvested, and the variety. Size is not a factor in determining flavor.

When To Buy Strawberries
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet

Choose locally grown strawberries during the harvesting session, they will be the freshest and the most flavourful. When picking strawberries, try to pick early in the morning or later in the day when the fruit is cool. Strawberries are best used within 2-3 days of picking. Cover and store them unwashed in the refrigerator. Do not crowd or press.

How Much To Buy
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet

Berries are sold by weight or volume. Container sizes vary from farm to farm: pints, quarts or larger. A pint box of medium sized berries will generally hold 2 cp. (500 mL.). 2 cp. (500 mL.) of berries, crushed will yield about 1 cp. (250 mL.) of pur馥.

How To Store Fresh Strawberries
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet

Sort and remove any bruised or damaged berries as soon as possible and use in sauces, pur馥s or jams. Place the berries in cool, well ventilated containers(32 to 40°F / 0 to 5°C). The moisture content of Fresh Strawberries is high, so store uncovered or loosely covered. Hull strawberries and rinse gently JUST before serving. Careful storing and handling will maintain their maximum flavour, colour and texture.

Freezing Strawberries Without Sugar for Jam and Other Uses
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet

Fill freezer containers with prepared sliced, or washed and dried berries to within 1/2" (1 cm.)of top. Combine 4 cp. (1 L.) cold water with 1 tbsp. (15 mL.) of lemon or lime juice and pour over berries before freezing. Seal, Label and Date.

Freezing in Sugar Syrup
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet

Fill freezer containers with prepared berries to within 1/2" (1 cm.) of top. Combine 4 cp. (1 L.) cold water with 4 cp. (1 L.) sugar; stir to dissolve. Pour over berries. Seal, Label and Date. Allow 1-1/2 cp. (125 mL.) prepared fruit and 1/3 to 1/2 cp. (75 to 125 mL.) syrup per 1 pint (500 mL.) container.

Freezing in Dry Pack, Sweetened
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet

Toss together 3/4 cp. (200 mL.) sugar with 4 cp. (1 L.) prepared berries; let stand until juice forms and sugar is almost dissolved. Pack in freezer containers leaving 1/2" (1 cm.) head space. Seal, Label and Date.