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A Berry Fun Weekend with Florida Strawberries – Part I

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Berry Fun Weekend Florida Strawberries Beauty and the Beets (1)

Earlier this month, I had an amazing opportunity to spend a weekend learning all about Florida Strawberries. Twenty East Coast Sunday Supper tastemakers were invited to a berry fun weekend in the Tampa, Florida area where we immersed ourselves in educational lectures, cooking demonstrations and field trips with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. I have always had a love affair with strawberries from Florida, especially from November though April as they are in season.

FSGA Plant City Beauty and the Beets

On Saturday morning, we piled onto a bus that took us to the headquarters of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association in Plant City, Florida, just west of Tampa. Plant City is the undisputed winter strawberry capital of the world and the season concludes with the world famous Florida Strawberry Festival.  Upon arriving at the headquarters, we were introduced to our hosts for the weekend, Strawberry Sue and her talented staff. Strawberry Sue is well known throughout the region and the strawberry farming world as she is the Director of Marketing for the FSGA.

Strawberry Mimosa Florida Strawberry Growers Association Beauty and the Beets

Welcome Cookies Florida Strawberry Growers Association Beauty and the Beets

We were welcomed with strawberry mimosas, cookies and strawberry pizza.

Strawberry Pizza FSGA Beauty and the Beets

Strawberry Caps FSGA Beauty and the Beets

We also picked up our Strawberry knit caps. You can get a cap as well- just submit a picture with your Florida Strawberries here  and you can receive a cap of your very own. And be entered to win a trip to Tradewinds Resort in St. Petersburg Beach, FL (our host hotel for the weekend- more on the resort in tomorrow’s post)–> Florida Strawberry Cap contest.

Strawberry Station Plant City Beauty and the Beets

Our next stop was to a farm known as Strawberry Station, also in Plant City. There are currently two varieties of strawberries growing here, those known as Sweet Sensation and the other called Radiance. (I will get into the varieties later). There are approximately 16,000 plants per acre with most farms ranging from 4 to 350 acres. You do the math, that’s a lot of strawberries.

Strawberry Station strawberries Beauty and the Beets

Strawberry Station Strawberry Beauty and the Beets

We learned about the various elements involved in the growing of strawberry plants. From basics like the weather and insects to the cycle of the moon. Believe or not, the cycle of the moon affects the sweetness and flavor of the fruit.

Strawberry Station Tractor Beauty and the Beets

Bloggers Strawberry Station Beauty and the Beets

We were given an opportunity to drive the tractor as well as taste some of the fruit straight off the plant in the field.

Grimes Produce Company Beauty and the Beets

Grimes Produce Strawberries Beauty and the Beets

We were then brought to the Grimes Produce Company just down the road from the fields. This is where the freshly picked strawberries are brought to be cooled and stored before the berries are delivered straight to the markets. It is important to note that these strawberries are not rinsed though giant machines or touched by anyone other than the picker before landing in your grocery cart.

Grimes Produce Plant city Beauty and the Beets

Grimes Produce Company forklift Beauty and the Beets

The berries are boxed right in the field and then brought to the cooling facility until delivery. And in the wintertime, Grimes has trucks that will deliver these berries as far away as Canada. As a matter of fact, Florida Strawberries are available across the country from now through March!!

Old Towne Pizza Plant City stuffed Beauty and the Beets

The next stop was lunch at a local pizza joint in Plant City called Old Towne Pizza. This would end up being the only meal over the entire weekend that would not have strawberries in it, but the pizza was excellent!

University of Florida Research and Education Center greenhouse Beauty and the Beets

Hybrid Strawberry GCREC Beauty and the Beets

We didn’t have time to linger over lunch though as our next stop was the University of Florida Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida, about 30 miles south of Plant City and Tampa. There we met with Dr. Vance Whitaker, an Associate Professor of Strawberry Breeding. Yes, strawberry breeding is a thing, and it is fascinating. We learned all about the research that goes into breeding the different varietals of strawberries. These are not GMO berries, these are bred through traditional means, pollinating the strawberry flower. The plants are grown in a controlled environment until a new variety with an even better flavor is given to farmers.

Strawberry Flower GCREC Beauty and the Beets

Early strawberry GCREC Beauty and the Beets

The phases of strawberry development was just amazing to me – from the center of a flower to a bright red and ripe fruit.

Strawberries white GCREC Beauty and the Beets

Strawberry phases GCREC Beauty and the Beets

Florida Strawberry #FLStrawberry GCREC Beauty and the Beets

As we were leaving the research facility and making our way to dinner, we stopped at Goodsons Farms Market where we had the opportunity to stock up on strawberry syrups, butters and jams. And I learned about a strawberry onion- these are a delicious variation of a regular white onion only these are grown on the edge of a strawberry field, thus lending to a sweeter flavor.

Goodsons Farms Market Strawberry Shortcake Beauty and the Beets

We also were surprised with GIANT portions of a Plant City delicacy- the strawberry shortcake. After we each scarfed one of these babies down, we boarded the bus and went straight to dinner.

OGGI Italian Davis Island #FLStrawberry LIVE Beauty and the Beets

Strawberry Caprese Salad #FLStrawberry OGGI Italian Davis Island Beauty and the Beets

Strawberry Mozzarella Wheel OGGI Italian Davis Island Beauty and the Beets

Dinner was on Davis Island at a restaurant called Oggi Italian Street Food. It was excellent. We were introduced to Strawberry Caprese Salad, and a variety of pasta and chicken dishes. And wine. There was lots of wine.

Chicken Parmesan OGGI Italian Davis Island Beauty and the Beets

Half Roast Chicken OGGI Italian Davis Island Beauty and the Beets

My favorite was perhaps this Pistachio Chicken dish (and no, there were no strawberries on this dish).

Pistachio Chicken OGGI Italian Davis Island Beauty and the Beets

We were treated to grilled pineapple and cannolis for dessert.

Grilled Pineapple OGGI Italian Davis Island Beauty and the Beets

After a long but eventful day, we returned to the hotel where we all retreated for the night. More about the hotel and Day 2 of this amazing weekend tomorrow. Salut for now!!

Read my Day 2 recap here –> A Berry Fun Weekend with Florida Strawberries Part II

Cindy L. Kerschner

Monday 30th of January 2017

I love your recap, Anne Marie! It was so much fun and a great learning experience!

Helen Corbin

Wednesday 25th of January 2017

What a great adventure and what FANTASTIC pictures. You always take such great pics. I certainly could live right in the center of a strawberry field :-)