Fresh, sweet, and juicy strawberries are a favorite ingredient all year round, but best at their peak. So, when is strawberry season?
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Hi, Rhubarbarians! Let's chat all about strawberry season.
Strawberries are just delightful, aren't they? They're sweet, juicy, and perfect for desserts, smoothies, jams, and eating as a snack. But when are they at their peak?
Let's get into it!
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When does strawberry season start?
The start of strawberry season depends on where you live, the climate that you live in, and the strawberry variety. But for the most part, strawberries are the first warm weather crop to show up.
You can typically expect to see strawberries begin to ripen in late spring to early summer, around May or June in the northern hemisphere. In warmer regions, the season starts earlier.
Here in the northwest United States, I start to see strawberry plants flowering in June or July, with fruit ripening quickly after that.
"The peak of the strawberry season occurs in April in parts of Texas and Florida. In the rest of the deep South, strawberries will peak in May. For the middle states, early June will see the peak of the strawberry season, and for the far northern states and Canada, the harvest peak will occur later in the month of June." -strawberryplants.org
How long does it last?
The length of strawberry season not only depends on your location and climate, but also on the variety of strawberry. Typically, strawberry season lasts for about four to six weeks, with the exception of the warmer southern states where it can last much longer.
Where to get fresh strawberries
Fresh strawberries can be found year round at your local grocery store, seasonally at your local farmers market, or picked from U-pick farms.
Strawberry picking at your local U-pick farm is a fun way to spend a spring or summer day as well as a great way to support your local farmers!
Here are some tips for going strawberry picking:
- Look up local strawberry U-pick farms on pickyourown.org and choose the farm you'd like to visit.
- Check with your local U-pick farms: call your local farm or check online to see whether they are open for strawberry picking.
- Expect to get dirty: wear comfortable clothing and shoes that can get dirt on them.
- Bring your own containers: U-pick farms may have containers for you, but it's good to bring your own just in case.
- Follow the rules at the farm: Only pick ripe strawberries, stay on the designated paths, be gentle, don't snack as you pick, etc. Be sure to respect the rules.
What's the difference between store bought strawberries and U-pick or farmers market strawberries?
While strawberries are available at the grocery store year round, peak season local strawberries are different in a few ways:
- Freshness and ripeness: strawberries that are purchased at the grocery store are usually picked well before they are ripe so that they don't spoil before they are sold. This can affect the freshness and the flavor of the strawberries.
- Variety: you can usually find a wider variety of strawberry types than you can find in a grocery store.
- Pesticides: farms may use less or no pesticides when growing their strawberries.
- Price: strawberries may be more expensive at a U-pick farm, but the taste and freshness is worth it during their short season. However, you can usually purchase large amounts of berries in bulk at a discounted rate at farms.
How can you tell if strawberries are ripe?
Fresh strawberries do not continue to ripen once they are picked, so it's best to pick perfectly ripe strawberries.
Ripe strawberries should be a bright, deep red color with no white or green on them and the stem should be green and not brown. They should be firm with a little bit of give when gently squeezed.
Use your sense of smell as well! If the strawberry has a sweet, fragrant smell, it is likely to be a sweet and juicy strawberry.
Fresh strawberry recipes
Here are some of my favorite recipes to make with fresh, ripe strawberries!
You can find all of our strawberry recipes here.
FAQs
This varies by location and variety of strawberry! Typically, the best month for strawberry picking in the United States is June.
This varies by location and variety of strawberry! Typically, late spring and early summer are when strawberries are in season in the United States.
Recommended resources
- Check out pickyourown.org to find U-pick strawberry farms near you.
- Strawberryplants.org can answer many questions for growing and harvesting strawberries as well as strawberry varieties.
- You can find all of our strawberry recipes on our website here.
- Here is a guide to freezing strawberries.
More seasonal produce guides:
You must use the category slug, not a URL, in the category field.Strawberry season varies by region, climate, and the variety of strawberry. In general, the season starts in the spring and ends in the summer in the United States. Whether you are snacking on perfectly ripe, freshly picked strawberries or using them in your favorite recipe, be sure to enjoy strawberries while they are at their peak!
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