Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Southern East Anglia in 2024, by county
Below are the PYO orchards and farms for strawberries that we know of in this area. Not all areas have strawberries orchards or farms that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!
PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.
Bedfordshire
-
Grove
Farm PYO - strawberries, and over 30 different fruits and vegetables during the
season.
Ivinghoe, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Phone: 01296 668175, email: enquiries@grovefarmpyo.co.uk. Open: Monday to Saturday 10 am to 6 pm; last entry 5 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm, last entry 12 pm. We are now within a 30mph zone which runs back into Ivinghoe. Payment: Cash and Debit/Credit Cards only. For prices go to What's in Season. There is a wide range of produce on offer to pick, with over 30 different fruits and vegetables during the season. Our Pick Your Own enables you to select your product fresh from the field and at a very low cost. We provide baskets and bags free of charge and wheelbarrows and forks to assist you in your picking. There is ample parking and we are open every day for you to come and pick. There are signs directing you to all the different areas and if you have any questions about the Pick Your Own, any member of the family or staff will be happy to answer them. There is ample parking and we are open every day for you to come and pick. Click here for a link to our Facebook page. (UPDATED: June 19, 2018, JBS) -
Pell's Farm Shop - Pick Your
Own strawberries, Raspberries, Gooseberries and red and black currants (when
in season) Christmas Trees
Renhold Road, Wilden, Bedfordshire MK44 2PT. Phone: 01234 771834. Email: chris.pell@hotmail.co.uk. Credit cards accepted. Open 7 days a week all year round.. - Geese and a few chickens for you to look at. Range includes traditional and Nordmann's. Also cakes, breads, home produced veg, flowers, plants, trees etc. (UPDATED: July 30, 2015, JBS) (UPDATED: May 19, 2011)
A visitor writes: "Very low prices. Fantastic farm shop and nursery. Definitely worth a visit." -
The Secret Farm - Minimizes chemical and
pesticide use, asparagus, carrots, Christmas trees, corn (sweet),
flowers, lavender, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, raspberries (red),
rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, U-pick and
already picked, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, WiFi is
available, Cell service cell phones work here, restrooms, picnic area,
picnic area you may bring your own food, Inflatables or Bounce house, barrel
train, pedal kart track
Blunham Road, Moggerhanger , MK44 3RA. Email: hello@thesecret.farm. Open: Hours vary considerably; please see our website or Facebook page for current availability and hours. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, All credit cards, AndroidPay, ApplePay.
Click here for our Facebook page.
(UPDATED: June 29, 2023) (ADDED: June 13, 2022)
Essex
-
Carpenter's Farm Shop (and PYO) - asparagus, strawberries, and other soft fruit
St Mary's Road, Aingers Green, Great Bentley, Colchester, Essex CO7 8NJ. Phone: 01206 251741. Email: info@carpentersfarmshop.co.uk. UPDATE for 2021, Their website is gone and there's nothing else about them that is current on the internet - I presume they have closed. Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me. Here's what's really odd: there's a new website for the same location here, Carpenter's Farm Shop that says "The Barn Cafe, Farm Shop and Craft Studios Luxury Accommodation with onsite café, fishing lakes and artisan crafts" but nothing about fruit or anything related to an actual farm. I guess they've converted to a self-catering rental accommodation now. They used to also have a reservoir for fishing and quarterly wine-tasting evenings. Strawberries - pick your own in mid June and July; Raspberries - ready picked and PYO in July- August; Gooseberries - ready picked and PYO in mid June-early July. (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) (ADDED: August 2, 2008) - Cramps Farm
- I haven't yet found out what they have;
write to me, if you know!
Little Wakering Road, Great Wakering, Southend-On-Sea, Essex SS3 0LG. Phone: 01702 219314. -
Craner Produce Soft Fruit Farm
- Blackberries, strawberries, tayberries, loganberries, Black currants, Red
currants, Gooseberries, runner beans
Merryleas, Common Road, Broadley Common, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 2DF. Phone: 01992 892862. Email: email: sales@cranerproduce.co.uk. Open: They sometimes open late in the season (June). In June, they have strawberries, Raspberries and Broad beans, plus more in the shop. They grow PYO strawberries, raspberries, black currants, red currants, blackberries, plums,damsons,apples and gooseberries, but only in season. Today all our strawberries are grown on the “table top system” but this year we have reduced the amount we will produce, as the time has come for us to take life somewhat more easily. Our gooseberries are superb and all are grown on a multi-cordon system so they can be picked from a comfortable standing position - we do not know of another farm where this is on offer, but no doubt someone will tell us! Each year we produce more than we can get picked , so please come and help us, you may be surprised not to get too scratched in the process. Please remember they may start the last weekend in May. We try to make the fruit-picking experience a happy and enjoyable one with easy access to all our different fruits and plenty of green space all around. Regular visitors will notice that there is more green space this summer. (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: July 9, 2015, JBS) (UPDATED: June 25, 2009)
A visitor writes: "Extremely friendly owners, very tidy picking areas, suitable for children, tea room available in afternoon, best to phone to see what is selling, information updated daily." - Graces Fruit Farm - PYO: Apples,
plums, blackberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, raspberries, loganberries,
Tayberries, asparagus, broad beans, runner beans
Causeway End, Thaxted Road, Wimbish, Saffron, Walden. Tel.01371 830387. Open: Call for hours and availability. Directions: On B184 Saffron Walden/Thaxted rd 4 miles S of Saffron Walden on R. Clearly signposted. PYO large range soft fruits, apples plums plus summer vegetables. Farm shop with range of produce. Tea room, childrens play area, picnic area. Facilities: Ample parking, children's play area, nearby pub, picnic area, tea room, plants and shrubs, easy access for disabled, toilets, caravan club. PYO Asparagus in April/May (call to check when ready). (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) - Hilltop Farm - They have some PYO - but I haven't heard just what!
Hilltop Avenue, Benfleet, Essex SS7 1PH. Phone: Phone: 01268 752734. -
Jarman's East Mersea Nursery - blackberries, broad beans,
currants (red and black), flowers, green beans, raspberries (red),
strawberries, other vegetables,
East Road East Mersea, Colchester, CO58TQ. Phone: 01206 386387. Email: info@jarmansnursery.co.uk. Open: UPDATE for 2018-2021- Their website is gone; Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me, (note, the other copycat websites and mommy bloggers, just copy from us; if they are reporting Jarmen's is open, they're outdated); their last reported hours were Monday to Saturday, from 9:30 am to 4 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, November 1st to February 28th Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm March 1st to October 31st. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Coming on to Mersea Island take the left hand fork and continue until the sign for Jarman's Nursery and PYO on the left hand side, the entrance to the nursery and car park are the next on the left. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cheque, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, AmEx. We have table-top strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Runner Beans, Broad Beans, Sweetcorn and Flowers are available either to pick yourself or freshly picked, also tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers. Our Farm Shop is open throughout the year and is stocked with our freshly picked seasonal produce. We also grow a wide range of bedding plants, perennials and grasses on site and fill hanging baskets and containers. Formerly known as East Mersea Nursery and Pick Your Own. (UPDATED: January 07, 2011) -
Lathcoats Farm - blackberries, boysenberries, cherries, currants
(red and black), gooseberries, plums, raspberries (red), strawberries,
Beehive Lane Galleywood, Chelmsford, CM2 8LX. Phone: 01245 353021. Email:
info@eapples.co.uk. Open: Monday
to Thursday & Saturday 9 to 5, Friday 9 to 6, Sunday 10 to 4 BUT please make
sure you are at the shop well before closing time.
Directions: A12 Galleywood exit. Take B1007 towards Galleywood
for one mile, at traffic lights straight over. After 200 meters, Turn right just
past Helix Garage, into Beehive La, B1009. Farm is less than 1 mile on L.
Click
here for their page with a link to a map and directions. The season usually starts about mid June and goes on until the
end of July. Payment: Cash, Cheque. Farm shop open throughout the year with
top quality food from local and regional producers. The Farm Shop is open all year round. Our
specialty is English apples - we grow 40 varieties in our orchards. The
apple season begins in August. Other pyo crops:
June - strawberries, Gooseberries & Raspberries;
July - strawberries, Raspberries, Cherries, Currants, Blackberries & Gooseberries
August - Blackberries & Plums
September - Plums.
A Saturday in October is our annual Apple Day and Farmers' Market when you will be able to sample 30 varieties of apple grown at Lathcoates and enjoy many other attractions. They have 45 hectares of apples, 40 varieties grown, also 3 hectares strawberries and other soft fruit, plus cherries, plums, asparagus. You can rent a range of different apple varieties and get to keep all the apples at harvest time. . (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: June 27, 2014, from their website) (UPDATED: September 04, 2009) -
McLauchlans of
Boxted Pick Your Own Berry Farm - strawberries, other berries, broad beans and sweet
corn
53, Straight Road, Boxted, Colchester, Essex CO4 5RB. Phone: 01206 272275. Open: 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 4pm on Sundays.; NOTE: in 2020, 9 am to 10am daily is reserved for over 60 year olds (no reservation required); You need to BOOK A TICKET to pick strawberries as we’re limiting the number of people on the strawberry field; No reservation needed to pick raspberries, gooseberries, or other crops. The Farm shop has freshly picked fruit is available in high season, for those who are short of time. Arrive early to ensure you don’t miss out! Alternatively, contact the farm shop to check availability and place an order. The farm shop stocks local produce including local potatoes, cream and ice cream. Freshly frozen fruit is also available throughout the year. Payment: We prefer payment by debit and credit cards. They have all type of berries, broad beans and sweet corn. Directions: The farm is half way down Boxted Straight Road, near Colchester in Essex. They are only ten minutes drive from Colchester North Station, Highwoods and the A12. Click here to send them an email. Click here to view a map of Boxted and Colchester. The fruit season will start in late May, or early June:
Strawberries Late May - July
Gooseberries Late May
Jam strawberries June - July
Broad beans June - July
Redcurrants July - August
Raspberries July - August
Dessert gooseberries July - August
Blackcurrants July - August
Sweetcorn late August. (UPDATED: July 12, 2020, JBS) -
Spencers Farm Shop, Cox's, Wickham Fruit Farm - strawberries, Raspberries,
Gooseberries, Red & Blackcurrants, Blackberries, Loganberries,
Cherries, Plums, 18 Varieties of Apples Asparagus, Runner Beans, Courgettes,
Pumpkins.
Wickham St Pauls, Halstead, CO9 2PX. Phone: 01787 269476. Fax: 01787 269476. Email: office@spencersfarmshop.com. Open: See their website for hours. Directions:Directions and map. strawberries, Raspberries, Gooseberries, Red & Blackcurrants, Blackberries, Loganberries, Tayberries, Cherries, Plums, 18 Varieties of Apples Asparagus, Runner Beans, Courgettes, Pumpkins.Since first growing "Pick Your Own" fruit in 1973, our range of PYO fruit and vegetables has grown considerably. We are particularly proud of our "Table Top Strawberries" grown at waist height for ease of picking! If you would like to pick your own, simply call in at the shop (opening times here), but feel free to phone us on (UK) 01787 269 476, or email us if you have any queries. . Click here for a link to our Facebook page.
(UPDATED: June 21, 2018, JBS)Availability Jan / Feb/Mar April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Asparagus Strawberries Gooseberries Raspberries Redcurrants Blackcurrants Blackberries Loganberries Tayberries Cherries Apples Plums Runner Beans Sweetcorn Courgettes Pumpkins -
Wash Farm -
asparagus, blackberries, boysenberries, currants (red and
black), gooseberries, raspberries (red), strawberries, tayberries,
Queen Street Sible Hedingham, Halstead, CO9 3RH. Phone: (01787) 461208. Email: shirley@washfarm.co.uk. Open: Weekdays 9am until 6pm. Saturdays 9am until 5pm. Sundays 10am until 4pm; June until August. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Cheque. Apart from ourselves there are plenty of local attractions such as: Hedingham Castle and the Colne Valley Railways (always a hit with the younger children). The picturesque and historic villages of Castle Hedingham, Finchingfield, Bardfield, Thaxted and Saffron Walden are just a stone’s throw away from the farm. If you stop off at Wash farm first you’ll still have enough money in your pocket for the rest of the day! PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN CONTAINERS TO PICK INTO. HELP SAVE PLANET EARTH AND YOURSELF SOME MONEY!! Click here for a link to our Facebook page. (UPDATED: June 21, 2018, JBS) (ADDED: July 04, 2012) - West Hyde - raspberries (red), strawberries,
West Hyde St Lawrence Road, Tillingham, CM0 7SB. Phone: 01621 779507. Email: mick.garwood@btinternet.com. Open: Every day during the season 9am to 5pm. Directions: We are located near to Street Lawrence Bay follow signs from Steeple Road. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. (ADDED: June 23, 2012) - The Christmas Tree Farm at Hawkwell - Christmas trees
Rectory Road, Hawkwell, Hockley. Christmas trees throughout December
Hertfordshire
-
Bullscroft Farm - strawberries, raspberries,
tayberries, gooseberries, worcesterberries, redcurrants, backcurrants
Chenies Road, Chorleywood. Phone: 07719 252000. Open: June-Sept, Mon-Sunday 09.30 to 18.00. Directions: From M25, Junction 18, take A404 dir Amersham. Straight ahead at traffic lights, farm entrance one mile from M25 opposite St Clement Dane’s School. Family run farm, offering PYO since 1988. Located in Chilterns AONB. PYO and as ready picked. Strawberries - May and June, Tayberries - From July. Gooseberries - June. Worcesterberries - July. Redcurrants - July. Blackcurrants - July. and more! (UPDATED: June 21, 2018, JBS) (UPDATED: June 29, 2009) -
Cammas Hall Fruit Farm -
Strawberries, Raspberries,
Gooseberries, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Sweetcorn, Blueberries,
Broadbeans, French Beans
Needham Green, Hatfield Broad Oak, NA, CM22 7JT. Phone: 01279 718 777. Email: helen@jmlukies.co.uk. Open: Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Only portaloos in the car park and no other facilities. Strawberries: June to October. Raspberries: July to October. Gooseberries: June to July. Blackberries: July. Blackcurrants: July. Sweetcorn: End of August. Blueberries: July to August. Broadbeans: June. French Beans: July. They also have fruit/veg that is already picked and ready to go. Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, sweetcorn & onions. Our own sunflowers and cherries are available ready picked. They have a Tea Barn for Breakfasts, paninis, salads, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, cream teas, ice creams, delicious homemade cakes and a great selection of hot and cold drinks. There is also a Farm Shop with a wide range of local produce including fresh fruit and vegetables, meats and cheeses, meringues, our jam and honey, eggs, chutneys, pickles and much more. For further updates and to find out about our summer opening schedule please keep checking back here or follow us Click here for our Facebook page or Twitter. (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: July 31, 2015) -
Graveley Fruit Farms
- PYO strawberries, raspberries, currants, and broad beans.
Graveley Hall Farm, Graveley, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 7LY. Phone: 01438 727709. Email : Graveleyfruitfarm@hotmail.com. Directions: Located on the B197 north of Stevenage. All our fruit is available as Pick Your Own or you can buy it ready picked in our cafe. The cafe serves teas, coffees and light snacks and ice cream. We have a large children’s adventure play area including a zip wire and a haystack, and the play area is overlooked from the cafe. So Mum and Dad can relax with a cup of tea while the kids let off steam. Tractor and trailer rides are available most weekends and include a trip over the 'off road' bumps at the back of the farm. Loads of fun in an adventure filled ride. There are also some pet pigs to look at and feed, pig food is available to feed them. (UPDATED: May 14, 2019, JBS) -
Hawkswick Fruit Farm - currants (red and black), gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries,
Harpenden Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 6JG. Phone: 01727 831224. Email: info@hawkswickfruit.co.uk. Open: Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 - 18:00; Saturday and Sunday: 09:00 - 18:00; Monday: Closed all day. Directions: From
north Exit M1 junc 9. Left at roundabout onto A5183. At next roundabout take 1st exit left up hill on Redbourn lane (B487). At next roundabout take 3rd exit onto A1081. Follow along for approx 2 miles. Fruit farm signposted on right.
From south exit M1 at junc 6. go underneath motorway onto north orbital road. Go over the M 25 and at next island take 1st exit left onto the B4630 Watford road. Continue along passing 1 mini roundabout and at next roundabout turn left onto
King Harry lane.
At end of that road turn right at mini island onto Hemel Hempstead road A4147. Straight over island into
Batchwood drive. At main set of traffic lights at Ancient Briton pup turn left onto A1081. Go past
Texaco garage on right then second turning on left.
M25 take exit 21A then follow M1 south directions. 20% Pensioner discount on
Tuesday afternoons. MINIMUM CHARGE, ADULT: £2.00 PER PERSON, CHILD (5+):
£0.50 PER CHILD. Free Parking. Strawberries: End of June, July and Early August; Raspberries: July and August; Gooseberries: July; Red and black currants
in July and August.(UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: 20, July 2008)
-
Pearce's Farm Shop - PYO: strawberries, raspberries,
pumpkins
Hamels Park Farm, Buntingford. Phone: 01920 821246. Email: info@pearcesfarmshop.com. Open: starting in May or June. We have been growing strawberries since 1978 and with the raspberries also have an excellent pick your own that makes a fun family activity. Asparagus, is another of our specialities and when in season during May and June it is much sought after by our customers for the excellent flavour. We also grow a great range of pumpkins and squash available from October, in time for Halloween and also ornamental gourds that make interesting autumnal decoration. Looking to offer something different we have planted the Hippophae rhamnoides berry, or sea buckthorn, which is one of the superfoods that is full of vitamins and not that common in the UK, as well blueberries, another very healthy fruit.The farm shop has strawberries, raspberries, runner beans, pumpkins, gourds, squash. Veg, fruit, bread, cakes, frozen foods, chutneys, jams, dairy, smoked salmon, dried goods, animal foods, plants, flowers. Strawberry & Raspberry PYO open - ring for up-to-date availability. We have a large area of soft fruit at Pearce’s, available for visitors either to pick themselves, a popular activity with families, or to buy in the shop. Our café also uses them to make delicious puddings, tarts and crumbles. (UPDATED: May 14, 2019, JBS) (UPDATED: July 11, 2015, JBS)
Farmshops, Farmer's Markets and Roadside Stands, Etc. (NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)
Click here for farmshops in this area.
Meats, Milk and Eggs:
Essex
-
Wash Farm - Pork, Lamb, 100% grass and/or grain fed, Eggs
(free range), sausage, Bacon (pork), Farm market with fruits and
vegetables, Within an easy drive to an Interstate road, children
welcome, Fresh eggs
Queen Street Sible Hedingham, Halstead, CO9 3RH. Phone: (01787) 461208. Email: shirley@washfarm.co.uk. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Cheque. (ADDED: July 04, 2012)
Local Honey Sources:
Essex
-
Cammas Hall Fruit Farm - Honey (retail), Honey from hives on
the farm, Fresh eggs, concessions / refreshment stand, restrooms,
birthday parties
Needham Green Hatfield Broad Oak, Nr Bishop's Stortford, CM22 7JT. Phone: 01279 718570. Email: helen@jmlukies.co.uk. Open: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5:30 pm Open June to September. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. Click here for our Facebook page. The farm has an informative Nature Trail where you can opt for a short stroll or a longer trek. We also have a Tea Barn, well stocked Farm Shop and children's play area. (UPDATED: July 31, 2015)
Resources For Farmers
Bedfordshire
-
A Tree is For Life Limited - wholesale Christmas trees,
National delivery, sale,
Luton, Lu5 6EF. Phone: 0845 045 0129. Fax: 015250631695. Email: info@atreeisforlife.co.uk. Open: We are open for sales Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 1700 Last order date to be receied no later than 18th December for guranteed delivery. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We are open for sales Monday to Friday 9.00 to 1700 Last order date to be received no later than 18th December for guranteed delivery. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. (ADDED: November 02, 2012)
Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
Strawberries typically begin from mid- May in the south and central England, and a couple of weeks later in the north and Scotland. They typically continue through June and into July. Beyond that, some farms plant later bearing varieties, day neutral varieties and "everbearers, so they may have strawberries to pick until frost. But to be sure of a good harvest, go early in the season, from mid May through June.
Of course, it highly depends upon microclimates (earlier in warmer western coastal areas) and the varieties planted by each farm. The timing, quality and quantity of the strawberry crop varies considerably, so always check with the farm's website or Facebook page - or even call them before you go to the farm.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
- Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
-
Leave
early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
-
Most growers furnish picking containers designed
for strawberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring
containers.
If you use your own containers, remember that heaping
strawberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries.
Plastic
dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides
and large pots make good
containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right. -
Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can
work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the
sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring
along if it has been rainy.
Tips on How to Pick Strawberries
- Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.
- With the stem broken about one-half inch from
the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.
- Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries.
- Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
- Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.
General Picking Tips
Whether you pick strawberries from your garden or at
a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
-
Be careful that your feet and knees do not
damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
- Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part
the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
- To help the farmers, also remove from the plants
berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them
between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will
quickly spread to other berries.
- Berries to be used immediately may be picked any
time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the
early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the
day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
- Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine any
longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or
shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible
after picking. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few
days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright colour and fresh flavor
and tends to shrivel.
- For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!
When you get home
- DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them. Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
- Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
- Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the caps (green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) See this page about how to freeze strawberries.
- If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of ripeness when picked.
- Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy.
Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries
- How to freeze strawberries!
- Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
- Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
- Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
- Strawberry jelly
- Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
- Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
- Canning strawberries
- Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
- How to make fruit juice - strawberry and other berries
- Strawberry pie filling
- Strawberry pie
- Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
- Fig-strawberry jam
- Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin
Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips
-
Picking the best strawberries:
Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after
they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on
the far right is
completely ripe. - Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake. To find out where and when there is one near you, see this page for a list of strawberry festivals in the UK!
- Strawberries measurements: government agriculture
websites tell us that
1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and
1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or 450 to 600 g). Of course, the weight varies on variety and weather conditions.
1 quart is normally enough for 4 servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself! - How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries = approximately 3.5 cups (828 g) hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (60 g to 120 g))(it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
- One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
- U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought. Consumer reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
- U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. 1 lbs (450 g) of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart/liter.
- It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries are reasonably plentiful
- The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through plastic mulch!
- Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
- Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as strawberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
- You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just
wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much
air as possible. Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of
this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
- Want to grow your own strawberries? Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
- See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia
Other weird strawberry facts
- Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
- Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was 'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
More conversions
1 pint (2 cups) of fresh whole strawberries
- = about 8 oz (1/2 lb, 225 g) of strawberries
- = 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
- = 1 cup pureed strawberries
- = 12-14 large strawberries
2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie
A 10 oz / 280gpackage of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries
| Strawberries - Average 2024 (most recent ) retail price per pound and per cup equivalent, | ||||||
| Form | Average retail price | Preparation yield factor | Size of a cup equivalent | Unit | Average price per cup equivalent | |
| Fresh *1 | per kilogram | 0.94 | 0.320 | Kg | ||
| Frozen *2 | per kilogram | 1 | 0.331 | Kg | ||
| 1 - Includes regular strawberries. Excludes jumbo and long-stemmed varieties. The Standard Reference (SR) reports that inedible caps and stems account for 6 percent of the retail weight, implying a preparation yield of 94 percent, when strawberries are eaten raw. | ||||||
| 2 - Excludes strawberries with added sugar or other sweeteners. Includes unsweetened strawberries. Consumers are assumed to eat the berries in frozen form without further preparation. | ||||||
| Source: USDA, Economic Research Service calculations from 2020 Circana (formerly Information Resources, Inc. [IRI]) OmniMarket Core Outlets (formerly InfoScan) data; the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR), Legacy Release; and the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 201718 as well as the FPED's accompanying Methodology and User Guide. | ||||||