Our exquisite Oregon strawberry crop gives all of us the opportunity to eat the best tasting and freshest berries anywhere. The additional benefit, of buying directly from the grower, provides each of us firsthand knowledge of the food we eat and the farmer’s practices.
Local Harvest just put out the word; a couple of Portland area farms are offering the first of the season.
Second only to Oregon cherries, in my book, real Oregon strawberries are food of the Gods. Last year’s bags of juicy, red, frozen delights are recently extinct at my house. So, it’s time to grab baskets, trays and bags, head to the farm and pick both for now and for the winter ahead.
If crouching down in the berry patch, filling containers, is not up your alley, the new crop of strawberries will be available pre-picked, as well.
For strawberries now, head to Justy's Produce and Flowers. Owner, Justy Papst is the 4th generation of farmers in his family. His 2500 square foot farm store is conveniently located in the town of Milwaukie, just off Interstate 205. The store offers a variety of products, including Justy’s own home grown, chemical free fruits and vegetables, hormone free milk, cheeses, butter, eggs and jams. Justy’s is located at 7924 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie Oregon and open 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday.
At Bella Organic, strawberry season begins, on June 18,when the farm stand and u-pick will be open. They also have asparagus ready to pick. In their fifth season, they now grow 50 varieties of fruits, herbs and vegetables. Bella Organic is located on Sauvie Island and open daily, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, at 16205 NW Gillihan Road, Portland, Oregon.
The Bella Organic farm store, scheduled to open in September 2011, will feature farm fresh organic produce from Bella Organic and selected farms around the Portland area
After the jaunt to the farm, when you arrive home with those luscious berries, you’ll want to assign your berries a future use. I suggest you make some freezer jam for the easiest and freshest tasting strawberry jam you’ll ever eat. Then freeze a bunch individually in freezer bags to use for future daiquiris, smoothies and tarts. Lastly, heap the juiciest and most perfect specimens in a large bowl and enjoy.
To invidivually freeze strawberries:
Rinse the berries well in cold water, being careful to remove any dirt. Line cookie sheets or jelly roll pans with clean linen towels or paper toweling. Place the washed berries on the towels in a single layer to dry, dabbing tops of berries with additional towels. Hull each berry with a berry huller (small inexpensive tool found in grocery stores) or use a small paring knife to hull. Remove towels and line the pans with waxed paper. Again, place the prepared berries onto the pans in a single layer. Allow them to freeze for at least two hours. Pop them into labeled freezer bags and return to freezer. When ready to use some berries, you’ll be able to remove just as many as you need.
Eat well.
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