Strawberries
Strawberries are how Malvitz Bay Farms got started, so sharing some of what we know about strawberries seemed like the right thing to do!
Fun Facts About Strawberries
- Only fruit with seeds on the outside
- Eight medium sized strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange
- Member of the rose family
- Second most popular natural flavor (chocolate is #1)
Picking Information
The strawberry picking season in Northeast Wisconsin runs from mid June through early July for about 3-4 weeks. The season is most dependent on Mother Nature.
Pick Your Own Picking Tips
- Best time to pick is early in the morning when the berries are still cool.
- Look under leaves for berries. Sometimes the best are hidden!
- Use both hands to pick – one to hold the stem and the second to hold the berry.
- Keep the stem or hull on the berry.
- Pick only all red berries. Green or white tipped berries will not ripen after picked.
- Gently handle the berries. Berries should not be squeezed. Too much handling or dropping berries can cause bruising.
During the season, Pick Your Own at Malvtiz Bay Farms is open from 7-11 AM daily. Watch Facebook for updates in case of bad weather or other conditions that will effect picking.
Storing and Freezing Strawberries
Storing Strawberries
- Refrigerate picked berries and especially keep them out of the heat & sun.
- Store in loosely covered containers.
- Don’t wash the berries until they are ready to be used.
- Take hulls & stems off of the berries after they have been washed to prevent them from soaking up the water.
- Best to eat berries within 2-3 days.
Freezing Strawberries
- Freezing is great for long time storing.
- Berries can be frozen whole, chopped, sliced, mashed, or pureed.
- Pack in an airtight container
- Leave 1 inch of space in the container.
- Frozen without sugar – use within 3 months
- Frozen with sugar – use within 1 year
Using Strawberries
Equivalencies
- 1 Quart = 1 ¼ to 1 ½ pounds
- 1 Quart = 4-5 servings
- 1 ½ Quarts = 9-inch pie
- 1 cup sliced fresh berries = 10 oz. package of frozen berries
Nutritional Value (1/2 cup serving)
- Calories 24
- Fat 0.3 grams
- Carbohydrates 5.5
- Vitamin A 21 iu
- Vitamin C 45 mg
- Calcium 11 mg
- Phosphorus 15 mg
- Potassium 131 mg
- Sodium 1 mg
- Fiber 1.8 grams
