By Corinne Hansch
Strawberry season in Upstate New York is fleeting – three to four weeks max. Blink, and you might miss it! There’s truly nothing better than a fresh, locally grown strawberry. They have a swoon-worthy perfume, and biting into a just-picked, ripe strawberry is a juicy experience. As a long-time organic farmer, I’ve discovered the joy of seasonal eating means “go with the glut”. Enjoying seasonal produce means eating massive amounts while they are around and buying extra to preserve the harvest.
If you don’t grow your own, getting your weekly supply at the farmers’ market is a must. I regularly spend $60 – $100 a week on strawberries during peak season, and set aside many pounds in my freezer, preserve them into jams, and eat an exorbitant amount of strawberries and cream (shortcake optional). Sometimes farmers have “seconds” for sale – these are the bruised ones that are perfect for jam. Strawberries are incredibly backbreaking and labor-intensive to harvest, and that’s why I’m happy to pay a farmer full price for these ephemeral spring gems. Once their short season is over, you’ll regret not splurging!
Buying peak-of-season, local, and organic produce is not only the most delicious way to eat – it’s the most ethical way to eat. When you choose locally grown, organic produce, the impact is profound. Small-scale organic farmers care deeply about the land they steward and create habitat for pollinators while building healthy soil that sequesters carbon, thus combating climate change. Organic farmers often pay living wages to their staff and are helping to rebuild rural economies. And best of all, organic produce grown in rich soil is nutrient and flavor-dense.
Strawberries are often treated with the most toxic pesticides and fungicides on the commercial scale. So it is doubly important to seek out organic and toxin-free strawberries for your more vulnerable family members – pregnant mamas, small children, and elders are especially sensitive to the toxic chemicals found on conventionally grown strawberries.
Strawberries are currently available at Yada Yada Yada Farm, Gomez VeggieVille, Burger’s MarketGarden, and Owl Wood Farm, with more farms bringing their berry harvests soon. Happy eating!
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Wednesdays from 3–6 PM and Saturdays from 9 AM–1 PM at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs, and on Mondays from 2–5 PM in Clifton Park. Visit saratogafarmersmarket.org to sign up for the weekly newsletter, and follow the market on Facebook and Instagram.
