With this year’s season being two weeks ahead of time, I was so thrilled to catch the last of the strawberry season at Manoff Market Gardens, Solebury and Penn Vermont, route 113! Last Tuesday night, I picked up my friend Yvonne and rushed to see Amy at Manoff Market Garden to see what we could find. When I arrived last year, the watered down season brought tears to farmers’ eyes as rain washed out the crops, literally. In contrast last week, it was such a joy to hear that it was the best season in 10 years. The loads of dry sunny weather with just the right amount of rain brought back the thrill of PYO; perfectly ripe red strawberries with flavors packed with juicy sunshine! Amy mentioned that all of their varieties were ripe at the same time – jewel, cabot, earliglow, and late glow…oh my!

The selection we picked for the Ottsville Farmers Market tasting was ideal, a small selection of the shrek-like Cabot, juicy jewel for dipping and displaying, as well as canning choices of sweet tart flavor packed early and late glow to preserve the 2010 season as long as possible. As market patrons tasted the varieties, it was wonderful to hear the exclamations “that is what a strawberry is supposed to taste like!”. Penn Vermont had such a successful season that they were closed for a few days during the week until there were more berries. Luckily, I was able to visit on Saturday and was the LAST person to walk off the farm with strawberries for the season! This year we enjoyed the berries for World Cup and will need to have Raspberries and cream for Wimbledon!

Hale the helper

Can you taste the sunshine?

Get them while they last!