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The rows of green and red stretch on and on. And even here, in the strawberry fields, you can smell that fleshy sweetness rising from the plants.

It’s time to pick — or buy — Florida strawberries.

Although California dominates the market most of the year, balmy Florida is ground zero for strawberries in the winter (mainly from December through February).

And the capital of Florida strawberries? Plant City, which is between Tampa and Orlando in east Hillsborough County. Ninety percent of Florida’s strawberry acreage is in and around Plant City.

There are three types of strawberries: wild (often called fraises des bois), commercially grown hybrids and local strawberries. The two most common strawberry varieties grown in Florida are Strawberry Festival and Treasure. Strawberry Festival was developed at the University of Florida and is medium sized, colorful and good tasting. Treasure berries are ready for harvest earlier than Strawberry Festival and has a good color and great taste.

Farmers pay about $80 for 1,000 plants. And an acre holds 20,000. Around Plant City, which produces about 20 percent of the nation’s strawberries, 100 million fill the fields.

Source: www.Florida-Agriculture.com.

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Strawberries and your health

Strawberries are not only pretty and good tasting but great for your health. They are low in calories (one cup contains approximately 45 calories) and high in vitamin C. They have even been proven to be a deterrent to some forms of cancers and help prevent bad cholesterol, as well as being a good source of fiber.

Source: www.homecooking.about.com

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Caring for your berries

-- Berries that are ripe and ready to eat should be fully and deeply red.

-- Don’t choose any with large white or green spots.

-- Don’t expect them to ripen at home, because strawberries stop ripening as soon as they are picked.

-- The berries should be firm but not hard to your touch, and the calyx (the leafy cap) should be fresh and green.

-- Eat them as soon as possible after you buy them: They’ll be sweeter and firmer.

-- If you don’t eat your berries the same day, store them in the fridge. Don’t stack them: Spread them out in one layer in a closed container for just another day or two.

Source: www.Florida-Agriculture.com.

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Recipe

Strawberry Pineapple Marinade

Serves 8-10

Ingredients

1 cup fresh pineapple, diced with outer skin removed

1/2 cup mango, diced with outer skin and seeds removed

1 cup strawberries, washed, hulled and diced

1 tablespoon fresh ground ginger

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons sugar

Preparation

-- Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

-- If mixture is too thick you can add some water.

-- Keep for up to two days in the refrigerator.

-- Use as a marinade for meats or as a dip.

NOTE: If you want to use it as a salsa, blend half of the fruit until smooth and add the rest. Leave it chunky.

Source: www.strawberry-recipes.com

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More on berries

To learn more about strawberries, events, recipes and where you can pick them yourself in Florida, contact the Florida Strawberry Growers Association

at (813) 752-6822 or e-mail

at info@flastrawberry.com.