Strawberries are unique - technically they are a ‘false’ fruit as the seeds, which are on the outside are the actual fruit and the sweet fleshy berry is an enlarged receptacle. (Think if the white core left on the raspberry plant when you pick raspberries)

They are the world’s most popular berry and an international culinary harbinger of spring. Their name is likely to have originated from one of two reasons- in the past strawberries were grown on bed of straw to prevent the berries being damaged OR the name is as a result of the Tudor for straw was ‘stray’ an expression that covered off the straggly nature of the strawberry plant of the time.

Strawberries need little adornment, though like so many things different countries have a preferred way of eating the berry. The UK likes cream and strawberries, most Europeans prefer sour or cultured creams though in Italy they like strawberries with red wine and a little sugar (also liked in Elizabethan times).In more recent times balsamic vinegar and / or grindings of black pepper have become de rigueur, so sweet, sour ‘n’ spicy.

Although strawberries will grow in most parts of the country the Auckland region produces 40% of the our commercial crop. The most commonly grown commercial type of strawberry available here is the Pajaro though other varieties with wonderful flavour to grow include Sundae and Baby Pink. Strawberries will not continue to ripen when after picking, they only deteriorate.

When you get strawberries home the best way to keep them is to unpack the fruit, spread them out on kitchen towel, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. This will prevent them bruising under their own weight in the package.