Strawberry picking tips

Strawberries do not ripen after they are picked, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture notes, so a white or green tip stays that way. Iowa State Extension says to harvest when the fruit is uniformly red, and N.C. Cooperative Extension’s field guide says most varieties reach peak flavor when they are deep red all over.

Color and smell beat size. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture says the size of the berry is not important: color and fragrance are the best indicators of flavor, and caps should be fresh, green and intact. Connecticut’s tips go further and suggest the smaller berries for maximum sweetness.

Iowa State Extension says to pick berries with the caps and stems attached to keep them firm, pinching the stem about a quarter inch above the cap rather than pulling the fruit off the plant. Connecticut’s advice is the same: twist or pinch the stem with your thumb and index finger to avoid damaging the plant.

Leave the caps on until you are ready to eat or cook the berries; N.C. Cooperative Extension says they stay fresh longer that way. Handle the berries gently and do not overfill or jostle your containers.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture points out that the season is short and suggests early morning, when the sun is lower and it is cooler. Iowa State Extension notes that strawberries should be picked about every other day in warm weather and every three to four days in cool weather, and that the harvest of some June-bearing varieties lasts three to four weeks.

Before you go, check the farm’s picking hotline, website or social accounts for the day’s conditions; some farms require reservations.

Connecticut’s tips: close-toed shoes, weather-appropriate clothes you do not mind getting dirty, a hat and sunscreen. N.C. Cooperative Extension suggests bringing an ice chest, and its field guide says not to leave berries in a hot car: refrigerate them as soon as possible. Its take-home card says to use berries promptly or refrigerate them at 41°F within two hours.

Wash your hands, and your children’s hands, before picking, and wash the berries only just before you eat or prepare them.

It depends on where you live: Florida’s season is in winter and early spring, while northern states pick in June and July. These are the typical months published by each state’s agriculture department or land-grant Extension service. Weather moves them every year, so check with the farm.

N.C. Cooperative Extension’s guide for strawberry pickers asks visitors to avoid stepping on plants or jumping over rows, not to pick the flowers, and to pay for berries before eating them. Farms post their own rules for safety and health; Connecticut’s agriculture department asks visitors to read and respect them.