Strawberry facts
Strawberries were cultivated by the Romans as early as 200 BC. In medieval times strawberries were regarded as an aphrodisiac and soup made of strawberries, borage and soured cream was traditionally served to newly-weds at their wedding breakfast. In the sixteenth century strawberries were sold in cone-shaped straw baskets thus becoming one of the earliest packaged foods. Dr. William Butler originated the famous quotation ‘Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did’.

Growing
The season begins mid-April with British glasshouse production. The plants are dormant until February when they are ‘woken up’ and prompted into growth with a little heat and supplementary lighting to fool the plants into thinking they are already into long warm days. By early March the first flowers are emerging and by the second week of April the first fruits can be picked. The peak of production occurs from the end of April until mid-May. The same cycle begins again in late July/early August to enable the fruit to be harvested from mid-September right through until mid-December. The production of tunnel-protected fruit begins in mid-May and extends to outdoor main crop in June.The process continues and in the autumn strawberries are again protected from bad weather and frosts so that consumers can enjoy British fruit right through until December. Although there are other varieties of strawberry by far the best known and most popular is Elsanta. It has excellent flavour, shelf life and quality and is an attractive glossy berry. Nearly 80% of the fruit found in supermarkets during the main British season will be the Elsanta variety.