Omelet wrote:

>
> Strawberries:
> The redder the better, and I also go by smell and check the bottom of
> any pre-packed baskets carefully for moldy fruits.
>



I emailed a producer yesterday about that. I bought a 4 lb. package of
strawberries from Costco, under the CalGiant label.

They were the largest, reddest, best smelling strawberries I ever
bought. They were red right down to the core.

Problem? They were quite hard and the sourest/tartest berries I've
ever tasted. They would have been wonderful for jam, I guess, with all
the added sugar. We have eaten about half, dipped deeply in sugar, and
still they were tart. I guess I'll chop the rest and mix them heavily
with sugar.

Lesson? March is too early for California strawberries, no matter how
good they look and smell.

gloria p