"gloria.p" wrote:
>
> 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

I tried to tell TMU that when she wanted to buy strawberries a couple of
weeks ago. Since it was her birthday week, I acquiesced and bought them
for her. They looked and smelt great but were sour sour and sour!

Those Florida strawberry farmers who are destroying their crops rather
than sell them are brainless. If it costs too much to transport them far
afield, sell them at the gate. A time-honoured practice which gets rid
of the middlemen. Or else do pick-your-own and make the punters sign a
release against any injury.