For years, I have waged a friendly debate with my family in California over which state produces the best strawberries.  They are fond and proud of their varieties – and why wouldn’t they be?  After all, they really don’t know any better.  They’ve never had the best – Oregon’s berries.  And the best of the best, in my opinion, are Hoods.  They are large and sweet, and red to the core.  But they are delicate, and can’t make the long truck ride south.

I had a conversation with a farmer at the Beaverton Farmer’s Market a couple of years ago that has stuck with me.  He told me that Oregon farmers were not going to be growing Hood strawberries any more, even for the local market - they are too fragile and perishable to be profitable.    

 That is such a sad state of affairs, to know that not everyone will have access to such a wonderful fruit.  It does, however, illustrate yet again one of the reasons to grow some of  your own food.  Home gardeners can grow the very best for themselves, fragility aside. 

Now is the time to indulge in one of Oregon’s great pleasures – strawberries.  Try different varieties at the markets and see which appeal most to you.  Then find a spot in your garden and vow to grow your own next year.  I’ll give you a little hint:  the best and most economical time to plant your strawberries is early spring when we have crates and crates of bareroot berry plants here.  So make a note of your favorites and set out some plants next spring.  This time next year you will be out in your berry patch, gathering up enough for some shortcake!