Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Oregon strawberries: Whatever you do, don't compare them to California strawberries

Oregon is so proud of local strawberries
A few years ago I challenged a small group of friends to a strawberry taste-off: California vs. Oregon. Ooooooh weeeeee. Is that a touchy subject or what? Touchy, touchy, touchy. But we did a blind tasting of berries. The results? (I'm preparing to quickly run the other way with the answer because most Oregonians who hear the following will argue with me forever.) California strawberries won. Even the tasters argued. How could it be? I do not know. But I promise to never do it again. Especially if I ever want to finally be able to call myself an Oregonian. I promise. I won't touch the Holy Grail of Oregon strawberries are better than Californias. I won't share the story of being born in California's strawberry capital, or driving through fields after fields to get to my Catholic high school. Or what it was like to live directly behind the strawberry fields, especially the scent that permeated our house when they piled the fields high with chicken manure. Or that my brother would sit in his diapers, in our backyard strawberry patch, eating red juicy berry after red juicy berry. Nope, those are my California strawberry memories. I'll share with you my Oregon strawberry stories though...
strawberry fields forever
We went strawberry picking at Sauvie Island this weekend. AdRi loves picking strawberries. She relives her Oregon childhood of picking berries, and becomes the row boss and performing quality control. Saturday morning was overcast and warm, and the fields weren't too crowded at all. The strawberries were just ripening, and perfect for picking. Columbia Farm on Sauvie Island is a great place to pick, and we quickly filled our boxes.
so gorgeous these Oregon strawberries
The colors, the scent, these berries are delicious. These ones were Hoods. We stopped and bought a half flat of Shuksans as well, to make Strawberry Freezer Jam with. I'll blog about that tomorrow.
Fresh Oregon Grown
In fact, I'm so smitten with these Oregon strawberries, I'll be blogging strawberry recipes and photos the coming few days. And maybe, just maybe, someday, I'll be able to call myself an Oregonian. But it's hard to let go of my love of California strawberries.

15 comments:

Syd said...

I wonder how they would stand up to the delicious Louisiana strawberries. That would be fun to compare.

Anonymous said...

I am just going to pretend I never read this. Next thing I know you're going to be talking about the virtues of Seattle.

Anonymous said...

Picking strawberries is hard work. It pays very little and is usually run by a draconian leader.

Anonymous said...

Yes picking strawberries is hard work..but "back in the day" that was how we made money in the summertime. If you worked hard you made the money if not you didn't. Hmmm..A nice character trait to carry over into adulthood. Those times are some great memories..wouldn't trade them for anything!

SassyFemme said...

Bring on the strawberry recipes, I adore all things strawberry!

LeLo said...

Syd-Would those be pickled in Kool Aid?

Wacky Mommy-I know! It's totally not PC to say California strawberries are better than Oregons. I've come to realize that.

Anon 1:12-Yes, it is very hard work, and I have the upmost respect for those who pick our produce for us. On this day, however, we picked it ourselves.

Anon 1:23-AdRi has fond memories, too, of picking berries as a child. Part of the reason why we go pick as adults is so she can revisit her childhood. It's true!

SassyFemme-For you? You betcha. Strawberry recipes all week long.

Janet said...

You just needed to have a peach contest -- there is NOTHING like a peach grown in the Oregon mountain valleys. Nothing.

-janet

Anonymous said...

oh, but a peach grown in the SOUTH CAROLINA Piedmont . . .

April said...

Those look absolutely delicious! I'm sad we didn't get out to Sauvie Island's harvest season before we left.

harriska2 said...

We grow California strawberries here because they are bigger and have longer shelf life. It might be hard, if not impossible, to find Oregon berries. They are smaller and definitely taste better. As a picker from ages 10-14, they went from growing Oregon berries to California and I could certainly tell the difference.

Rozanne said...

Hoods are the best! So beautiful and tasty!

Jessica said...

I have to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog - I too love cooking and gardening. My grandparents lived in Oxnard (we were in the Valley) and we used to go up there all the time and stop at the little farm stand and get strawberries. Boy were those California strawberries good! But if you buy them in a grocery store, there or here, they don't compare to Oregon's. The difference anywhere is freshness.
I, too, will be a true Oregonian some day. It's been 12 years - does that count?
Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Saw your photo on Serious Eats - great shot! I'm an Oregonian now living across the country. I just wrote about my strawberry childhood memories the other day (here). I used to spend a lot of time on Sauvie Island, love living vicariously through your post!

Known Alias: Ingrid Tuesday said...

Hey! I was born in Oxnard too! I've lived here since infancy though, so I am compelled to fight to the death for the supremacy of Oregon strawberries. RAH!

Malady said...

During my last few months of pregnancy, I couldn't get enough strawberries. I ate a 1 lb. carton of them every single day. And right after I had given birth, in my sweaty, exhausted state I told the nurse that all I wanted was a big bowl of strawberries. Miraculously she returned moments later with just that. A bowl of big, soft, sweet Mount Hood Strawberries. I can't wait to try some of your recipes. Thank you. : )