Strawberry Stampede
On Memorial Weekend thousands of strawberry desserts are served at strawberry festivals in Arroyo Grande, Garden Grove, Guerneville and Vista. A tradition in Garden Grove continues at the strawberry shortcake cutting ceremony this Friday, where free cake is served to all who attend! But that’s just the whipped cream on the shortcake. From a strawberry parade to a berry stampede, little shortcake beauty contests to cookoffs, the public can’t get enough of a fruit that’s huge–literally and figuratively.
Berry facts:
1. California grows 88% of the nation’s strawberries
2. 75% are harvested for the fresh market, while 25% are processed and frozen
3. 500 miles of growing region extends from San Diego to San Francisco
4. Unlike other fruits California strawberries are hand-picked when ripe and they don’t continue to ripen after picking
5. In 2014 Oxnard has remained the largest strawberry producer in the state and its berry production is up from last year
6. California strawberries have a 12 month growing season
7. Volume peaks in April, May and June when production in all districts overlaps
