Berries
Availability
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= Heaviest Supply |
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*Other varieties best in the summer months are Loganberries, Blackberries, Mulberries and Boysenberries
Strawberry
Food Facts
The sweet juiciness and bright red colour of strawberries can add to both the taste and presentation of any meal; it is no wonder they are the most popular berry fruit in the world.
Storage & Handling
Be sure to refrigerate strawberries as leaving them at room temperature causes them to spoil quickly. They will keep fresh in the refrigerator for two to three days.
Usage Tips
Add sliced strawberries to mixed green salad. Mix chopped strawberries with cinnamon, lemon juice and maple syrup and serve as a topping for waffles and pancakes.
Blueberry
Food Facts
Blueberries range in flavour from mildly sweet to tart and tang. They are bursting with nutritional value and are a top choice for a low calorie fruit option.
Storage & Handling
Store ripe blueberries in a covered container in the refrigerator where they will keep for about a week, although their flavour is at peak if consumed within a few days.
Usage Tips
Fresh blueberries add a colourful punch to cold breakfast cereals. They are also a great addition to desserts; layer yogurt and blueberries and top with crystallized ginger.
Raspberry
Food Facts
The sweet and slightly tart flavour combined with the almost-melt-in-your-mouth texture, have made raspberries a wonderfully delicious fruit.
Storage & Handling
Raspberries are highly perishable so they should only be purchased one or two days prior to use. Choose berries that are firm, plump and deep in colour.
Usage Tips
Plain yogurt mixed with raspberries and honey is delicious eaten as is or used as a topping for waffles or pancakes.
Mulberry
Food Facts
In traditional and folk medicine, mulberries are believed to have medicinal properties.
The fruits when immature are white or green to pale yellow with pink edges. In most species the fruits are red when they are ripening, turning dark purple to black and have a sweet flavour.
Storage & Handling
Mulberries lose their flavour quickly so it is best to consume them within a few days.
Usage Tips
Mulberries are perfect for making flavourful jam, sweet wine and other food products. Add mulberries to your cereal for a pop of flavour and colour.
Blackberry
Food Facts
The blackberry is an aggregate fruit that is composed of many smaller fruits called drupes. Select plump, firm, fully black berries because unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
Storage & Handling
Refrigerate for 2 to 3 days. You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash and place into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible. The berries will keep for several months in the freezer.
Usage Tips
Use on cereal, yogurt and in sour cream, or as a garnish for egg dishes. Also a great way to add a sweet flavour to mixed greens.
