627864 Sun Jun 14 15:18:21 -0700 2009 16 20 Tristate Region 0 4772313 OK, getting a bit late for this, but any recommendations? I'd been to a couple over the last year or so--one I recall in the North Bellmore area, I think by the Lion's Club or something like that--and been very disappointed. The strawberries were from Driscoll's in California! Geez, if I'm going to a LI strawberry festival, I want LI strawberries. Not to mention that the rest of the fest consisted of the usual craft stands and kiddie rides. Ho-hum. Sun Jun 14 15:18:21 -0700 2009 23843 Scott_R 1 4772642 I stopped going to the Mattituck festival a few years ago after about 3 straight years of California strawberries being served. I agree -- what's the point? Now, we just take the weekend to go to U-Picks. I will begrudgingly admit that the quality of the Driscoll's have improved over the past few years. They used to be entirely tasteless; now they DO taste like strawberries. Better living through genetic manipulation, I suppose. Sun Jun 14 17:49:15 -0700 2009 4772313 10814 sbp 1 4774018 While your Driscoll's Strawberries were probably grown and picked in California at this time of year, not all berries distributed by Driscoll's are grown in California. You can enter the tracking number on the Driscoll's clamshell on the website to find out where your berries were grown. Driscoll's strawberry breeding program is the largest in the world. We are constantly developing and testing new varieties. All our new variety development is done the old fashioned way - cross fertilization of berry plants. Enjoy! Mon Jun 15 09:07:16 -0700 2009 4772313 28998 Bleacher Dave 2 4774492 In my particular case, the boxes at the stands specifically stated that they were a product of California. That's OK for the supermarket out of season, but when you're going to a local strawberry festival it's shameful. Mon Jun 15 11:12:20 -0700 2009 4774018 23843 Scott_R 2 4774538 Hi Dave, Just want to compliment Driscoll's for all their organic berries, which are very sweet and delicious. Thanks for the time and effort you've invested to provide a viable alternative in a difficult competitive marketplace. Mon Jun 15 11:24:39 -0700 2009 4774018 17672 kelvin8r 2 4774806 Nice to hear from the source. Since the difference between the out of season strawberries I was used to having just 10 years ago and the ones I tasted a few months ago were so stark, I presumed there was some technological leap at work. Good job Driscolls! Mon Jun 15 12:46:39 -0700 2009 4774018 10814 sbp 2 4775225 I think Driscoll's and the other berry distributors have really stepped up the quality over the past 2-3 years. Between CA, FL, and Mexico there's almost a year-round supply of decent strawberries at reasonable prices. The FL berries available in the East can have a very good flavor, but I think that's more due to spending 1 or 2 days less in the truck than anything else. But FL is a lot like local berries, a very short season and then it's too hot down there. We really depend on coastal CA for an almost constant supply. Mon Jun 15 14:44:33 -0700 2009 4774018 10270 gnocchi 1 4775270 I live on the North Fork and I don't think this year's crop of strawberries have much taste. This is the lousiest spring weather we've had in a very long time and the berries reflect that. Mon Jun 15 14:59:49 -0700 2009 4772313 125207 msv 2 4775589 I hadn't even thought of this year's crop, the weather has been so lousy. I posted last year, almost to the day, that the LI crop had very little flavor (looked great, no taste). That's two years in a row of subpar strawberries! A real shame. Mon Jun 15 16:43:17 -0700 2009 4775270 10814 sbp 2 4776847 I totally disagree (respectfully of course) the strawberries out here this year are awesome! I even found some beautiful ones growing wild in my yard for the first time. They are so deliciousthat I bought two quarts the other day and made preserves, and I haven't done that in years. I've been getting them at the same farm in Riverhead, maybe he has a different variety? Tue Jun 16 04:52:12 -0700 2009 4775270 11097 coll 3 4777583 Which farm? Tue Jun 16 08:56:08 -0700 2009 4776847 23843 Scott_R 4 4778941 Just north of Home Depot on Mill Road, just passed by and he was all stocked up (grows them himself). Also ask if he has any Carolina tomatoes, they are as close to summer as you will get right now, we've been pigging out! Tue Jun 16 14:26:51 -0700 2009 4777583 11097 coll 5 4957186 I love their tomatoes! I get them every year, however haven't been this year, because i've been growing my own. I'll have to remember his strawberries next June. I have to say, I spent twelve dollars on a box of nectarines from Wickhams and was not that pleased. Tue Aug 18 15:30:59 -0700 2009 4778941 1102662 chowareyou 6 4958252 I grew a couple of tomato plants on the porch, heirlooms (got at Peconic Herb), one very spindly with two tomatoes, the other heartier with maybe a dozen but some have blossom end rot. Good thing there are so many farm stands around: pricewise hard to beat Bayview. Wed Aug 19 03:21:13 -0700 2009 4957186 11097 coll 3 4777920 Good to know. As I said, last year was awful. Looks like a jaunt out East is inevitable. Tue Jun 16 10:09:50 -0700 2009 4776847 10814 sbp 4 4777994 Just picked up my CSA share and there was a pint of strawberries. Smallish and tasty--not the best I've had, but enjoyable. Tue Jun 16 10:23:02 -0700 2009 4777920 23843 Scott_R 1 4778253 We picked up our share on Friday from the Hamlet Organic Garden in Brookhaven and were super-pleased with the strawberries. All of them had great flavor; red throughout the berry, very little white. There sizes ranged from large to small; Driscoll's Strawberries are more extra-large. We were concerned that with all the rain that the crop would go to waste, but so far it has been very good. Tue Jun 16 11:24:29 -0700 2009 4772313 71166 jonathankavner