Strawberries look better and keep longer when they are picked and handled correctly. Because they are a very tender fruit, they will bruise and discolour any time they are squeezed. Handle them gently, at all times, whether you are picking them, placing them in the container, or handling the filled containers. The surest way to pick fruit with a minimum of bruising is as follows:
- Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.
- With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.
- Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries.
- Carefully place – don’t throw – the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
- Don’t overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.
Remember…
Whether you pick strawberries from your own garden or at a pick-your-own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
- At the farm, it is important you pick only on the row assigned to you.
- If you use your own container, remember that heaping strawberries more than 12 cm (5 inches) deep will bruise the lower berries.
- Pick only the berries that are fully red.
- Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
- the row clean. Remove from the plants berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury, or other defects and place them between the rows behind you.
