Suisun's Strawberry Patch Is Open

It's that time of year again, when fresh strawberries are picked across California. You can buy them at the supermarket, but for the ripest, freshest berries, try visiting Suisun City's locally owned strawberry patch at 4337 Walters Road, just inside Bella Vista Drive.

And of course, Patch had to visit the patch. (womp womp)

The Saephen family runs the local strawberry patch and Choua Saephen, president of operations, said that one variety of strawberry produces from now until November.

I looked on the California Strawberry Commission's website for some more information about the seasonal berry:

Around The World With Strawberries
If all the strawberries produced in California this year were laid berry to berry, they'd wrap around the world 15 times. That's enough strawberries to provide every U.S. household with 12 pint baskets!

Better Start Eating Strawberries
Respondents to a recent national survey labeled strawberry lovers as "health conscious, fun loving, intelligent and happy." Non-strawberry lovers, on the other hand, were described as "weird, boring, stuffy--picky, fussy eaters who avoid healthy foods."

Hand-Picked and Packed
All strawberries are picked, sorted and packed by hand in the field. The trays of strawberries are then rushed to shipping facilities where they are cooled-down to about 34 degrees Fahrenheit. (A tray normally contains 12 one-pint baskets.) Within 24 hours of harvest, the strawberries are loaded on refrigerated trucks for delivery to local supermarkets across the country. This unique distribution system ensures that this delicate fruit reaches consumers in fresh-from-the-field condition.

Strawberry Lore and Legend
In provincial France, strawberries were regarded as an aphrodisiac of the highest quality. Newlyweds traditionally were served a soup of thinned sour cream, strawberries, borage (a European herb whose flavor is reminiscent of cucumber) and powdered sugar.