新手上路
庶人 三级
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- 威望
- 20 点
- 资产
- 30 金币
- 注册时间
- 2007-6-5
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Strawberry season is sweet for many delicious reasons, and it heralds the beginning of summer.0 C2 ]* N/ P" L% Y+ q. R+ [
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( X+ `8 L) ~( g4 @1 nFor homegrown treats, it\'s hard to beat the strawberry, the first sweet fruit of summer.
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For the next few weeks Southwestern Ontario residents can buy strawberries at a local farm, or be farmers for a day and pick the strawberries themselves. 6 y. W9 b9 D0 e9 ^0 k$ g) k
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Mike O\'Shea of the O\'Shea\'s Farm Fresh, a family operation near Granton, said this year\'s crop is much better than last season because the weather has been much more co-operative.
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) X3 L/ f& j/ \' }" k3 K! g P; i& Q\"It\'s not as cold and wet as it was last season, so it looks a lot more promising,\" he said. 2 T% x8 s& E* g' U9 U
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\"If the weather continues this way and maybe gets a little cooler, it will be just perfect, and we\'ll have a great turnout,\" he said.
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O\'Shea is encouraging residents to phone in before coming out to pick. ' u5 I, S& k8 m I4 d0 A1 v) V
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Over at Red Barn Berries, near Woodstock, Sue Hilborn is expecting big things. ! Z5 z1 Q4 B' s( R: e" [
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\"It\'s going to be huge,\" said Hilborn of this year\'s strawberry crop. \"We avoided any frost.\" 5 a$ Q( }) h5 X, N" I
8 e/ s% x3 e- w- b2 j; C/ pTheir pick-your-own operation opens today, said Hilborn, who urges residents to stock up on the summer treat. 2 v7 e7 i. Z" F& N
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\"It\'s going to be easy picking,\" she said.
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STRAWBERRY PAIRINGS * g. r) D G# F, x9 K
+ b& I' N3 ]4 h. s& C- Serve fresh strawberries with a cheese platter for an appetizer or after-dinner treat. % F3 e @: ?( v8 F, e" t
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- Slice fresh strawberries into a salad of arugula and pecorino cheese. 4 O5 v" o' a: y
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- Another option is a salad of greens, sliced yellow pepper, strawberries and cooked pancetta or bacon.
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1 S6 x0 c( Q* A- Try sliced strawberries in an omelette. 4 Z1 O. O, s4 F9 E
9 k3 [% b# a4 _* v+ {4 T- Marinate a pint of strawberries with 2 Tbsp. (30 mL) sugar and 2 Tbsp. (30 mL) balsamic vinegar and serve chilled garnished with freshly ground black pepper. # J8 m2 E6 x5 O4 h3 Q7 X6 V
) u$ P# R$ J" a! |4 _STRAWBERRY TIPS % x, N0 s0 e) P, p* ~
9 w8 ]( O, u1 d/ M- When buying fresh strawberries, look for bright red berries with a sweet smell and no white or green spots.
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- V& E; ~1 b+ a4 f3 D& n- Size doesn\'t matter -- large or small, all strawberries are equally sweet and juicy.
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- Avoid crushed berries or those packed in juice-stained containers. Remove any damaged berries before they spoil the rest.
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3 B. S. p# b# F I. L- Refrigerate in a single layer with hulls intact. Just before using, gently rinse under cold running water and pat dry.
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- If freezing, place a single layer on a tray and freeze until firm. Pack into freezer bags and seal. ! o1 i; ~% N0 O2 ?& P. y
/ _4 Q. V# ]8 M; r9 JFOR THE HEALTH OF IT 2 y% p g# E. s. i
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Strawberries literally burst with healthy compounds, including anthocyanins -- natural plant pigments in berries that function as powerful antioxidants, sweeping out harmful free-radical molecules.
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They contain ellagic acid, which is effective in neutralizing carcinogenic agents. As well, they are rich in kaempferol, which may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol.
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A sampling of area farmers offering strawberries. / S) S; ^! G+ `4 I& }$ n
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- Foley Farms & Carolinian Winery, 4823 Dundas St., London, 519-268-2000 , c. a- i& Z, V/ s
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- Ferguson\'s Produce, Wellington Road South, RR 6, St. Thomas, 519- 631-6589 " ]% [! R0 O2 B- v! x! E0 e
- E5 u5 a l- o/ N1 v- G & M Howe and Sons, RR 5, Aylmer, 519-773-3837
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+ m+ x8 [8 _/ d( z" \- Heeman Greenhouses and Strawberry Farm, 20422 Nissouri Rd., Thorndale, 519-461-0555 or 519-461-1416 & z/ n# `+ ]. F! x* m# [6 N6 H
7 ?# g1 A. |8 d4 Q* V- J.M.D. Vandepoele Farms, RR 1, Drumbo, 519-463-5796 . T( t' j$ R' D/ L: Z$ R1 j
1 h! R& d* z, X! ?- Kerr Farm Market Inc., RR 6, Chatham, 519-352-4164 3 X7 d. h# \3 D5 c9 h
$ |& a: e: @; {0 ^" V- Listowel Greenhouses, RR 2, Listowel, 519-291-2434 |
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