Family Friendly Strawberry U-Pick To Benefit Local Food Banks and 4-H Clubs

Betty Jo Tompkins’ cheeks are as red as the strawberries she talks about when she promotes the Fourth Annual Strawberry U-Pick scheduled for March 19 at Fancy Farms in Plant City.

“It’s the ultimate win-win situation because you feel great helping other people and you get to take home some great strawberries,” Tompkins said, at the most recent Community Roundtable meeting at Center Place. “It’s a great learning experience, too, and you can eat strawberries while you’re picking.”

Rain or shine, the public is invited to pick the ripened strawberries for purchase — 50 cents per quart — or to send off to area food banks via the Nativity Food Bank truck that will be on hand, Tompkins said.

Pre-picked strawberries will be sold for $1.00 a quart.

Representatives from 4-H Clubs will work to pick strawberries on behalf of people too old or too frail to pick for themselves.

“Monies raised go to the Hillsborough County 4-H Foundation and will be used by area 4-H clubs to send kids to camp, to competitions, to legislatures, to the 4-H Congress and to all kinds of special events throughout the year,” Tompkins said.

Tompkins is president of the Hillsborough County 4-H Foundation and vice president of the statewide foundation.

Nativity Food Bank, she added “has coolers to accommodate the strawberries for distribution on Monday [March 21] to Meals on Wheels and food bank customers.” Moreover, Tompkins added, the strawberries “will be distributed to food banks throughout the county.”

 A flat of strawberries equals six quarts, which is 12 pints, Tompkins noted.

“Last year alone I picked 80 to 90 quarts myself,” she said. “I will tell you this, the first 40 were easier than the last 10. After you pick for awhile you realize just how hard it is for the people who bring the food to our table.”

Fancy Farms is owned by Carl and Dee Dee Grooms, who for years have allowed for the charity Strawberry U-Pick, Tompkins said.

“One family last year had their girl’s birthday party at the event,” she added. “They invited the girl’s friends and they all picked strawberries. The kids got to take strawberries home but first, back at the girl’s house, the girls also got to make strawberry jam and they got to take that home, too.”

 So, what to do with all the strawberries? 

“With one quart of strawberries you can cut them into pieces and make at least four strawberry shortcakes or two to three great smoothies,” Tompkins said.

“The great thing about strawberries is you can cut them up and put them in your freezer,” Tompkins said. “The season ends soon, the end of April, but you can have fresh strawberries throughout the year if you freeze them up."

Moreover, Tompkins added, there are free canning classes at Hillsborough County Extension services in Seffner, including for strawberry preserve. “And if you can your own strawberries you can control the amount of sugar,” Tompkins said. “Sugar-free preserve is usually so much more expensive at the grocery store but it’s not expensive when you can at home.”

Tompkins said recipes will be available at Fancy Farms for people who come out March 19 to pick strawberries.