Rod Hilton

I don't know what's going on with produce right now.

Over the last 10 years, Strawberries have gotten worse and worse. Organic or non-organic, this store or that, any time of year, they're all artificially reddened with nitrogen and the inside is pure white without a hint of sweetness. Every strawberry is disgusting.

Meanwhile someone out the perfected the art of growing blackberries because every blackberry, even the tiny and firm ones, is delicious.

Apr 10, 2023 at 11:04pmWeb
Show threadBeeksApr 10, 2023
@rodhilton legit
Show threadMichael WymanApr 10, 2023
@rodhilton in my area blackberries are an invasive weed, but they spread so profusely that pretty much every walking path becomes an all-you-can-pick blackberry briar in late July.
Show threadSzeApr 11, 2023
@rodhilton gotta shorten the supply chain on strawberries. The berry farm local to me produces the best strawberries I've ever had - the difference between strawberries that have traveled 3000 miles and ones that have traveled 30 miles is absolutely massive
Show threadJames ZimmermanApr 11, 2023
@szeis4cookie @rodhilton
I concur.
The best berries are picked fully ripe. Since ripe berries don't ship well, you are better off buying as local as you are able so shipping isn't a concern.
Show threadMattApr 11, 2023
@szeis4cookie @rodhilton same here. The local farm stand is only open about 2 months and routinely sells out daily. Bright red flavorful strawberries are totally different than the grocery store ones
Show threadSpaceLifeFormApr 11, 2023

@rodhilton

Here's a guess.

The Strawberries are likely being grown in a hothouse greenhouse environment, possibly hydroponically. Short plant from ground height-wise.

Blackberries would be found on a taller woody plant, which requires firm soil to support it.

The difference is probably the soil and the nutrients found within.

Show threadAdraApr 11, 2023
@rodhilton there’s a lot of drama with strawberries, actually. I generally only buy them at the farmers market, and aim for specific varietals (camarosas are my favorite), and even then I tend to only buy them during their peak season (April to June). But that variety has gotten harder to find because my go to source stopped planting them, said they’d been overbred and were getting cat faced (never heard that before but I got what they meant when I looked).
Show threadAdraApr 11, 2023
@rodhilton I hadn’t realized the extent to which breeding and its management really impacted them, but this story from a few years ago shows some of the conflict: https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-strawberries-uc-davis-20170505-story.html
Strawberry suit: UC Davis and former professors clash over who owns the fruits of research

Plant scientist Douglas Shaw spent his career toiling in California fields to grow the perfect strawberry, one that's plump and bright red and stays sweet even after the long trip to grocery store.

Los Angeles Times
Show threadAdraApr 11, 2023
@rodhilton And this more recent article: https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-strawberry-legal-battle-20190426-story.html
Column: A legal conflict brings a sour note to the sweet history of California strawberries

California strawberry breeders are the world's most successful in the field but have been fighting in court since 2013.

Los Angeles Times