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庶人 三级
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- 2007-6-5
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Strawberry season is sweet for many delicious reasons, and it heralds the beginning of summer.
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For homegrown treats, it\'s hard to beat the strawberry, the first sweet fruit of summer.
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& u# }9 {( K, L6 C$ f$ d+ kFor 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. 5 D5 E! q+ p8 |# K: x J# d
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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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\"It\'s not as cold and wet as it was last season, so it looks a lot more promising,\" he said.
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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. 9 y0 G& M! X4 a2 w. v
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O\'Shea is encouraging residents to phone in before coming out to pick. 4 E z L7 ]1 Z3 r A
" O2 `5 I1 F9 R- m$ K( I. eOver at Red Barn Berries, near Woodstock, Sue Hilborn is expecting big things.
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\"It\'s going to be huge,\" said Hilborn of this year\'s strawberry crop. \"We avoided any frost.\"
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6 a. h. Z) |* c8 H$ D' A* b+ `" PTheir pick-your-own operation opens today, said Hilborn, who urges residents to stock up on the summer treat.
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, D8 S6 N( w) E5 B7 g# y\"It\'s going to be easy picking,\" she said.
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7 `& P$ g5 e- ~+ z; d' mSTRAWBERRY PAIRINGS 7 N9 A' P9 n9 R) ?
2 B* D! L9 X9 m, p- Serve fresh strawberries with a cheese platter for an appetizer or after-dinner treat. / U% Z4 W% c5 Y+ c0 V7 i. W
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- Slice fresh strawberries into a salad of arugula and pecorino cheese. 7 {8 [! J4 x, ]5 S" e7 x
( z K. b, Z E. a- Another option is a salad of greens, sliced yellow pepper, strawberries and cooked pancetta or bacon.
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- Try sliced strawberries in an omelette.
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- 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. , v3 A+ @1 K' i# `! Q2 r/ P2 d
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STRAWBERRY TIPS 4 B7 m/ Z6 F6 N5 ~6 a2 Y
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- When buying fresh strawberries, look for bright red berries with a sweet smell and no white or green spots. : m% E7 r4 |7 }
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- Size doesn\'t matter -- large or small, all strawberries are equally sweet and juicy. 0 j# \/ Q) b; r+ T+ o
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- Avoid crushed berries or those packed in juice-stained containers. Remove any damaged berries before they spoil the rest. ) ?8 O/ n/ C4 P: u7 u
. ^& l! q8 n$ x- Refrigerate in a single layer with hulls intact. Just before using, gently rinse under cold running water and pat dry. # o" u4 a+ P; T0 K% ~
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- If freezing, place a single layer on a tray and freeze until firm. Pack into freezer bags and seal. 7 t- i- j& _2 g# ^! i
% p5 K/ [4 W/ C7 I& k+ L; sFOR THE HEALTH OF IT 4 e Y0 R" ~0 ]" ]$ g; N8 P7 \
# ]" F" b* |# D7 ~- pStrawberries literally burst with healthy compounds, including anthocyanins -- natural plant pigments in berries that function as powerful antioxidants, sweeping out harmful free-radical molecules. 6 g& r' H1 Z+ D B# j
# B9 ^5 \( M) v, _5 {, N# C# ^* KThey contain ellagic acid, which is effective in neutralizing carcinogenic agents. As well, they are rich in kaempferol, which may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. ; ^$ `3 t2 {2 o- |
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HOW SWEET
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- e9 o5 K" Q V% NA sampling of area farmers offering strawberries.
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- Foley Farms & Carolinian Winery, 4823 Dundas St., London, 519-268-2000
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- Ferguson\'s Produce, Wellington Road South, RR 6, St. Thomas, 519- 631-6589
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5 h$ W, _; t0 u- }+ C( y' M- G & M Howe and Sons, RR 5, Aylmer, 519-773-3837
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: H# r% C7 w. }4 _3 q4 {- Heeman Greenhouses and Strawberry Farm, 20422 Nissouri Rd., Thorndale, 519-461-0555 or 519-461-1416
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! E" b+ q7 D j/ U- J.M.D. Vandepoele Farms, RR 1, Drumbo, 519-463-5796 5 C+ b$ a# K6 D$ P) M4 w
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- Kerr Farm Market Inc., RR 6, Chatham, 519-352-4164 3 M% r ~7 m5 H
' _9 w7 f( s' ]4 f: F A, K- Listowel Greenhouses, RR 2, Listowel, 519-291-2434 |
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