Fun fact: Not all strawberries are the same.
Strawberry plants actually comprise 103 distinct species and subspecies, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. There’s a lot more to that little red berry than meets the eye, and at the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival, attendees will have the chance to taste the difference for themselves.
For 17 of the festival’s 29 years, the Santa Maria chapter of California Women for Agriculture has managed a free strawberry variety tasting at the festival. This year, the tasting will be located in the dining hall of the Strawberry Pavilion, at the fairgrounds’ center.
“It’s a free tasting test for the public to taste the different varieties of strawberries that are grown in our area,” California Women for Agriculture Chapter President Roberta Alderete said. “A lot of people don’t know, but just like apples have different varieties, strawberries do also.”
Tasters will sample and rank their favorites of four varieties of strawberries provided by Darensberries, Manzenita Farms, Driscoll’s, and Rincon Fresh.
“People just have fun tasting the different berries, and then they grade them as to the flavor and the sweetness,” Alderete said. “It’s not a scientific experiment. It’s just a fun taste test.”
California Women for Agriculture will run the tasting alongside volunteers from Santa Maria High School’s (SMHS) Future Farmers of America, SMHS physical education students, Allan Hancock College agriculture students, and students from Hancock’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program.
Alderete said the tasting and festival is meant to celebrate Santa Barbara County’s No. 1 crop: strawberries.
“The agribusiness that’s associated with the strawberry industry is huge, and the reason for the festival is to acknowledge and thank our farmers and our farmworkers that bring this product not only to our community but share it all over the world,” she said.
Plus, strawberries are not only widely loved but also extremely healthy, Alderete said.
“Who doesn’t like strawberries? Very few people,” she said. “It’s just a recognition for the industry and to thank our farmers for all their hard work and putting food on our tables.”
The tastings are free and open to all festival attendees from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the duration of the festival, from April 29 to May 1 at the Santa Maria Fairpark.
Staff Writer Brenna Swanston can be reached at bswanston@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 5, 2016.