strawberry messy – tis the season

Secondly, local farmers often select varieties for taste rather than shelf life or durability during transport. This results in varieties that prioritize flavor and sweetness over other characteristics. Commercially grown strawberries that are shipped long distances are harvested way before they’re fully ripe so they can withstand the journey. Local strawberries are allowed to ripen fully on the plant, maximizing their natural sweetness and flavor with more time in the sun.

Most importantly, I love supporting local farmers. Mother Nature can be a nasty business partner especially here in the great white North. Our farmers work hard producing delicious produce so I buy as much as I can locally for my family and for my restaurant  If you want to be really fancy, you can make your own meringue cookies. I never have time in the summer for fancy so I buy premade meringue dessert shells, from the supermarket and break them up. It’s hard to muck up sugar and egg whites! I keep the store bought meringues in my cupboard all summer so I can whip this dessert up when I have a bowl of gorgeous fruit.