Greetings strawberry lovers and welcome to all that is strawberry and amazing. Strawberry and amazing are synonymous around here!

Eastern Hillsborough county is the proud home of the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, FL. Strawberries are way more than a succulent berry around here, they’re a way of life! Even if you don’t live on a strawberry farm or work in the field or grow this magical fruit, you are still touched by it’s very presence.

Around here you look forward to Strawberry season. Whether it’s to gather in line at Parkesdale Farms for their first strawberry shortcake of the season or the grab a fresh flat of strawberries from the Berry Barn or to hit up Spivey Farms UPick… We countdown to strawberry season around here!

And the crowning jewel is the Florida Strawberry Festival to commence the end of the growing season. http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/information/

I’m going to make you drool, shortly with all things scrumptiously strawberry but keep in mind this is a well rounded “county fair” like festival with livestock shows, a full midway with over 80 rides, you can visit the “ask a farmer booth” and learn all about strawberry production, milk a cow, local singers and world renowned headliners throwing full concerts (tickets extra for this!), best in show arts and crafts (yes like blue ribbons for pies and quilts!), baby contests, pagants and parades through main street… it’s truly an awe-inspiring experience!

You can’t talk about the Florida Strawberry Festival and not discuss the STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE! As you can imagine, there is always a healthy line forming in front of one of the three infamous strawberry shortcake stands. The lines are “well oiled” machines and moves much faster than you’d imagine. So be patient, I promise the sweet strawberry reward, that awaits you at the end of that line, is worth it!

I always go to the St. Clement Catholic Church “make your own shortcake” booth inside the middle of the Parke Exhibit Building. It’s super easy to find every year,  next to the Parkesdale Farms booth. It’s just my family tradition to patronize that particular stand.

There are several other strawberry centric treats to choose from this year like: strawberry sandwiches (picture a hamburger with the works including strawberry mayo!), strawberry pie, strawberry cheesecake, colossal chocolate strawberry shortcake shake (you know the freakishly huge kind with fruity pebbles stuck to the side and a cupcake bulging out from the top of the whipped cream mountain!), strawberry pizza (my too pick, family favorite!), strawberry brisket tacos, strawberry kettle corn, strawberry cream puffs, the sweetheart donut (from Peachey’s Baking Company- see photo below) and strawberry Dole Whip!

Don’t forget to purchase some homemade strawberry jam and a flat or two when you leave! When I purchase half or full flats, I always make a few chocolate covered strawberries! They are quick and simple to do and everyone loves them in my household! All I do is purchase melting chocolate such as Dolci Frutta Hard Chocolate Shell. You can find this at a Walmart grocery store for sure! I microwave the melts as per the package directions and dip fresh, cleaned, dry strawberries (stew and leaves still attached, it makes a handy dipping handle and it looks pretty!). I set them on a parchment lined tray for the chocolate coating to harden, which usually only takes about 15-20 minutes at room temperature. You can refridgerate for about 2 days, any longer and the fruit starts to break down. But who are we kidding, when do chocolate covered strawberries last more than two days in any ones household?!

Berry best wishes for a fabulous visit to the Florida Strawberry Festival!

Rachel