Gather Ye Strawberries While You May

The elusive fruit that spells summer in the Midwest

Around Ann Arbor, food lovers eagerly await the arrival of Michigan strawberries. The season is short, no more than a few weeks. Savvy stores and the Ann Arbor Farmers Market put alerts on their social media pages when the fruit becomes available.

Michigan strawberries are generally smaller and a darker color than strawberries from Florida, Louisiana and California. Many farmers wait as long as possible before they harvest them, so that spring sun can set the flavor.

They can be a hit or miss affair. The first box I bought this spring was disappointing. While they were the proper color, they tasted a little watery. The second box, which I bought last Wednesday, was up to snuff. They had true strawberry flavor and that unmistakable scent.