I almost missed the annual strawberry mania because I tend to think fruits and vegetables are harvested in the spring. But no. Strawberry season in Florida is around the middle of February to the middle of March. It can easily sneak by you, but you don’t want to miss some (or all) of the festivities associated with Florida’s strawberries. My recommendation is Parkesdale in Plant City. It’s a smaller, more intimate venue than the widely advertised Strawberry Festival but it’s well worth it.
I went for the strawberry shortcake. Once you get it, settle down in the garden area and savor every bite. Then you can then check out the adjoining garden center and gift shop. How you could get out of there without at least one new plant, a souvenir t-shirt or some homemade jam beats me. I left with two plants and a bag of strawberry cookies.
I have a friend who’s lived in Florida for over 30 years and seemingly knows every venue in the state. She told me the strawberry cookies were fabulous and the milkshake was a must. I thought about that for about two seconds and decided strawberry shortcake followed by strawberry cookies and washed down with a strawberry milkshake was just a tad too much strawberry all in one sitting. I did, however, buy those cookies to take home.
Oddly, I didn’t like them. That said, you can count on me to be back next winter for the shortcake.
The last thing I did was ask if they had any “pick-your-own” fields. As it turns out, Parkesdale owns Berry Sweet Acres just down the street and although they said the picking season had ended, I was encouraged to stop by and check it out.
I found rows and rows of strawberries, seemingly waiting for someone like me. If the picking season was over, I wonder what happened to all those plants. I could’ve filled up my trunk. However, I only left with a couple of photos.
All in all, it was a good – and might I add, satisfying – day in Plant City.
Parkesdale’s own strawberry trivia:
- 1. The strawberry is a descendant of the rose family.
- 2. Parkesdale Farms plants an average of 17,500 strawberry plants per acre.
- 3. It takes 21 days for a strawberry plant to go from flower to fruit.
If you have kids or grandkids you want to entertain, you might prefer the official Strawberry Festival down the street. it has Ferris wheels, cow-milking demonstrations, pig races and even a “coloring corner” for kids. But it also has a parking fee and bigger crowds. Or you could easily do both in one day. Me? I chose quiet and free parking.
- 3702 W. Baker St. (Hwy 92), Plant City, Florida
- 813-752-0502
- http://www.parkesdale.com
- October to April: 7 days a week from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- May to September: Closed Mondays – Open Tuesday- Sunday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Free parking
- Wheelchair accessible
- __________
- Berry Sweet Acres
- 5621 W. Baker St. (Hwy 92)
Lisa Browder 
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