Locally Grown Strawberries
2020 UPDATE: We are currently unable to source strawberries from Huerto de la Familia. At this time we are sourcing from California organic growers.
As many of you already know, Genesis Juice prides itself on working to find the best quality locally grown organic fruits to make our juices, but many of you might wonder how local is local? Meet Heurto De La Familia, one of our strawberry providers, who is located less than 10 miles from our offices in Springfield, Oregon; an approximate 20 minute drive.
Heurto De La Familia is a local nonprofit group of Latino farmers whose goal is to provide an opportunity for Hispanic workers who want to stay in touch with their cultural roots and the earth by growing organic foods. Their goal? To increase the health and cultural identity of their fellow Latino farmers and provide Lane County with healthy organic based foods. To find out more about Heurto De La Familia check out our blog about their farm.
A key to their success in producing so many amazing strawberries is the care and dedication that goes into growing and harvesting them. Their knowledge of strawberry harvesting dates back to when strawberries were first cultivated in France back in the 18th century. The French were able to establish the origins of organic strawberry harvesting by taking the plants from the woods and cultivating them in greenhouses. From there, the Romans perfected the craft and made strawberry harvesting what it is today. There is some debate as to whether the French got their knowledge from the South Americas but whether that is true or not remains a mystery. Let us know what you think on that matter!
With the knowledge that has been instilled in farmers since French and Roman times, planting seeds starts in early spring and must be done in an area devoid of weeds (not an easy space to find in Oregon!) this is accomplished through placing plastic to cover the ground which keeps the strawberries clean and the weeds out. Additionally strawberry seedlings need a spot that has optimal sun exposure for 6 to 8 hours per day. Once the seedlings flower, it takes strawberries 4 to 5 weeks to fully ripen. Fun fact, they will continue to ripen for an additional 3 weeks after they are ready to be picked!
Once picked, they are washed, separated into bins, and sent off to businesses like Genesis Juice where we work to turn the berries into tasty juices. Our juices that include strawberries from Heurto De la Familia are Organic Strawberry Lemonade, and Organic Strawberry Apple.
The possible benefits of eating strawberries ranges from providing high amounts of Vitamin C, (great for fighting colds!) to potentially providing your body with natural antioxidants, dietary fibers, potassium and magnesium. Strawberries are even linked to fighting signs of aging and can help to lower your blood pressure. When mixed with a fruit such as lemon, a natural food benefit may be to settle the stomach, fight a cold, improve the immune system and make your body healthier and happier.
“… food is not simply organic fuel to keep body and soul together, it is a perishable art that must be savoured at the peak of perfection.”
We work hard to provide organic ingredients that are good for your body, to find out more about our ingredients check out the product pages for each flavor!
