There’s something magical about strawberries. Their bright red colour, juicy sweetness and delicate aroma instantly shout “Summer!”
In this article we want to tell you the story of the humble strawberry on your plate.
The modern strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) is a relatively recent creation, first bred in 18th-century France by crossing two wild species: Fragaria virginiana from North America, prized for its flavour, and Fragaria chiloensis from Chile, known for its size. The hybrid that emerged – larger and stronger than its smaller wild predecessors – became the foundation of the plump, juicy strawberries we know today.
The best strawberries, though, are the ones you enjoy in season.
Here in Ireland, that’s usually from late May through July. During these months, strawberries are at their peak flavour; full of sweetness and freshness that’s hard to beat. Plus, eating them in season means they’ve likely traveled a shorter distance, and were grown by local farmers, with less environmental impact.
Buying local strawberries, whether from farmers’ markets, farm shops or pick-your-own farms, means you’re getting fruit that’s fresher and tastier.
If you have a garden, a balcony, or if you are part of a community garden, why not try growing your own?
Strawberries are surprisingly easy to grow in containers or garden beds, and there’s nothing quite like biting into a sun-warmed berry you’ve picked yourself.
And here’s a simple tip: try to avoid plastic packaging when you buy strawberries. Loose berries or those in recyclable containers are kinder to the planet.
So next time you crave strawberries, remember: it’s not about having them all year round. It’s about savouring them when they’re at their best, fresh, local and seasonal.
That’s how strawberries truly shine.
Behind the Scenes:
The environmental impact of industrial strawberry farming
While strawberries are beloved worldwide, the way most commercial strawberries are grown today comes with a hidden environmental price. And most of that has to do with the idea that we want to eat strawberries all year round.
In Ireland, the strawberry season the runs from May through to mid-September. Increasingly, strawberry farmers use greenhouses or polytunnels which extend the growing season from as mid-March to mid-December.
To cater for demand outside the core growing months, Ireland imports about 40% of fresh strawberries:
In 2023, we imported roughly 4.84 million kg of fresh strawberries!
Many of these strawberries are grown on large industrial farms in places like Spain, the Netherlands or North Africa, that use intensive methods to produce large quantities year-round. And that often means:
- Heavy Water Use: In drier regions, massive strawberry farms consume huge amounts of water, sometimes tapping into fragile aquifers or wetlands, threatening local water supplies.
- Plastic Pollution: Plastic mulch is widely used to control weeds and conserve moisture. However, this plastic can accumulate in fields and nearby environments if not properly recycled, contributing to pollution. (see also this article)
- Chemical Use: To protect against pests and diseases, especially in damp climates, large farms rely heavily on pesticides and fungicides. These chemicals can harm soil health, beneficial insects, and may pollute nearby water sources. One study found that 92% of industrially grown Dutch strawberries contained harmful chemicals.
- Soil Degradation: Continuous planting of strawberries without crop rotation can deplete soil nutrients and reduce biodiversity, making the land less fertile over time.
- Carbon Footprint: Shipping strawberries across continents—often by air to meet off-season demand—adds significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Labour Concerns: Many large strawberry farms depend on seasonal migrant workers who sometimes face tough working conditions and low wages.
Even in Ireland, where the climate is cooler and wetter, strawberry farming has environmental challenges. Plastic mulch and packaging, irrigation needs during dry periods, pesticide use, soil health and energy for polytunnels all need careful management.
The good news? Some growers are adopting more sustainable methods like integrated pest management, biodegradable mulches, crop rotation and renewable energy use to reduce these impacts.