Strawberries are already on sale on supermarket shelves a few weeks in advance. However, should we buy them this March?
According to KantarWolrdpanel, strawberries are the ninth most popular fruit among the French. Per year, each household consumes on average 2.6 kg. They will be delighted since the first strawberries of the 2024 season have already appeared in supermarkets and, what's more, they are mainly French strawberries. Often expected from April, they are a few weeks in advance. This trend has been observable for several years now with strawberries ripening earlier and earlier on farms. This year, the harvest began in early March. The explanation is not very original and even quite obvious: climate change. “The winter was very mild in the South-East and there was a lot of light,” explained Emeline Vanespem, director of the AOP Fraises Framboises in Les Echos.
What varieties of strawberries are already available in supermarkets? There are the Clerys, quite large and very aromatic, which, according to a strawberry producer from Ferme du Marronnier for BFMTV, are the best variety this season. Gariguettes, queens of strawberries with a sweet and tangy taste, and ciflorettes, more tender, are also already available on the shelves. You will have to wait a little longer for the muranos, firm and sweet, and the charlottes, sweet but with a touch of acidity. As quantities still remain limited, the full season will really begin in April, particularly with arrivals from the South-West. It will last until the end of June.
Should you buy these strawberries yet? From a financial point of view, this can be interesting. According to Les Echos, it currently costs between 3 and 4 euros for a 250 gram tray, prices varying depending on the brand. If you buy them now, you also have a greater chance of coming across French strawberries. The major competing production, that of Spain, fell behind schedule, the country having suffered greatly from the drought.
In addition, these strawberries, even early, should not have their taste altered. Quality depends more on the harvesting method than on global warming according to Véronique Garcia, a strawberry farmer interviewed by France 3, who favors natural heat to make her fruits turn red.
Obviously, you will still have to be careful to choose your strawberries carefully. It is advisable to check if the color is uniform and bright, with a very green collar and peduncle. The scent they give off is also important: if they don't smell good, put them down. Also check if there is any crushed fruit at the bottom of the tray. Finally, the seeds also provide clues: if they are well inserted and spaced apart, then the strawberry will probably be tasty.
