Strawberries
Hood Strawberries
If you’ve heard of one variety of Oregon strawberry, it’s probably the beloved Hood! Hood strawberries have evolved as the gold standard in sweet, juicy flavor among Oregon strawberry lovers. Available for an extremely short window of 2 to 3 weeks right at the beginning of berry season, these medium sized berries are known for their high sugar content and deep red color throughout. When ripe, they are much softer in texture than other varieties, and need to be eaten fresh or used in jams or baking within hours of being picked. Introduced in 1965, and named for Oregon’s majestic Mt Hood, these berries have many varietals in their parentage, including Puget Beauty and OSC 2315. The plants can be vigorous and productive, but also hard to grow.
Sweet Sunrise Strawberries
Introduced in 2014, Sweet Sunrise is an early season varietal that produces medium to large sized, firm strawberries with a deep, dark red color throughout. Developed by Oregon State University in conjunction with the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station and the Washington State University Agricultural Service, Sweet Sunrise combines the top characteristics of premium strawberries including Puget Reliance. This high yielding variety is a new favorite among u-pick and fresh market growers, and is known for its balanced sweetness.
Albion Strawberries
Introduced in 2006, Albion strawberries were bred in California and have Diamante and Cal 94.16-1 in their parentage. These high yielding, robust plants grow conical shaped berries of good flavor and excellent firmness, ideal for eating fresh. They produce multiple crops and are usually available throughout the summer months.
Mary's Peak Strawberries
The newest variety of strawberry developed by the US Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service in conjunction with Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, Marys Peak was officially introduced in market for the 2018 season. Yielding medium to large sized berries of excellent firmness and flavor, Marys Peak strawberries are a deep red color throughout. While they are considered June bearing, they ripen later than many of the other popular varietals and are often still available at the beginning of July.