Strawberry Fields Forever: A Guide to Maine's Strawberry Season

Farms to Visit and the Recipes to Try

Summer in Maine is a season of long days, warm sunshine, and the promise of our favorite sweet treat - strawberries. Yes, the much-anticipated strawberry season is upon us, and with it comes a host of opportunities to celebrate and savor these small, red gems.

Strawberry season in Maine is a time of abundance. Farm fields and gardens across the state transform into seas of red, as strawberries burst forth in all their juicy splendor. For many, this is a time for family outings to local farms, for leisurely afternoons spent filling baskets with plump, ripe berries, and for the simple pleasure of eating a perfectly ripe strawberry straight from the vine.

But the joy of strawberry season doesn't end in the fields. It continues in our kitchens, as we find ways to incorporate these seasonal treasures into our meals. This is where Chef Josh Berry comes in, turning the abundance of the season into a delightful multi-use condiment with his Roasted Strawberry recipe. The roasting process enhances the strawberries' flavor, adding a deep sweetness that can elevate any dish. Use these roasted strawberries in your favorite shortcake recipe, spoon the syrup into a mezical margarita, or simply pour it over vanilla gelato or yogurt. The possibilities are as endless as they are delicious.

For those who enjoy a tipple, we invite you to try our Strawberry Negroni recipe. The classic Italian cocktail gets a Maine twist, with the addition of fresh strawberries lending a sweet, tart complexity to the bitter Campari and robust gin. It's the perfect way to toast to the season and celebrate the bounty of Maine's strawberry harvest.

And, of course, no celebration of strawberry season would be complete without highlighting some of the fantastic pick-your-own farms we have here in Maine. Whether you're an experienced berry picker or new to the tradition, these farms offer a fun and rewarding way to connect with the land and experience the thrill of the harvest. We've compiled a list of some of the best pick-your-own strawberry farms in Maine, from Pineland Farm's beautiful rural landscape to the family-run fields of Stevenson’s Farm.

Join us in celebrating the strawberry season, the quintessential symbol of Maine summers. Tag us in your strawberry creations @ediblemaine for a chance to be featured in our community posts. We can't wait to see how you make the most of this berry wonderful season!

Christopher Ellis-Jacobs
Owner, CEO and Digital Editor

Strawberries

by Robert Graves

Strawberries that in gardens grow

Are plump and juicy fine,

But sweeter far as wise men know

Spring from the woodland vine.

No need for bowl or silver spoon,

Sugar or spice or cream,

Has the wild berry plucked in June

Beside the trickling stream.

One such to melt at the tongue's root,

Confounding taste with scent,

Beats a full peck of garden fruit:

Which points my argument.

May sudden justice overtake

And snap the froward pen,

That old and palsied poets shake

Against the minds of men.

Blasphemers trusting to hold caught

In far-flung webs of ink,

The utmost ends of human thought

Till nothing's left to think.

But may the gift of heavenly peace

And glory for all time

Keep the boy Tom who tending geese

First made the nursery rhyme.

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Eat.

Image by Josh Berry

Roasted Strawberries

Savor the Flavor

by Josh Berry

This wonderful time of year brings the joy of picking more strawberries than you can possibly eat, and we have a perfect recipe from Chef Josh Berry to help you make the most of this abundance. His recipe for Roasted Strawberries is an easy way to turn your surplus into a multi-use condiment that enhances their flavor and adds a deep sweetness to your recipes.

Drink.

Strawberry Negroni

Sip of Summer: A Berry Delicious Twist on the Classic Negroni

by Christopher Ellis-Jacobs

Embrace the flavors of the season with our Strawberry Negroni – a sweet and vibrant update on the classic Italian cocktail. This recipe balances the crisp botanicals of Bimini gin from Hardshore Distilling with the bitter charm of Campari, the smooth richness of sweet vermouth, and the sun-soaked sweetness of macerated strawberries. The result? A drink that’s as refreshing as a Maine summer’s day and as delightful as a freshly picked strawberry. Perfect for savoring on warm afternoons or serving at your next summer soirée, this Strawberry Negroni is a beautiful way to toast to the joys of the season.

edible MAINE on Spotify

We asked our staff, contributors, readers, subjects, etc. to share their favorite songs to listen to while cooking, entertaining, working in the garden, cruising on the boat and any other time they are growing, creating, preparing, sharing or enjoying the food and drink that Maine has to offer. Each season we create a playlist especially curated for you. We hope you enjoy!

These songs capture the essence of springtime in Maine, with their bright and hopeful melodies, uplifting lyrics, and celebration of new beginnings. From classic jazz tunes to modern indie hits, this playlist offers a diverse range of musical styles that are perfect for welcoming the season of renewal. So put on your rain boots, grab a cup of coffee, and press play. Let the music of springtime in Maine transport you to a place of beauty, wonder, and endless possibilities.

Check out the Playlists

Listen

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Think!

Strawberries are Red, the Sky is Blue, Here's Everything You Need for a Perfect Pick-Your-Own Adventure

Supporting "pick-your-own" farms is a fun way to enjoy the season, whether you're planning a family outing, a sweet date night, or a culinary adventure. We've compiled a list of some of the best pick-your-own strawberry farms in Maine:

Pineland Farm - Known for its beautiful rural landscape and a variety of fruits and vegetables, including strawberries for pick-your-own. This farm is hosting their annual Strawberry Moon Celebration on June 22, 23, & 24 from 4-7pm with food trucks, a cash bar, and music. Reservations are required and the $5.00 ticket fee is credited towards the pick-your-own cost.
Maxwell’s Farm - Southern Maine’s premier strawberry farm, offering pick-your-own strawberries along Cape Elizabeth’s scenic coast.
Chipman Farm - Offers a wide range of beautiful pick-your-own produce, with strawberry picking season running from May through to July.
Stevenson’s Farm - A family-run farm where you can pick from sixteen beautiful acres of Maine strawberries.
McElwain’s Strawberry Farm - A family-run farm where strawberries are usually ready for picking by the end of June or first part of July.

We look forward to seeing how you celebrate Strawberry season! Tag us in your creations @ediblemaine and you could be featured in our community posts.