TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Strawberry Sale Brings Queen's Ransom

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: March 18, 2009

PLANT CITY - It's a long-held tradition in eastern Hillsborough County for members of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association to compete in the Florida Strawberry Festival's best flat contests.

It's a pretty sweet deal.

During the past 20 years, association growers have provided hand-selected strawberries to be judged in three separate contests during the 11-day festival. Growers and their berries have the chance to be recognized by a panel of judges that select the top three flats during each competition based on color, shape, size, uniformity and taste.

"Judges are chosen from the general public," said Sue Harrell, the association's director of marketing. "Those selected as judges are not affiliated with growers, farms, the festival or shippers."

The top three flats are chosen and then auctioned off prior to the festival's steer, swine and plant youth auctions. Through the years more than $300,000 in scholarships has been awarded to students pursuing degrees in agriculture studies.

"This year we are providing eight $1,000 scholarships and a number of $750 scholarships to benefit agricultural students," Harrell said. "Over the years we have provided scholarships to over 300 students."

The flats are often purchased at the auctions by the handlers that market the berries after they are harvested.

The first contest was held prior to the Feb. 27 swine sale.

Winners and buyers in that best flat contest included first place, Fancy Farms, purchased by handler Wishnatzki Farms for $1,500; second place, E.W. Simmons Farms, purchased by Patterson Trucking for $900; and third place, Mike Lott Farms, purchased by handler C&D Fruit and Vegetable Co. for $1,200.

On March 1, a new batch of berries was accepted and judged prior to the youth ornamental plant sale.

Winners in that auction included first place, Fancy Farms, purchased by Wishnatzki Farms for $500; second place, Sparkman Road Farms, purchased by Wishnatzki Farms for $600; and third place, E.W. Simmons Farms, purchased by Wishnatzki Farms for $800.

On March 7, a new batch of strawberries selected by the growers was judged and auctioned before the steer sale.

Winners in that auction included first place, Sparkman Road Farms, purchased by handler Colorful Harvest for $3,500; second place, Wingate Farms, purchased by handler JMB Brothers for $2,500; and third place, E.W. Simmons Farms, purchased by Wishnatzki Farms for $750.

The auctions generated $12,250 for the association scholarship fund.

New this year, each grower that participated in the best flat contest received a ticket for every flat they entered to win the use of a Challenger tractor from Ring Power. The estimated value of the tractor if rented is about $2,500.

Ring Power is the Caterpillar dealer for northern and central Florida, offering equipment sales, service, parts and rentals.

Jamie Garcia with Florida Pacific Farms was the drawing's winner.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT