Weekly photo challenge … Fresh

This very fresh strawberry reminds me that as children in early 1960s my mother had to do seasonal work in the local strawberry fields; to make ends meet.  Although the season was short, the sun was hot and relentless.  It was not heavy work but crawling continually up and down the rows was undignified and back breaking. Even the thought of eating the round  red fat things soon became not so desirable.

The payment too was not the best, each tray picked (12 punnets) would have a return of under 5 shillings (25p) an experienced picker might pick 2 trays or more in an hour; speed was of the essence the ‘shelf’ life of a fresh strawberry is only hours.  So the grower has to get the fruit at its peak and on the train to the city as quickly as possible.  There must be no delay; a fresh ripe strawberry soon becomes less so and worthless.  

To add insult to injury these fruits were destined for ‘posh’ hotels in London and Wimbledon where they would fetch around £1 a punnet or in a bowl with cream.  Of course, the grower as no part of this ‘mark up’ he has to eke out his meagre return for the rest of the year.

So, here in my garden I enjoy a beautiful fresh ripe and warmed by the sun – strawberry.  The only way in my opinion; a strawberry served chilled is not a strawberry… give a me a raspberry … Yum.