North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Sgroppino Farms" <sgroppino@sgroppino.com>]

I was curious about tracking down Fairfax after reading Fluffy Bunny's posting.  I did a search on Copernic and found a strawberry plant nursery that offers a pretty comprehensive description of quite a large number of strawberry varieties on the market.  Their prices look good, too:

 

        http://www.inberry.com/main.html

 

Note: They don't carry Fairfax.  Not surprisingly though, Sparkle (which a number of you have raved about) is a Fairfax cross (Fairfax x Aberdeon).  Their description of Sparkle is as follows:

 

        "Sparkle--(Fairfax x Aberdeon)--Home gardeners take note! This is the BEST variety for homemade jam and freezing. Its winter hardiness and late blooming characteristics make it ideal for home gardens and small commercial farms without frost protection. The soft, medium-sized berry falls off to small as the season progresses. But, these berries are the tastiest, smooth textured berries you can find. Sparkle has been grown for years in the Midwest, but has lost favor with commercial growers because of its small berry size and soft fruit. But, it is still a long-standing favorite with home gardeners, who still actively plant it because it's the BEST you can grow for making preserves."

 

I'm placing an order first thing in the morning . . .

 

John

 

* * * * *

 

John A Gasbarre

Sgroppino Farms

Vinalhaven Island, Maine

sgroppino@sgroppino.com

USDA Zone 5

 

> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 15:38:37 -0500
> From: John Bunker <jbunker@gwi.net>
> Subject: [NAFEX] Strawberries in Maine
> To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Message-ID: <BA76B27C.1F75%jbunker@gwi.net">BA76B27C.1F75%jbunker@gwi.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Just for the record, in Massachusetts and in Maine Sparkle is the best
> flavored berry I've eaten.   None other I've tried even come close.
>
> John Bunker
> Fedco
> Palermo Maine
>
> Where the strawberries are under 2 feet of snow.
>
>
> ------------------------------