Latest news with #WinterStrawberryCapitaloftheNation
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
It's Strawberry Weather In Florida And That Means It's Time For This Delicious Dessert
You might have heard recently about a shortage of California strawberries, fueled by rainy weather. But have no fear - Florida is here to help, especially with sweet juicy berries suitable for eating on their own or as a star ingredient in delicious desserts. The Sunshine State supplies most of the strawberry crop in the U.S. this time of year. And almost all of it grows in a place near Tampa called Plant City, known as the 'Winter Strawberry Capital of the Nation' and home to the annual Florida Strawberry Festival. The festival is full of strawberry sweet takes on everything from milkshakes to funnel cakes. (MORE: How To Make Snow Ice Cream) I grew up going to the strawberry festival every year, and took my own kids when they were little. For two years, writing about Florida strawberry farmers and the weather challenges they faced was part of my job as a reporter at the Tampa Bay Times. But eating the fruits of the labor was the best part. Purists might go straight for shortcake, but my mom's southern Indiana roots brought us angel food cake with strawberries when Florida berries were in season. Spoiler alert: Mom's cake was from a box mix, fancied up with powdered sugar icing and Cool Whip. (MORE: Think Spring With Pasta Primavera) I inherited my mom's angel food cake pan, and most of the time it just sits in my cabinet. But every once in a while, I put it to use. I'm well known for my flopped cakes and burnt cookies, yet I manage to make a pretty good angel food cake, based on this recipe from Food Network that's rated 'easy.' But also, we won't tell if you use a box. It was, after all, good enough for Mom. 2 cups egg whites (from about 16 large eggs - worth the splurge!) 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 1/2 cups sugar 2 cups cake flour 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon almond extract Parchment paper Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut parchment paper to fit bottom of pan. Beat the egg whites at medium speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar and salt and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the sugar a few tablespoons at a time, for about 4 minutes until smooth and glossy. Transfer the egg whites to a large, wide bowl. With a fine sieve, gradually sift the flour over the egg whites, using a spatula to gently fold them in. Next, fold in the almond extract and vanilla. Scrape the batter into a 10-inch angel food cake pan (or tube pan). Slice through the cake batter several times with a table knife. This releases any large air bubbles. Then, gently tap the cake pan once or twice on the counter or flat surface. Bake in center of the oven for 20 minutes. Then, increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 35 minutes or so. It's done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Invert the pan onto the neck of a bottle or jar to let cool completely. Run a thin knife around the side and tube of the pan to loosen the cake. Unmold and transfer to a platter. Decorate or glaze as desired, and serve with fresh berries or other fruit. staff writer Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Farmers scramble to protect strawberry crops before Valentine's Day: 'It could take literally 30 minutes for you to have a catastrophic failure'
Surges of Arctic air that have pushed as far south as Florida have threatened an important fruit crop, and farmers in the Sunshine State have been on edge about recent cold conditions. Plant City, Florida, is the "Winter Strawberry Capital of the Nation," according to the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. The Plant City-Dover area grows over 13,000 acres of berries. Florida is a leading producer of the sweet, luscious fruit. The state produces nearly 15% of the country's strawberries, and almost all of the berries are grown during the winter season. Recent outbreaks of Arctic air have broken records as far south as Florida, putting their precious crops at risk. Matt Parke farms 300 acres of strawberries in Plant City and has had to take extra measures to protect his crops from frost and freeze damage. "Right now what we're trying to do is protect the Valentine's Day fruit that we're going to be picking here pretty soon," Parke told WFLA-TV prior to a recent cold snap. "It could take literally 30 minutes for you to have a catastrophic failure." "We'll start getting frost at about 33 degrees or 34 degrees but as soon as we get that real hard frost, dry frost we need to kick it on," Parke added, referring to his irrigation system. Parke, like many farmers, told the network he has to stay up all night to monitor temperatures in order to determine if and when he needs to turn on his pumps. The value of strawberries has more than tripled over the last two decades and is poised to possibly double in the next decade. The Florida farming community is proud to claim the title of the "Winter Strawberry Capital of the Nation." A healthy winter harvest can help Florida's growers gain a competitive edge by harvesting the season's first strawberries. Florida's cash receipts rose by just over 78.5% over the 10-year period ending in 2022, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services staffer Susie McKinley told The Packer. Farmers are hoping to play catch-up after devastating back-to-back hurricanes damaged their crops. Hurricanes Helene and Milton took a toll on strawberry crops in 2024. If you compost your food scraps, what's your primary motivation? Improving my garden's soil Saving money on fertilizer Helping the planet I don't compost Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Several dangerous surges of Arctic air have already entered the country this winter. We already know that our warming world is altering jet stream patterns, which can contribute to an increase in dangerous turbulence during airline flights. Even though it seems counterintuitive, our overheating planet is driving Arctic heat waves, which can temporarily displace cold air and increase the likelihood of bursts of bitterly cold temperatures moving southward into the U.S. Scientists have spotted "the fingerprint of climate change" on many of the most deadly extreme weather events of the past 20 years. This highlights the urgency of moving away from dirty energy sources and toward renewable options for our energy needs. Switching to solar energy and modernizing our homes can help reduce carbon pollution that is overheating our planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
