Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries & Blackberries

Jellybaby1

Are there any fruit farms around the Dublin area any more? I used to bring the children when they were young to pick locally but there aren't any farms round us any more.

vicwatson

CH3OH wrote: »

The strawberries in Lidl have gone up in price,, but they are excellent quality and the last ones I got were Irish.

They taste fantastic and they have that gorgeous Irish strawberry smell.

I've been seen sniffing the packs:)

Ew, off to Aldi

vicwatson

schemingbohemia wrote: »

It's still May!

Yes but grow under glass they'd be ok

quadrifoglio verde

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Are there any fruit farms around the Dublin area any more? I used to bring the children when they were young to pick locally but there aren't any farms round us any more.

As far as I know Lambert's fruit farm still let you pick your own

dastardly00

boogaloop wrote: »

Taking this slightly off topic but what is the best way of keeping raspberries (in particular) fresh? I find I buy them (usually at either local market or in a supermarket), bring them home, wash them, put them in the fridge but they go off in under 2 days.
Is there any way around this? I dont always get to use them within 2 days, maybe I should just wash them & freeze them?

Even washing them seems to 'de-stabilize' them/make them mushy

Thanks in advance.

I store them in the bottom of the fridge and only wash them just before I eat them.

I'm very careful and particular when choosing raspberries (and other berries) in the supermarket. I always check that the best before date is a few days ahead. If it's the next day, I just don't buy them. I've had too many bad experiences. Have a look at the raspberries in the packet to make sure there is no mouldy or manky ones.

dastardly00

OUTDOORLASS wrote: »

Went into my local Supervalu to stock up on berries....very disappointed to see that nothing was home grown.
And I was very taken back to see Keelings strawberries, grown in the Netherlands......
So I bought strawberries and rasberries, from the Netherlands, and blueberries from Spain...
I know we are in the EU, but in the height of the Summer, surely more berries on sale, should be grown in Ireland..
rant over...thanks....

That's strange about the strawberries because Keelings Irish strawberries have been in Dunnes Stores for the last few weeks. Maybe it's just SuperValu not stocking them

donnacha

OUTDOORLASS wrote: »

Went into my local Supervalu to stock up on berries....very disappointed to see that nothing was home grown.

SuperValu Deansgrange had a fridge filled with Wexford strawberries last weekend. 2 for €5 and they were delicious.

DavidJC

It annoys me that people think that in May, after a long grey winter and spring that delicate berries can suddenly be ripe after a few days of sunshine in Ireland in anything other than an artificially lit and heated (energy intense) glass house.

I know from a farm that grow strawberries in Wexford in outdoor tunnels, they are a little late this year due to a cool spring and should be ready in 2 weeks until about October.

Blueberries and Blackberries are the latest berries to ripen and aren't naturally ready until July/August so Spain or France is the only options.

Additionally, to those who are expecting bargains this week, the wholesale price of strawberries has skyrocketed in the past 2 weeks due to higher consumer demand and little increase in local availability yet. But customers just think they are like tins of beans produced and priced on a whim. Wait until late June.

unkel

Polo stores have wooden crates of 2kg of strawberries for €5

They do that every year. Very tasty strawberries, but they don't keep long, have to eat them in a couple of days

uck51js9zml2yt

unkel wrote: »

Polo stores have wooden crates of 2kg of strawberries for €5

They do that every year. Very tasty strawberries, but they don't keep long, have to eat them in a couple of days

freeze them

ectoraige

unkel wrote: »

Polo stores have wooden crates of 2kg of strawberries for €5

They do that every year. Very tasty strawberries, but they don't keep long, have to eat them in a couple of days

Do you mean Polonez shops?

unkel

Nope. Polo Stores. There's a lot of them in / around Dublin, but I don't think there are in other parts of the country. How Polonez are still in business is beyond me. Few times I was in any of their shops and whatever I looked at was seriously overpriced (compared to both Polo stores and traditional supermarkets such as Tesco, Dunnes etc.)

viztopia

just back from nearest polo shop and got the box of strawberries for €5. look as if they are from spain. same amount in tesco would cost €20

unkel wrote: »

Nope. Polo Stores. There's a lot of them in / around Dublin, but I don't think there are in other parts of the country. How Polonez are still in business is beyond me. Few times I was in any of their shops and whatever I looked at was seriously overpriced (compared to both Polo stores and traditional supermarkets such as Tesco, Dunnes etc.)

Gamebred

Bought some Irish ones in Keelings 5.50 for a kg beautiful 10 times nice than any supermarket ones and twice the size.

2RockMountain

vicwatson wrote: »

Ew, off to Aldi

A friend told me at the weekend how all the Aldi HQ staff in Newbridge run down to Lidl for their fruit and veg, as they know Lidl buy a higher spec product.

5500

Do keelings have a shop or wagon out by the airport? Anyone got directions or know opening times

deadanonymau5

2RockMountain wrote: »

A friend told me at the weekend how all the Aldi HQ staff in Newbridge run down to Lidl for their fruit and veg, as they know Lidl buy a higher spec product.

:pac:

"All" the Aldi HQ staff raid LIDL at the weekend... sure...

wonski

2RockMountain wrote: »

A friend told me at the weekend how all the Aldi HQ staff in Newbridge run down to Lidl for their fruit and veg, as they know Lidl buy a higher spec product.

Aldi HQ is in Naas. Why would they go to Newbridge

2RockMountain

wonski wrote: »

Aldi HQ is in Naas. Why would they go to Newbridge

My bad.

A friend told me at the weekend how all the Aldi HQ staff in Newbridge Road, Naas, County Kildare run down to Lidl for their fruit and veg, as they know Lidl buy a higher spec product.

wonski

2RockMountain wrote: »

My bad.

A friend told me at the weekend how all the Aldi HQ staff in Newbridge Road, Naas, County Kildare run down to Lidl for their fruit and veg, as they know Lidl buy a higher spec product.

This reminds me of an old joke. Political joke from old days, USSR days.

Is it true they give away cars for free in Moscow?
Yes, but not cars but bicycles, and not in Moscow, but in Warsaw.

And they don't give them away, but steal them

When it comes to specification for fresh fruit and vegetables, there is no one simple spec that would make you run to the competitor to get better quality.

Here in Ireland we - generally - get less quality fruit due to long delivery times. Most varieties that are here are here only because of long shelf life.

Long shelf life, unfortunately, means less taste.

There is a bit of difference between Lidl and Aldi, but it has nothing to do with the original specs, more to do with how it is managed in the stores.

Lidl is better at rotating stock at a store level. I have seen their employees going through their shelves now and then while in Aldi stock seems to be left unattended until it rots. They bring new stock in when the shelf is empty.

Irish Strawberry is very good now in Aldi btw.

Bored.1e

Gamebred wrote: »

Bought some Irish ones in Keelings 5.50 for a kg beautiful 10 times nice than any supermarket ones and twice the size.

Is that the one near the airport? Last time i went there the shop isn't there.

Gamebred

Yeah they have a shop there now anyway just go in the entrance and its on the right.

mirrorwall14

Gamebred wrote: »

Yeah they have a shop there now anyway just go in the entrance and its on the right.

Anyone got a google map location? I'm a strawberry addict and it costs a fortune!

Bored.1e

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Anyone got a google map location? I'm a strawberry addict and it costs a fortune!

goo.gl/maps/rphEiA867KJ2

Sgt Pepper 64

2 for a fiver off all roadside vans.....and they are lovely!

_Tombstone_

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

2 for a fiver off all roadside vans.....and they are lovely!

What weight?

Happy_Harry

Bored.1e wrote: »

Is that the one near the airport? Last time i went there the shop isn't there.

Anyone know until what time they are open.. Have to go to airport tomorrow but won't be able to make until at least 17.30

Muahahaha

125g of blueberries for 79c on the Aldi Super 6 from tomorrow for 2 weeks

allthedoyles

Nice one thanks . love the blueberries .

ButtersSuki

Happy_Harry wrote: »

Anyone know until what time they are open.. Have to go to airport tomorrow but won't be able to make until at least 17.30

Don't bother. There's no discount there at all and it'll cost you X in diesel/petrol. Went in recently enough and bought as I was there, but it's no cheaper than Tesco/Dunnes/Super Valu Etc. In fact it's likely more expensive as most of those have some sort of offer on rotation.

The_Conductor

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Don't bother. There's no discount there at all and it'll cost you X in diesel/petrol. Went in recently enough and bought as I was there, but it's no cheaper than Tesco/Dunnes/Super Valu Etc. In fact it's likely more expensive as most of those have some sort of offer on rotation.

However- flipside of the coin- they're far fresher, and the lady selling them can tell you which varieties they are, and which are likely to last longer or taste better. The best tasting ones- tend to be the old varieties (such as Cambridge Favourite / Cambridge Vigour)- the Elsanta is bred esp. for shelf life- its not bad, but it doesn't taste nearly as nice as the Cambridges- and then there are a plethora of other varieties that are grown purely to elongate the growing season (aka they ripen considerably earlier than usual- or later than usual). Talk to her- shes very knowledgeable- and pop into your local Supervalu on the way home for a pint of fresh cream..........

KilOit

Usually buy the blueberries in aldi, good offer but has anyone ever froze the blueberries and defrosted them without going soggy? Want to eat them as they are, not in yogurts etc

the.red.baron

KilOit wrote: »

Usually buy the blueberries in aldi, good offer but has anyone ever froze the blueberries and defrosted them without going soggy? Want to eat them as they are, not in yogurts etc

Nah, a home freezers not great for freezing, tis too slow, you get large ice crystals forming which mush up the berries, comerical operations flash freeze, get much better results