Food lovers beware! Carpentras strawberries are delicious this year!
They’re everywhere. To be enjoyed on all occasions, and in a thousand and one ways.
Would you like to find out more about this strawberry …
CARPENTRAS, CAPITAL OF STRAWBERRIES!
Carpentras isn’t the capital of strawberries by chance! Strawberries have been grown in this Provencal region since the end of the 19th century, thanks to the creation of the Carpentras canal, which enabled the irrigation of an entire area, transforming the Comtat Venaissin into the garden of French early fruit and vegetables.
THE CARPENTRAS STRAWBERRY... A REGISTERED TRADEMARK SINCE 1987!
Competition has spurred growers to step up their efforts and propose new methods of cultivation under high cover and the introduction of new, less fragile varieties.
Among the strawberry varieties specific to Comtat Venaissin are Pajaro and Naiad, early varieties which account for 80% of production: their fruit are large and regular, with a dark red heart shape.
Ciflorette and Gariguette are ‘early’ strawberries. More elongated in shape, they are particularly tasty and have a wild strawberry flavour. They are the first to arrive on Provençal tables, from March onwards, but only account for 5% of local production.
The Cléry and Mara des bois, new varieties created by the Centre Interrégional de Recherche et d’Expérimentation de la Fraise, are also very aromatic.
Thanks to these many varieties and the renown of the Carpentras strawberry, the Comtat Venaissin remains the largest strawberry-producing area in Provence. Nearly 300 farmers in the Carpentras region produce around 4,000 tonnes of this red fruit, representing 31% of national production. Half of this production is consumed locally.
STRAWBERRIES ARE EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL FORMS IN CARPENTRAS: JAM, SYRUP, CANDIED FRUIT, BERLINGOT...
With the arrival of spring, the first strawberries are appearing on the stalls of the markets of Provence where it is good to stroll and especially on Friday in Carpentras, classified market exception.
You can also buy them at farmers’ markets or directly from farms.
To everyone’s delight, strawberries are now featured on restaurant menus and in the recipes for many cakes, sweets, ice creams, etc.
DID YOU KNOW?
A route des gourmandises is proposed. It offers visitors the chance to visit local producers and artisans to discover the secrets behind the making of berlingots or candied fruit, and to taste these sweet treats that bring back memories of childhood. All you need to do to take part is be as curious as you are greedy!
We invite you to contact our agency Plaisirs & Maisons de Provence by clicking here, so that we can design a tailor-made trip for you to sample the delicacies of Provence.
For accommodation, click here to see our selection of holiday rentals in Provence.