All Florida strawberry growers, handlers and supporting members are invited to the first annual Florida Strawberry Growers Association Summer Family Fun cook-out and to watch the Berry Brawl games.

A shaded picnic area and tables will be available to tailgate and cheer on your favorite team as they compete at our first annual Berry Brawl. The Brawl will be five head-to-head events, with teams of six competing for fun, awards and bragging rights. Plus there will be activities for the kids, games and a water slide!

The party will begin at 12:30 pm at 13138 Lewis Gallagher Rd, Dover, FL 33527 and the Brawl will start at 1:00 pm. All team captains need to check in at 12:15 pm for an event walk-through and rules. There will be plenty of food and fun for everyone, watching the brawl will be just as much fun as competing (maybe more).

Berry Brawl Competition

• Team Requirements
• 6 people per team, minimum 2 girls
• Team members must be 16 or older
• Team spirit is encouraged so be creative!

T-shirts for all participants
Trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

The Events

• Tug-O-War
• Crazy Obstacle Relay
• Rock-em-Sock-em Jousting
• The Berry Crawl
• Belly Bumper Throw down

Complete the form below to register. $25.00 per team registration to hold your spot.

 

PLANT CITY/DOVER, FLA – March 19, 2012 – The Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) developed a FSGA Chefs Advisory Board as a way to help spread the word about the state’s winter strawberries. Five Florida-based celebrity chefs answered the Association’s call to become founding members of the Board.

“We approached several top Florida-based chefs with an invitation to share their favorite Florida strawberry recipe in support of this program. In return, the Association and the chefs themselves will publicize the program by distributing several thousand, high-quality, oversize postcards. Each of five postcards features one of the chefs along with photographs and his strawberry recipe. We are encouraging consumers and culinary professionals to visit our new culinary blog Strawberry Sue. The postcards will also be featured there,” said Sue Harrell, director of marketing for FSGA.

“We are overwhelmed with the response from some of our state’s superstar chefs. We hope to expand the program in the future. Greater production this year necessarily required enhanced marketing efforts to create awareness and increase sales. One of the ways we’re taking on the challenge is by reaching out to chefs and asking them to assist in showcasing our industry.

“Establishing relationships with executive chefs, research and product development experts and chef instructors who teach in accredited culinary academies are the best ways possible to spread the word about our special strawberries throughout the foodservice industry. We’re focusing on educating both seasoned chefs and the chefs of tomorrow about our industry from the farm to the table. Establishing and nurturing these valuable relationships is an integral program designed to develop new markets today and maintain them in the future,” Harrell concluded.

The participating chefs are –

• Jason Gronlund, Senior Director of Culinary R&D, Hard Rock Cafe International
• Judson McLester, Executive Chef/Ingredients Sales Manager, McIlhenny Company Tabasco^® Brand Products
• J. Hugh McEvoy, The Enlightened Chef™ culinary consultant, author
• Justin Patrick Timineri, CEC^® Executive Chef/Culinary Ambassador, State of Florida Department of Agriculture
• Norman Van Aken, Director of Restaurants, Miami Culinary Institute/TUYO, founder, NORMAN’s at The Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes, cookbook author

States east of the Mississippi are target markets for fresh-crop Florida strawberries. The industry is also exporting Florida strawberries to buyers in Europe and Canada. Fresh Florida strawberries are available each year from Thanksgiving through Easter, given strong market demand and positive weather conditions during harvest.

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Editor note: Interviews with FSGA executives may be arranged. FSGA is a voluntary, non-profit organization of Florida strawberry growers who support research, education and promotion.