Hi @TheCookie,
Oh yah it’s totally OK, especially if you shop with various farmers regularly, it’s a customer relationship. 
For example one time (also during COVID-19) we picked up some greens at one farmer and it was pre-bagged for safety (so you couldn’t see inside). The greens were yellowing / some edges rotting and we brought it up to them the following week.
They apologized and gave us a replacement (that they looked at very carefully), free of charge.
Agreed on that end. But not when I was eating them since that fragrance disappears while the HB still retained that intense aromatic throughout!
That’s disgusting and unacceptable for the $$$$$$$$! You should save these pictures and complain to them next time you go.
Right?!!
I hit HFM today a little after 11. It was HOT and there was a line to get in.
I just got gaviotas today. Last week’s Mara’s were too tart and not much of what I expected. No grapey finish.
Hit up Arnett’s for a wide selection of what was suggested by the farmers. Black diamonds, Emeralds…and a few others that I can’t remember because it was hot and there were folks in line behind me. I also got cherriums, mango nectarines, and donut peaches.
Tenerelli is a standard stop. Both July Flames and June Lady and the white nectarines…the nectarines are especially good. Super juicy and sweet…they explode when you bite down.
Also made a stop at Pudiwell for berries. Tonight’s dinner will have a mix of Harry’s and Pudiwell berries for dessert.
Got the heck out of there because the heat was no joke at 11:30.
Thanks, @Chowseeker1999, for your notes!
Hi @attran99,
Nice purchase today! Yes it was hot out there! We also got Black Diamonds from Arnett (last week’s were amazing (as mentioned earlier above)). Hope you enjoy them as they ripen. 
Can’t wait to try Tenerelli Orchards’ White Peaches, too!
That was the other thing. The Maras that were saved weren’t that great. Sounds like you got some other sweet goodies, though!
I may try them again in a few weeks, but I’m good for now.
He said the Seascapes will be coming out soon too.
I think more people prefer gaviotas but the seascapes are my favorite! Just soo aromatic 
Ahhh… interesting. You triggered my memory and I just checked my report from last year and it was Seascapes I was getting not Gaviotas. 
It was a year ago and memory fades, but I remember getting the only variety available for seekers who don’t get up early… and I didn’t think they were better than Tamai Farms Strawberries. BHFM probably has (or had) a lot of Gaviotas because they reopened later than other markets and folks don’t know yet.
seascape have a much more intense strawberry aroma and are more sweet/tart. Gaviotas are sweeter, less tart. There’s no ‘right’ answer personally I will get seascapes 100% of the time given a choice but that’s just my preference. The tables at Harry’s Berries used to be split about 50-50 between the two varieties. Looks like they sell a lot more of the Gaviotas now -they are great berries.
Yah, it’s all about preferences. Looking forward to trying the Seascapes again.
Speaking of Peach season. I’ve been meaning to post about my conversation with one of the Tenerelli farmers who said the Peaches matured late this year. That’s why we’re not getting a lot of the favorites yet. I think that’s serendipitous because a lot of the markets only started reopening a few weeks ago… we haven’t missed anything. I did get some sweet, juicy June Ladies (yellow) recently, but he said some of the really special White Peaches like the Sugar Giants won’t be ready until August.
On one hand matured late means not here yet. On the other hand, matured late might mean they’re available later into the year? I think I’ll be making quite a few FM stops for Tenerelli peaches in the next few months… 
There’s a definite silver lining here.
Hi @Chowseeker1999 -
I moved this over here to not derail the Republique thread with Strawberry talk.
This could be part of it as Tamai Strawberries are markedly less $. It could also be a matter of locale convenience for the chefs, as Republique seems to use a lot of produce from vendors at CCFM. But I thought of another possibility - Tamai Strawberries are firmer w/better shelf life. Harry’s Berries are left on the vine longer for more ripeness & sweetness while Tamai’s are probably picked earlier like conventionally grown Strawberries.
TheCookie, FTC Strawberry Investigator. 
Here are more photos of ones I previously posted about, but after more than a few days in the fridge. I bought so much produce that week and the Strawberries didn’t get eaten fast enough, so I decided to make compote again.
Tamai Farms - Albion Strawberries
Still firm & fresh tasting.
Harry’s Berries - Gaviota
There were some in good shape but most were too mushy. I was kinda’ over Harry’s at that point and tossed them all. We’re going to BHFM today and will talk to the worker about the bad experience.
I’m not trying to diss Harry’s in favor of Tamai’s. Just a little disappointed, right now. I do enjoy Tamai’s Strawberries but Harry’s Gaviotas are the superior Strawberry and their sweetness would probably be much better on the Passionfruit Cream Pie. I think the strategy to the new Harry’s rule of “Only Touch What You Purchase” is to have the worker pick a good batch for you. I’ll let you know how that goes…
Happy 
Eating!
I like to store my Harry’s in-between layers of paper towels in some tupperware, I can usually get a week out of them that way.
Great tip. That’s what the Harry’s Berries helper told us as well when we started buying from them.
We do the same thing w/ our lettuce (FM or store-bought).
Done… thanks for the tip! I wrap my cleaned vegetables & herbs in PT and change it when it gets moist. But I wasn’t sure if PT would make the delicate berries worse.
For the record, I didn’t have a big problem with the Gaviotas getting mushy. They were more than a few days old and I know it’s the nature of HB sweet, vine ripened Strawberries. My post was more about why the Manzkes might pick Tamai over HB. But! never again will I buy the Mara des Bois.
Here are my $4-off Gaviotas
A handful were too mushy, but much improved as a whole.
Harry’s Berries Strawberry Sorbet
It has a pure Strawberry flavor but a little too much lemon and not enough sweet for my taste. I cheated and mixed in some Strawberry Compote
Question: @Chowseeker1999 do the actual HB farmer/owners work the stands at the big markets like Hollywood & SM? I think we’re getting the B-Team at BHFM. Unlike Tenerelli’s stand which always has at least 2 Tenerelli’s and a farmer.
Happy Summer Fruit Seeking!
