Even if you don't grow your own, you can still take advantage of the strawberries when they come in season at your local farmer's market.

Buy 'em by the gallon and put some away for winter. Most folks around here purchase them from the Amish, but you often have to order in advance. Their berries are always in high demand.

• Rinse well to remove any dirt. Strawberries do grow close to the ground.
  
  
• Slice off the green top.
  
  
• Cut off any bad spots and slice what's left to eat right away.
  
  
• Place whole berries on a cookie sheet and then put them in your refrigerator or freezer.

When water freezes it expands. Ice crystals destroy cell walls in your fruit turning them to mush.

By first lowering the temperature on the berries in the fridge before placing them in the freezer, you allow the freezing process to take place much more quickly, minimizing damage. Your berries will remain relatively firm even after they thaw.

Keeping the berries separated on a cookie sheet also makes them easier to pour into a freezer bag for long term storage.

Retrieve by the handful come winter. They're a natural addition to smoothies, in cereal or with a bowl of ice bean!