Strawberry Shortcake

Plant City, Florida, about 10 miles east of Seffner, is the self-proclaimed “Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.” The annual strawberry festival is coming up next week, but we will not be here when it starts.

But no worry: January through April is Strawberry Shortcake time at the Parkesdale Farm Market! Their website claims that they are “the largest family-operated Strawberry & Citrus Market in Florida. Our strawberry farm harvests more than 3 million pounds of strawberries every year! Thousands of people visit our local Market each year for the sole purpose of tasting our world-famous strawberry shortcake.”

It seemed that many of the thousands were there yesterday when we visited, but they do seem prepared for the mobs.

The outdoor dining area under a ficus tree.


Jill seemed happy with the strawberry shortcake, but said that the cucumbers were the freshest that she had ever seen.


She also bought some strawberries to go.

By the way, Plant City is NOT named for the flora grown at plant nurseries in the area. It was named after railroad developer Henry B. Plant and his railroad, the “Plant System.”