A little reason to celebrate

National California Strawberry Day

Food · March 21

A day for California strawberries: what makes them good, how they grow along the coast, and simple ways to eat them at their ripest.

National California Strawberry Day falls on Sunday, March 21, 2027. That is 145 days away.

California grows a great many of the strawberries sold in American grocery stores, and this day puts that fruit in the spotlight. Much of the crop comes from coastal valleys, where cool mornings, mild afternoons and long growing seasons suit the plants well.

A strawberry is an odd little fruit when you look closely. The seeds sit on the outside, dotted across the red skin, and each berry grows from a low plant that sends out runners along the ground. Strawberries do not keep ripening once they are picked, so the ones that taste best are the ones that were left on the plant until they were fully red.

Most people mark the day the obvious way, by eating strawberries. Some slice them over cereal or yogurt. Others bake them into shortcake, stir them into lemonade, or dip them in melted chocolate. A bowl of plain, cold berries needs no help at all.

When choosing a basket, look for berries that are red all the way to the green cap, with a glossy skin and a sweet smell. Rinse them just before eating rather than before storing, since water left on the skin helps them spoil faster. Leave the caps on until after washing, too, so the berries take on less water.

The smallest berry in the basket is often the sweetest one.

Ways to celebrate

Eat a bowl of fresh strawberries with nothing added.
Try making a simple strawberry shortcake at home.
Look for California strawberries at a market or grocery store.
Share sliced strawberries with a neighbor or coworker.
Stir mashed strawberries into lemonade or iced tea.

Dates

Year	Date
2026	Saturday, March 21
2027	Sunday, March 21
2028	Tuesday, March 21
2029	Wednesday, March 21
2030	Thursday, March 21

All national days on March 21

Also on March 21

Categories: Food days