Minichefs: strawberry picking at Polkadraai

Located near to Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, the Polkadraai Strawberry Farm is a super place to pick strawberries and allow children to see that strawberries don’t just grow in polystyrene trays covered in clingwrap.

After a briefing about the area where we were allowed to go picking, as well as a quick lesson (necessary for the 3 and 4 year olds) on choosing the dark red strawberries rather than the green ones, we all headed off picking. These strawberries are sprayed with pesticide and so no snacking was allowed until they were paid for and washed. While enjoying the hunt for the prize-winning juiciest, red berry, it was easy to fill our 2.5kg bowls.

Then it was off to weigh and wash before a delicious strawberry picnic on rolling green lawns overlooking the farm with its army of scarecrows. Perhaps due to the work involved in obtaining our snack, we all decided that these warm, freshly picked berries tasted better than any we’d had before.

Polkadraai is open from 9-4pm and can be reached on 021 881 3303. Contact them directly for up to date pricing details.

Check out the inspiring strawberry recipes (as if you need any further excuses to pay them a visit):

Frozen strawberry dreams
Strawberry smoothie milkshakes
Strawberry and cream pancakes