Shortcakes In The Sun: Strawberry Festival Opens

Thousands converged on Plant City today for the opening of the Florida Strawberry Festival, an annual tribute to the area's top crop.

Sunny skies and comfortable temperatures greeted early arrivals who came by car, bus, motor home - even on foot.

Several classes of Bryan Elementary School students were among nearly 1,000 people lined up at Gate 1 ahead of the 10 a.m. opening of the 74th annual festival.

The 130 red-shirted youngsters marched single file from their school across the street from the festival grounds.

"They're so excited, they think they're going on the rides, but they'll have to come back with mom and dad to do the rides," said Terri Carlson, among the teachers tending to the group of kindergartners.

Of course, the festival is all about the sweet red fruit, and before returning to school the kids made a scheduled visit to the Plant City High School Band Boosters booth where each enjoyed a complimentary bowl of strawberries and whipped cream.

Berry lovers of all ages abound at the festival that runs through March 8, celebrating the famous handpicked crop; most of the nation's winter strawberries are grown in the region.

Retiree Joyce Reeder, a winter visitor from Montgomery, Minn., has been attending the festival with her husband, Bob, for 21 years.

"Every year; couldn't miss it," she said.

Reeder said she prefers the St. Clement Catholic Church booth, where customers construct their own strawberry shortcake dessert. The mission: "Pile it on - as much as you can without leaking," she said.

There's no real trick to it: "Just make sure it isn't running over when you walk to the table," she said, her tone a hint that she has lived through that experience.

At the popular St. Clement booth. where more than 90,000 shortcakes are sold during the festival's 11-day run, church member Helen Plourd thanked exiting customers, crowning each treat with a large berry. Shortcakes sell for $3.50.

"Sometimes they go out with strawberry juice dripping down their arms," said the retired eighth-grade teacher from Rockland, Maine, who winters in Plant City.

Parishioners and other volunteers, some 200 in all, participate in this oldest, biggest and most profitable annual project for St. Clement Catholic Church.

Elsewhere in the main exhibit building, those still in need of a sweet fix could buy chocolate-dipped strawberries at the festival booth Lori Martz of Minneapolis has operated for 30 years.

"This is what you've got to do first - then you can enjoy the rest of the festival," she suggests of her berries coated with a choice of chocolate: milk, dark, white, even dietetic. "This is your appetizer, then you go get your dessert."