Frseh-picked strawberries, from the patch down the road.
Five stages of RGB garden strawberries... lots of little babies in the garden at the moment!
As an adult immigrant, one of my mother’s first jobs in this country was to pick strawberries.
Yep, Mom picked strawberries. And she once told me she preferred this job over others because most of the picking happened at dawn; she wouldn’t miss me because I’d be sleeping. And I didn’t miss her, because I slept.
I don’t recall that my Mom didn’t speak much English, wasn’t paid minimum wage or wasn’t allowed to keep any of the berries she picked. What I remember fondly is that anytime my Dad drove us past a patch, my Mom would proudly point out, with a big grin on her face, “this is where I work.”
So as a child, anytime the market had berries, I’d wonder to myself if my Mom picked any of them. And in case she had, I wanted to touch them, I wanted to buy them, I wanted to eat them.
Even now, as an adult, anytime I drive past a patch, I think of my Mom. And I think of how many berries she had to pick to buy me a pair of socks. Then I think of the other parents out there, working the fields so they too, could provide for their kids.
Strawberries are in the peak of season right now. If you live in Central Orange County, I recommend the one by the RGB, located on the corner of Chapman Avenue and Crawford Canyon Road. If you arrive and strawberries are sold out, just hang tight; the man tending the stand will grab an empty basket, ask for two minutes, disappear into the patch and return with a handful of sun-kissed fruit.
Buy a basket. Take a big juicy bite. Think of where your strawberry just came from. And smile.
To my own Mom, the best strawberry picker there ever was, Happy Belated Mother’s Day; I love you!
[K]
Strawberry Recipes from the RGB:
Fresh Strawberry Pie | Fresh strawberry pie with whipped cream and vanilla in a flaky butter pie crust.
Arugula and Strawberry Salad | Arugula and strawberry salad with spiced walnuts, fresh goat cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Meyer Lemon Strawberry Muffins | Meyer lemon buttermilk muffins with fresh strawberries.
Strawberry Lemonade | Strawberry lemonade, with home-grown Meyer lemons and a splash of Prosecco.
RGB garden oregano... just one sprig needed for breakfast.
Mother's Day at the RGB. Mom was "busy," but Mr. RGBistro and I picked some garden oregano to add to our feta scramble. Served with hash browns, sourdough toast... and a handful of strawberries.
The drip test: Good, juicy strawberries drip. See?
Get 'em before they're gone for the year!
Mom RGBistro with Dog RGBistro in the garden: Ain't she pretty?! 
Great post, really! Love the story about your mom picking strawberries before you woke up and how she was so proud of where she worked. Love the “drip” shot! Great idea! Wish we could get some of those juicy berries!
Great post, Kim! Very touching story that talks to many immigrants. And those strawberries look amazing! My work schedule is crazy, but I’ll try to swing by on my day off to check out your strawberry guy:)
This is too moving for words. Thank you thank you thank you.
Kim, I loved this story and the feeling of being a little girl and wanting to buy the strawberries that your mom picked made me tear up in a really good way. Gorgeous pics, too!
You did it, Kim. This is beautiful.
This is gorgeous.
That’s awesome, thank you for sharing that with us.
I grew up in Yorba Linda so I am no stranger to the beautiful strawberries that come from the fields of orange county! I miss them dearly…
Wonderful story, fabulous photos, perfect message. Thank you!
totally enjoyed your post!
What a lovely post. And now I want strawberries (although I think on the East coast they come in a little later).
Great story! Very nicely done.
Beautiful post Kim! It’s true….parents make sacrifices every day to provide for their children. What a great reflection and reminder to appreciate all the little things in our lives.
What a strong and courageous woman your mother is to have done such backbreaking work for her family and with such a good attitude. She’s beautiful. I will think of this story the next time I buy strawberries.
Best to you for sharing such a personal piece of your family memories here. There’s nothing quite like pride connected to humble work. Yes, your mother is lovely! My mother waited tables to make ends meet well into my teen years and beyond. It’s amazing what they do for us, isn’t it?
Love your post! And by th wway, the savory cheesecake (any of them) can serve anywhere from 12-25 people, depending on how many other apps you have with it and if people eat slices of the cheesecake, or just spread it on crackers.
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story. How proud you must be of your loving Mom!
What a wonderful post! And yes, BOTH your mom and Britta are pretty! (My mom also picked strawberries as one of her first jobs.)
that was so beautifully written, i love it. how special is that- made my eyes tear up. i’m so thankful for strawberry pickers!
What a wonderful and touching post. My kids look forward to strawberry picking here in New Jersey every year, but we only pick a few flats so I can’t say we quite have the same experience as your mom. Thanks for sharing those recipes, too. I’m always looking for more things to do with strawberries once the season hits.
That’s beautiful, Kim! The story, the berries, and your mom.
What a lovely post…your strawberries look gorgeous, wish I were not allergic/
A beautiful story and wonderful tribute to your mom – I’ll think of it every time I see fresh strawberries! Hopefully, they’ll be as juicy as your photos depict
This was so touching. She must be very proud of you.
This is an amazing story – love it! I’ve always stopped for strawberries (probably one of my favorite tastes in the world) and now I will always think of this story when I eat them. Thanks for sharing and for reminding me that where you come from is so important – in food/cooking and in life.
What a beautiful story! I drive by this local stand all the time and will now think of your mom! Love your blog!
love, love, love the story Kim!! and i love even more your mom’s pride with which she worked in those fields – i can tell you from experience that picking strawberries is hard work. i picked strawberries as a summer job when i was a teenager; granted i didn’t have to feed or clothe a child by picking strawberries, but i can tell you that kneeling or working bent over under the hot sun for 8 hours is tough.
knowing where our food comes from AND that there are REAL people with REAL hands that do the harvesting puts a whole new meaning into offering grace before a meal – because for me, i am praying for the farmer who planted that crop, the hands that have harvested that food and the driver who delivers it to the grocery store so i can come in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and purchase whatever tickles my fancy . . . and these days, it just happens to be strawberries . . .
What a beautiful story. And yes, your mom is a pretty lady