Published March 2022

If you live in a colder climate, the sight of fresh, ruby-red strawberries is probably something you only associate with summertime. Whether it’s picking wild strawberries during a hike on a warm July day or eating them straight from your grandparents’ garden as a child, the joy of fresh, local fruit is typically limited to a few months a year in Alberta. Though they can be imported from warmer countries year-round, there’s no denying that the quality of strawberries we have access to throughout the winter just isn’t the same. That is, until now!  

Sunterra Greenhouse is proud to introduce the Dutchess Strawberry – an Alberta-grown, delectable berry that’s ripe-picked and available year-round! Between its reliable availability and unparalleled quality, you’ve never had a strawberry quite like this before. We sat down for a chat with Glen Price, president of Sunterra Market, to learn more about this exciting new product and why Sunterra chose to grow this particular fruit. 

Inspired by the magnificence of royalty, the Dutchess strawberry is at the top of its class, even referred to as “the crown jewel of strawberries” in our markets. And in case you were wondering, that extra “t” in “duchess” isn’t a typo! These special berries are grown from seeds originating in Holland, a world leader in the greenhouse industry. After visiting Europe and touring a small yet advanced greenhouse, Glen and his brother Ray, president of the Sunterra Group, found themselves inspired by the research and technology of the facility and brought their new-found knowledge back to Alberta. Strawberries were very quickly identified as a growing opportunity since the quality of berries available in Canada year-round tends to be very poor. Being one of the most sought-after items in the market, Sunterra knew they could bring strawberries to a new level. 

“It’s not foreign to us to develop and breed products to be better quality,” explains Glen, referring to Sunterra’s roots as leaders in the pork farming sector. “Of course, a plant is much different, but ultimately it all comes down to genetics.”  

If they learned one thing from their research, it’s that not all berries are created equally. In fact, one thing that makes Dutchess strawberries so different is the way they are grown and picked. Unlike the strawberries you might find in a big box grocery store that can be picked up to ten days before you buy them, Dutchess strawberries aren’t grown to withstand long transport times. Our berries remain on the plant until perfectly ripe and ready for eating, allowing them to absorb every ounce of nutrients and achieve peak flavour. After all, you wouldn’t pick a fruit in your own garden before it was ripe, so why would we? Once ripe, Sunterra Greenhouse Dutchess strawberries are individually hand-picked five to six days a week and delivered to Sunterra Market locations across Alberta within 24 hours for you to enjoy.  

"We were focused heavily on taste,” says Glen when speaking about the goal behind Dutchess strawberries. “We have something different than everybody in the marketplace, and we want people to understand the difference in the quality.” 

That quality we’re talking about comes down to a few things. Firstly, it's all about the juice! Allowing our strawberries to fully ripen on the plant leaves them with a soft and delicate thin-skinned texture that’s bursting with juice, unlike the more dry and fibrous berries you’re probably used to. Secondly, colour is key. Dutchess strawberries have a deep red hue, even on the inside, that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. And finally, they’re sweet as can be. In fact, our strawberries rate significantly higher on the Brix scale (a food industry way to measure sweetness) when compared to a typical import strawberry! 

“We saw an opportunity to get a much more consistent strawberry year-round and have it significantly different from a flavour and food enjoyment perspective,” says Glen.  

Speaking of consistency, we’re dedicated to pricing our strawberries the same throughout the year. With reliable growing conditions, there’s no need for price fluctuation between seasons and no need to pay the highest price for the lowest quality like you might with imported berries. Our customers can pick up their pint of Dutchess Strawberries at any Sunterra Market and know the quality, flavour and price will meet their expectations. 

To ensure regular availability, we curate every aspect of the glass greenhouse environment including light, water and CO2 levels to name a few. It also means the plants are protected from snow, wind, weeds, pests and any other elements that might affect the health of a regular, field grown strawberry. Reduction of waste and environmental impact is incredibly important to us as well which is why we’re dedicated to powering our greenhouse with as much clean energy as possible. Both the CO2 and water used are recycled and all condensation and natural precipitation is captured for use in the facility’s water supply. This mindset carries over to our markets, too, where Dutchess strawberries are used in a variety of delicious kitchen items and baked goods if not picture perfect for sale on their own. 

We’re so excited for you to experience these strawberries fit for royalty. Visit your nearest Sunterra Market location or order online at sunterramarket.com and be sure to tag us in your berry best photos on social @SunterraMarket. 

Order Sunterra Greenhouse Dutchess strawberries online here!