Storage & HandlingLike most produce, strawberries are perishable and must be handled in-store with TLC. There are important things you can do in the back of the house to make sure Florida strawberries stay looking fresh and tasting great in the front of the house. Here are tips to ensure the bins are bountiful and the product is perfect —

l Keep your cool — off-load Florida strawberries into the cooler and inspect and count them there, too. Set point should be between 32-36 degrees, with 90-95 percent relative humidity. Keeping Florida strawberries cool is the key to customer satisfaction and reduces shrinkage — the key to keeping the boss satisfied!

l Strawberries should be stored away from high airflow. l Warm temperatures at any handling step after harvest

reduces the shelf life of strawberries.l Calibrate the wall thermometer and hang it away from

doors to keep it more accurate.l Remove defective berries on arrival. “One bad apple

can spoil the whole barrel.” It’s true of strawberries, too.

Tell & Sell Product benefits of Florida’s winter strawberries are many. Knowing a few simple strawberry facts will give you the information you need to help customers choose wisely. Just remind them that —

l Strawberries are a perfect convenience food — wash, bring to room temperature, eat out-of-hand. What could be more convenient than that?

l Strawberries are the number one favored fruit of kids and adults. And why not? They’re naturally sweet, colorful, juicy, nutritious and delicious. Encourage your customers to take some home today.

l Current research suggests that eating just eight strawberries provides 160 percent of the recommended daily intake for vitamin C. Not only that, recent research suggests that eating eight berries a day may improve heart health, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, reduce the risk of cancers and even improve cognitive function.

l Look for Florida identification on clamshell and other containers to ensure your customers are purchasing berries that have been born and bred with plenty of TLC in the USA. It matters to consumers these days.

Merchandising MattersIncreasing impulse sales and reminding customers to look for Florida strawberries in the winter, when they least expect them, are guaranteed to add significant dollars to the bottom line. There are plenty of places in the store to cross merchandise strawberries too — doubling your pleasure and your sales! Here are just a few thoughts to get your creative juices flowing —

l You know it. And we know it. A beautiful display stimulates sales. And while ripe, red strawberries are impulse items that practically sell themselves, you can draw special attention to them (assuming store policy allows) by putting up attractive point-of-purchase materials, recipe tear-off pads, price cards and most of all by keeping bins well stocked and beautiful.

l Rotate. Rotate. Rotate. For unrefrigerated displays — check on them every two hours to make sure they are holding up and looking great!

l Cross merchandise Florida strawberries in the bakery, alongside salad fixings, near the whipped topping and ice cream sections. Don’t forget to sell them next to chocolate chips for Valentine’s Day with a fool-proof recipe nearby for chocolate-dipped strawberries for that special someone. Your customers will love you for it.

l Keep consumer recipe kiosks stocked with winter strawberry recipes that offer customers entertaining ideas that incorporate ripe and ready-to-eat strawberries on the menu.

l Whenever possible, sample Florida strawberries in-store to double or even quadruple sales.

The entire Florida strawberry family appreciates what you do to make winter strawberries top-of-mind. Thanks for your support.