Strawberries anyone?

Double the amount of strawberries as last year - about 7,500 kilogrammes - made it to Mġarr's Strawberry Fest yesterday... which was a good thing, given that visitors flooded the event, unhindered by long tailbacks, and streaming out, brown paper bags in hand, bursting with the luscious fruits.

Traffic jams to the locality started early and, by a couple of hours into the strawberry feast, about 6,000 kilograms had already been sold, to the tune of folk music and other entertainment.

By the end of the event, they were sold out!

The Strawberry Fest, organised by the Mġarr local council and the Kummissjoni Lejla Mġarrija in collaboration with the Resources and Rural Affairs Ministry, has grown since the first seed was planted three years ago.

Organisation of yesterday's event started early, resulting in the participation of more local farmers who cultivate the fruit, said farmers' coordinator Ċensu Camilleri, facing an overwhelming crowd.

Mr Camilleri said the increased amount of strawberries was a result of improved cooperation on the part of producers; about 38 participated this year.

They "gained" from selling the boxes of gigantic, succulent strawberries at €3 each, he said, while customers were left satisfied. The fruit could not be fresher, having undertaken the journey from field to stall in not more than half a day, he said.

Because the Mġarr farmers had not sold their produce on the market, the dearth of strawberries had upped their price, which was reflected at yesterday's event, leaving both parties happy.

Mġarr is synonymous with quality strawberries due to the water and the types of fields, Mr Camilleri explained, saying they were renowned.

And the crowds seemed to agree as they pushed their way to the stalls on the Santa Maria parish church parvis to taste all things strawberry related: from smoothies to milkshakes, sorbets and even soups. Apart from ravioli, stuffed with ricotta and strawberries, the fest this year introduced a new specialty: strawberry risotto, with mint and onion.

But those who associate the fruit with dessert were not left disappointed either.

The choice was between strawberry cheesecakes, muffins, éclairs, tarts, waffles, pancakes, cannoli, ice cream, wine and jam. They could even savour strawberries coated in chocolate and nuts or strawberries on a stick, dipped in hundreds and thousands. Most sold out... and fast!

An eight-foot-long cake, measuring four feet in width and counting 50 kilogrammes of strawberries, was also up for grabs - and, indeed, large chunks of it were grabbed. However, it was for those who were not only after the many health benefits of the fruit as these were buried in mounds of cream and chocolate.

And the fest was not just about edible delicacies: home-made cloth bags and key chains with strawberry designs were also on sale.