The Real Stars of Center Court: Strawberries and Cream

Wimbledon is all about tradition. There is no arguing that when the the covers come off the Courts on Monday next week, Tennis (and the hope of another successful year for Andy Murray) won't be the only thing on everyone's minds. The sun comes out, Sue Barker makes a welcome return to our screens, and everyone heads off in search of the tournament’s snack of choice: strawberries and cream. And it’s not just strawberries that get supporters munching during the Tournament. In fact, Wimbledon is the largest annual catered sports event carried out in Europe.

But boy do we love our strawberries; on average 28,000kg of them will be picked, prepared and enjoyed with 7000 litres of cream by around 53,500 visitors to the ground over the course of the Championship. According to the top bods at the ground, the strawberries served are Grade 1 English strawberries from Kent, which is super important, not only because it supports the British economy, but also because pickers can pick the fruit right at its peak, meaning that we can eat perfectly ripe and juicy strawberries at their best time. Wimbledon also ensure that all their products are from LEAF registered farms, a scheme that aims to promote sustainable farming methods that produce food of a high environmental standard. So although strawberries are consumed in their masses during the tournament, Wimbledon continues to adhere to tradition and support British producers.

So the story of the Centre Court strawberry starts on a farm in Kent. The strawberry plants first start to develop in Spring, producing their first fruit around June, when the strawberry experts from Wimbledon come to make sure they have the best strawberries with a good colour and shape. To ensure freshness, the strawberries will be picked the day before serving, arriving at Wimbledon at around 5.30am, where they are inspected and hulled.

At Kitchen Table Projects we think its great to hear that Wimbledon support local British farmers and sustainable farming methods. We might not be heading to Wimbledon to watch the action live, but will definitely be enjoying some fresh, local strawberries to get in the spirit! If you want to do the same, why not check out your local farm shop or PYO to pick up some sweet treats, or if you’re feeling a little more creative (and the British weather forces us inside) then why not try this fab recipe that we love here at KTP. After all, if the British fail on the court, then we might as well take on the kitchen!