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How do I store my strawberries once I take them home?Just put your UNWASHED berries in and air-tight baggie or container and place in refrigerator. Only wash them just prior to eating or preparing them for cooking.
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Aren’t all the Manassero stands the same?No…There’s only one Original & it says so right on the front of every stand. Look for our name & logo to be sure your at The Original. The names may be similar but that is where the similarity ends. Only The Original Manassero Farms accepts debit/credit cards, has a Frequent Customer Card, website, offers coupons & specials. We are all independently owned & operated.
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Do you ever donate product to charities? If so, how can I request a donation?Yes, we donate strawberries (when they are in season) to various charities all the time. We are proud & happy to give back to our community as much as we can. We get several requests for donations & pick one a month to fulfill. Please submit a request using the from on the contact page & include as much detail regarding your event/cause as possible along with your 501c3 number. I hope we can help!
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I would like to work for The Original Manassero Farms. How can I get a job application?We would love to interview you! We are always looking for friendly, reliable people to add to our family. Just send us a note using the form in the contact page to request a job application.
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What is GMO?GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) or GE (Genetically Engineered) is a relatively new science that allows DNA from one species to be injected into another species in a laboratory, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, & viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. Plants that have been altered this way are called GMO/GE. Today, companies have created new GMO crops that are resistant to pesticides and/or that produce an insecticide. Farmers can spray their crops with weed-killer without killing the crops themselves. The most common GMO crops are: corn soy cotton canola sugar beets alfalfa papaya zucchini, and yellow "summer crookneck" squash Most GMO crops in the US are grown to be used as fuel, animal feed, or to make ingredients for processed foods. The Original Manassero Farms NEVER uses any GMO seeds or plants. Farmers who are Certified Organic are not allowed to use genetically engineered seeds or plants.
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Does your produce contain GMOs?NO, it never has & never will. All our produce is GMO free from the soil & seeds to the finished product.
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What does Certified Organic mean?Certified Organic produce must meet the following requirements: In terms of agriculture & the growing of food, organic is a term that specifies the types of amendments that can be applied to an agricultural field. Amendments are substances that farmers put into their fields to grow things. The following is a basic list of all the amendments used in agriculture: Seeds Transplants (seeds grown in a greenhouse then transplanted into fields) Water Fertilizers Herbicides (items used to control weeds) Pesticides (items used to control bugs & pests) Fungicides (items used to control fungi) The basic definition of an organic amendment is that it can be found naturally in the environment. Items that are naturally found in the environment & are chemically altered from their original form are not considered organic. Sulfur is a good example, it is an item that is naturally mined & is permitted for use as a fungicide in organic agriculture. However, if sulfur is burned (chemically altering it), the result is sulfuric acid, which is not permitted in organic agriculture – but it is used in conventional agriculture to change the pH of irrigation water. The Process of Certification In order for a crop to be Certified Organic it must be grown on a piece of land that has not had any non-organic materials applied to it for the past three (3) years. Land that has started the process of becoming Certified Organic (has started only using organic materials) is considered to be transitional or in transition. The crops that are produced on it during this period of time are not Certified Organic. These crops will not be Certified Organic until three (3) years have passed since the date of the last prohibited material was applied to the field. The USDA has created a set of standard that are referred to as the NOP (National Organic Program). This is the set of standards that define USDA Organic, making a national standard for organic. A board of appointed officials decides these standards. The USDA does not do the annual inspections; third-party inspectors do these. Once per year every Certified Organic farm receives an inspection. A third-party certifier who has been accredited by the USDA completes these inspections. The third-party certifier comes to the farm annually & drives around to look at every field. The majority of the inspection is spent in the office where farmers provide documentation of all the amendments that were purchased & used on the farm. These inspectors are working to insure that the farms are following all the rules required by the National Organic Program.
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Do you sell Certified Organic strawberries?Yes! You will find both Certified Organic & conventionally grown berries at all our stands.
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What variety of strawberries do you grow & sell?We grow both Camarosa & Monterrey strawberries. Both varieties are known for their very consistent firm texture. They have a uniform deep red color inside & out. Most of all we want to bring these superior varieties to our customers because of their amazing taste & sweetness.
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Why are the berries I buy at other farm stands & grocery stores white on the inside?Unlike some big box stores, grocery stores, & other stands, we do not grow or sell the commercial Ventana variety. The Ventana produces lots of not so tasty berries that are white in color on the inside.
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Will berries ripen after they are picked?Sometimes people will buy berries that have been picked too early thinking they will ripen with time as some other fruit does. Berries don’t ripen...they ruin. So, unlike a lot of different fruits once strawberries are picked they do not continue to ripen; they begin to ruin. Washing berries will only hasten the ruining process. That is why if you buy a green grocery store berry it will never get any redder in color or get any sweeter tasting.
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Do you take credit cards?Yes, we accept debit/credit cards both on our online store & our physical stores. In our physical stores we only accept debit/credit cards for the safety of our staff.
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My Frequent Customer Card was not accepted at a Manassero stand. Why?The Original Manassero Farms are the only locations that give out & honor these cards. The names may be similar but the stands are independently owned & operated (see Aren't all Manassero stands the same?). Please check the contact page to find our official locations that will honor your card.
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