Strawberry Farms

Cameron Highlands is the only holiday destination in Malaysia where strawberries are grown and harvested commercially. The strawberry farms found here are also open for visitors, making them one of the top tourist attractions in Cameron Highlands. The farms are great places for shopping products made from strawberries, such as jams and tarts. The best season to enjoy strawberries is usually from April till June, the driest months. The strawberries harvested during this time are at its sweetest due to the decrease of humidity in the air, which somehow affects the taste. The strawberry farmers explain that heavy moisture (rain) soaks the plants, causing them to bear fruits that are less saturated in sweetness. Still, visitors can enjoy strawberries all-year-round in the Cameron Highlands, sweet or not. About a decade ago, this little berry was grown from the ground up, in typical soil beds. Today, modernity has caught up with the farmers, for they now raise the plants using hydroponic methods. Growing them in bags mixed with rich soil results in faster fruit production, while stacking them on racks increases the quantity that can be produced at any time. The strawberry farms can be found mostly before and after Brinchang, along the main road. Visitors and tourists can pluck their own strawberries from these farms as well as buy them in traditional markets, night or day. Shops are also open in these farms that sell strawberry-derived products which include jams, tarts, scones, cordial juice and other treats.

To visit any of these farms; meaning to actually enter the area where the strawberries are grown, you'll be required to make a purchase of at least half a kilogram. This minimum amount can be plucked directly with your hands inside the farm. A basket will be given to visitors which, at the end of the day, will be weighted and charged accordingly. Inside the farm, you can see how the strawberries are grown. Wooden racks stack up layers of strawberry plants nestled in soil bags. Water sprinklers feed these plants at certain intervals during the day. A roof of taupalin sheets provide shade and protection from excess rain water. If you intend to pluck strawberries, here's a tip; only harvest the large strawberries for they are the sweetest. Anything smaller than your thumb size will tend to be very sour. Also, as mentioned earlier, the rainy season affects the taste of the strawberries. Excess rain and humidity in the air make the strawberries that are produced during this time have a soggy taste. The drier months between April till June is when the strawberries are generally at their sweetest.