In the frum community nowadays strawberries are considered one of the most infested of the fruits and vegetables and many say that there is no way, halachically, to eat fresh strawberries unless they are pulverized.

According to an article in Behadrei, even such people who think strawberries are infested will now be able to enjoy fresh strawberries. According to the article, a frum guy from Bnei Braq who works in agriculture just spent three years investigation the issue and consulting with the various experts and designed a new method for raising strawberries. He is now producing what the article calls, "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, Strawberries without bugs"., and it is supervised under the kashrut certification of Belz Machzikei Hadas.

According to the article, the strawberries have been examined over a long period of time in labs and have no bugs. The article does however conclude saying that the hothouse has produced "strawberries that are kosher and clean from most of the common bugs, not including a few individual bugs that are rarely found and can be easily removed with a good washing".

Wait, so for the first time ever they don't have bugs or for the first time they still have bugs but not so many? And we will still have to wash them well - and will they still define the required washing as including soaking in soapy water or water with chemicals for x amount of time?

I am overjoyed that he has succeeded in his mission, and I am overjoyed that maybe now many more frum Jews will be able to enjoy fresh strawberries... but "for the first time in history"? really? For the first time in history there will now be strawberries without bugs? seems a little dramatic.

is this esrog good for Sukkos?

this is what they call a strawberry?

I want to know when they will come to market and be available in the local shops for purchase...

Could eating strawberries become acceptable again, among the ultra-Orthodox? So many people avoid eating strawberries because of supposed infestations. If a strawberry grower would discover a new method of keeping the bugs away from the strawberries, everyone could enjoy the strawberry once more. perhaps.

Some strawberry growers are trying out new methods, in an attempt to keep away bugs while also reducing the usage of toxins as pesticides. The new method uses bugs to get rid of bugs. Shortly after planting the new crops, a type of bug is spread throughout the area. This bug feasts on the vermin that infest the strawberries, thus ridding the strawberries of the bugs many people so worry about. Another improvement to the strawberry is by raising bees in the same area, as the movement of the bees spurs additional growth in the strawberry.
(source: Ynetnews)



And, perhaps an additional bonus is that this is a type of activity that benefits from cooperation and can perhaps be one that helps promote peace, or at least a peaceful coexistence, as Palestinian growers also want to improve their crops and learn from these new methods....

the strawberry is one of the tastiest fruits available, yet also one of the most halachically controversial and difficult. Many oppose the eating of strawberries due to the supposed infestation by bugs that are microscopic in size. Even when they say strawberries might not be infested, they then say that the fruit are so doped up with pesticides that they still cannot be eaten, or they should at least go through a serious washing.

Those who say strawberries should not be eaten, because of the bugs, do allow the consumption of strawberries after they have been ground up into mush. It might make for a good milkshake or fruitshake, but it is not the same as eating fresh strawberries or a strawberry shortcake.

This attitude towards strawberries might hopefully soon change.

An Israeli chemical developer has come up with a new type of pesticide called Tamar Tech that might solve all these problems.

According to the AgroNews website, Tamar Tech, which has recently been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, is a new vegetable oil based emulsion product that will sharply reduce the need to use a chemical pesticide agent. Tamat Tech is safe for human consumption, as well as being environmentally safe. It is already being used in the growing of 40,000 tons of cherry tomatoes in southern Israel.

According to JKN, "The new product, called “Tamar Tech” (תמר טק), is a product of the Tamar Shelf (תמר שלף) Company in Kibbutz Ein HaBasor in the Gaza border area. The kibbutz has have been working with the emulsifier for a number of years and today can show data proving they are capable to growing produce clean of insect infestation using only 20% of the amount of pesticides used today. It can be used for other produce as well, not just ‘green’ items associated with the ‘Gush Katif’ vegetables.

Tamar Tech officials are pleased the product has received the necessary certification for marketing, stressing Tamar Tech is not a pesticide and it is non-toxic. Kibbutz officials remain optimistic, citing the fact the product is inexpensive and a farmer does not need to use a large quantity to achieve desired results.

Some of the growers of the bug free so-called Gush Katif greens have been testing the product and it appears it does live up to claims made by the manufacturer."

JKN says, "The new product is reportedly appropriate for growing lettuce, dill, baby salad leaves, parsley, mint leaves, tomatoes and more.", and I would add that the Agro Shelef website also includes strawberries in their list.

All the above news is really a few months old already. What's new is the following tidbit:

According to Ladaat, a strawberry grower in southern Israel has now grown his strawberries using the pesticide, Tamar Tech. He has grown 30 ton of clean strawberries over 6 dunam (1.5 acres) of land. The strawberries were also grown off the ground, keeping the bugs away from the plants.

I don't know which had more of an effect on the level of bugs in the fruit, but either way they successfully have grown a clean crop of strawberries.... and that is good news for the consumer..

Back to the strawberries again. I am only writing this because I wrote earlier about the strawberries, specifically quoting Rav Amar allowing strawberries because he considers the bugs to not be visible to the naked eye. I feel it only right to mention the latest turn of events.

Rav Amar has backtracked from what he "supposedly" said in the shiur the other day in Karnei Shomron. In an interview to "Shas Youth" Rav Amar says he was quoted out of context, and he was not discussing strawberries.
Rav Amar said that he was discussing the halacha of bugs that cannot be seen. He is not saying that is the metzius of the strawberries. Rav Amar says he mentioned strawberries in the context that if the bugs on strawberries are of this type, that cannot be seen, they would be allowed to be eaten. Because the experts say that the strawberries are infested with bugs that can be seen by the naked eye, one should be careful about eating them regarding the halachos of bugs, and of one cannot clean them properly, one should not eat them.

Oh well. I guess this Shavuos will be blueberry cheesecake instead of strawberry cheesecake.

This item will come as good news for the strawberry lovers among us.

Many in recent months have come out against eating strawberries - at least unless they are mashed - due to a serious infestation this season.

Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, he of the ortho bling bling, has come out in favor of the strawberry in a recent visit to the Shomron, where he gave a shiur on the topic in the yeshivat hesder of Karnei Shomron.

INN reports that Rabbi Amar said the prohibition never included eating bugs that can only be seen by microscope, and therefore strawberries are fine and can be eaten after soaking them in water and cutting off the tops.

Whew. This came just in time for some strawberry cheesecake on Shavuos!