Strawberry Social in Temple

Strawberries will be the focus at the Temple Town Hall on Sunday, June 24.

Beginning at 2 p.m., there will be an illustrated talk on strawberries by berry-breeding experts.

Then at 3 p.m., strawberry shortcake with homemade biscuits, whipped cream from Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm, and berries from Barrett Hill Farm in Mason will be served. The cost for shortcake is $8, and $3 for children.

Presenters include Dr. Lise Mahoney and Dr. Tom Davis who will give a talk on “The Strawberry of NH: Its Botanical Past; Its Delectable Present; and Its Economical Future.” Modern cultivated strawberries originated in Europe with the crossing of wild berries carried from North America and South America in the 17th century, according to a press release about the event.

Mahoney is a Research Scientist at the University of New Hampshire. Her strawberry breeding program there strives to develop varieties that combine vigorous, disease-free plants with flavorful fruit and attractive flower colors. She is looking at developing hybrid strawberry varieties propagated by seed, rather than the usual vegetative method. Davis’ research looks at the evolution processes that have shaped the genomes of domesticated plants and their wild relatives, with current emphasis on strawberry and quinoa. He is also a professor of plant biology and genetics at UNH.

The Strawberry Social is sponsored by The Temple Democrats. The Social is open to all who want to learn about and/or eat strawberries, regardless of political persuasion. For more information, contact Tom Hawkins (603-731-2326).