What Are White Strawberries And Why Are They So Expensive?

Unique fruits are nothing new to Southerners. Pawpaws are a favorite in the Southeast states and Arkansas black apples are beloved for their purple-black skin and sweet, spiced flavors. But white strawberries are a new one for many people—or at least, they're newer. White strawberries have only been in mainstream supermarkets for a few years. Before that, they were exclusive items on high-end restaurant menus and at luxury fruit markets.

With white strawberries showing up in supermarkets like ALDI, Walmart, and Publix, you may be curious to know what they are and why they're white. Find out how white strawberries are grown, how they taste, and why they cost more than red strawberries.

What Are White Strawberries?

White strawberries are not unripe strawberries, they are a variety of strawberries that just happen to be white, not red. White strawberries have red seeds and green stems but lack the ruby-red luster of conventional red strawberries.

White strawberries are generally sweeter than conventional red strawberries and often have a tropical flavor.

Many white strawberries have a softer flesh and may bruise more easily. Plus, the bruises show easily on the delicate, creamy skin.

Why Are White Strawberries White?

Strawberries start as small white buds on the strawberry plant. They grow into fruit that is initially green, then white, and eventually red. When they're fully ripe, strawberries are vibrant red. The color comes from a protein called Fragaria allergen 1, or Fra a1, that develops in the fruit's flesh.

White strawberries, on the other hand, do not turn red when ripe. They stay white or sometimes develop a faint pink blush. White strawberries simply lack or have very low levels of the Fra a1 protein that gives red strawberries their color.

White Strawberry Varieties

There are several varieties of white strawberries, with subtle differences in flavor. The three most common are:

• Alpine strawberries (Fragaria vesca). Also known as woodland strawberries, these are native to Europe. Varieties include 'Pineapple Crush', 'White Delight', and 'White Giant'.
• Beach strawberries (F. chiloensis). These true white strawberries are native to Chile. They are also known as coastal or South American strawberries.
• Pineberries (F. x ananassa). This hybrid strawberry is the result of a cross between F. chiloensis and F. virginiana. It was first developed in South America and has become the most popular white strawberry in the US. The berries turn a slight pink hue in the sun because they contain a small quantity of the Fra a1 protein that is responsible for the red strawberry color. Because they are hybrids, pineberries cannot be grown from seed, unlike the two other white strawberry species. Popular varieties include 'Pink-a-Boo', 'Snow White', and 'Keoki', which lacks the pineapple flavor.

Why Are White Strawberries So Expensive?

White strawberries are far more finicky and difficult to grow than red strawberries. They require more time and effort, and many are even grown entirely indoors to limit exposure to the sun so they stay as close to pure white as possible.

Japanese farmer and plant breeder Yasuhito Teshima developed 'White Jewel' (Shiroi Houseki) strawberries to be as close to pure white as possible. In 2012, he released the first of these exquisite white strawberries to the public, at about $10 apiece. Only about 10 percent of each year's crop of 'White Jewel' strawberries reaches the highly desired and rare state of pure white, which makes it the rarest and most expensive type of white strawberry.

Another factor that drives up the cost of white strawberries is that the plants tend to produce fewer berries.

Despite that, during strawberry season, you can find a 10-ounce box of white strawberries for under $7 in most grocery stores.

Where To Buy White Strawberries

Most of the commercially grown white strawberries (mostly pineberries) come from Florida, where the season begins in late winter or very early spring. Expect to see the first white strawberries in stores by the end of February or early March. Specialty produce growers in cooler climates might offer white strawberries during the strawberry season in late spring to early summer.

If you can't find white strawberries locally, you might find them at online specialty produce retailers such as Melissa's.