White Chilean Strawberry Plants

• White strawberries are native to Chile. Win Initiative/Photodisc/Getty Images

  White strawberries have been in existence for hundreds of years in the central and southern regions of the South American nation of Chile. The colorless and translucent fruit is commonly cultivated between the Pacific Ocean and the Cordigliera areas of the country, and is also known as "pineberry." The fruit, which is called "frutillas blancas" in Spanish, is notable for its taste, which is closer to that of a pineapple than a standard red strawberry.

Description

• Chilean white strawberries have a texture and shape similar to a normal strawberry, but a fragrance and flavor that matches pineapples closely. The flavor also has a floral undertone. The round fruit is characterized by its pale flesh, tiny points and red seeds. The glossy flesh, although translucent, is occasionally touched with a hint of pale pink. However, it is usually ivory white with either red or rosy red points. The fruit is slightly smaller than a red strawberry, and is usually just under 1 inch in width across.

Cultivation

• The short harvest of Chilean white strawberries starts towards the end of November, and goes up until the middle of January. White strawberries are commonly consumed as festive foods during the holiday season in Chile, particularly at Christmas and on the New Year. In the town of Puren, within the Nahuelbuta Mountains, an annual white strawberry festival is held in the middle of February.

Background

• Almost three decades ago, a fruit was crossbred with a tiny red berry that is native to the state of Virginia. As a result, all of the strawberries that are found in grocery stores in the United States is marked by DNA from Chile. Chilean white strawberries are often said to be the "grandfather" of modern day strawberries. The strawberries, however, cannot be purchased anywhere other than Chile, where they are sold during the summer months on terraced and steep hillsides by a small group of farmers. It is also very rare to find white strawberries in Santiago, which is Chile's capital city.