THE MARSHALL STRAWBERRY
James Beard, father of American gastronomy, deemed the Marshall Strawberry “the most delicious strawberry ever grown.” It is now on Slow Food's top 10 most endangered foods list.
The Marshall was discovered in Boston in 1883 then the strawberry migrated to the west coast. It was grown widely in Washington, Oregon, and California until the 1960s. After that time, the fruit was commercially phased out due to its modest production and its delicacy, which made it incompatible with modern industrialized agricultural practices.
The 13 Marshall Strawberry plants that exist today were grown from a single
clone at the USDA's Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, Oregon.
In an attempt to revive a precious taste from the past, Leah Gauthier requested
and received two Marshall Strawberry runners from scientists in Corvallis
two years ago, and she has been growing and tending Marshall plants in her
kitchen garden. While Gauthier works toward a significant outdoor planting
in the summer of 2009, she has harvested 20 strawberries. They are the fruit
of her dreams.
Leah Gauthier is donating one Marshall Strawberry plant, in a metal mesh planter hand sewn by the artist to the 11/11 Art Night Auction to benefit Paris Press. For all passionate gardeners, heirloom authorities, and strawberry lovers, this Marshall Strawberry plant could be the fruit of your dreams, as well!