Frutilla Blanca: A One-Of-A-Kind Strawberry from Chile
Introduction
The white strawberry Fragaria chiloensis is originally from Chile. Unlike other strawberries, it isn’t acidic at all, and the sweet fruit tastes a bit like white peach. Its cultivation has experienced ups and downs; however, even today there are festivals held to celebrate the heritage of the unique berry.
What is the White Strawberry?
In its wild form, Fragaris chiloensis patagónica, the white strawberry can be found in the mountains and plains of southern Chile, primarily in the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta mountain range, part of the Chilean Coast Range, and on Chiloé Island, Chile’s second-largest island. The fruit is very sweet, and its flavor slightly resembles that of a white peach. The wild berries are smaller than F. chiloensis. Fortunately, you can still find farmers cultivating this heirloom berry, which grows to the size of a walnut.
Frutilla blanca is Spanish for "white strawberry"
The White Strawberry Brought Back by a Spy
As the story goes, King Louis XV sent a French spy named Amédée Francois Freszier to Chile in 1714, posing as a botanist, to see what the Spaniards were doing in South America. Freszier returned to France in 1715 with five samples of white strawberries. These eventually cross pollinated with Fragaria virginiana, a strawberry cultivar from Virginia, to create the common red strawberry cultivated and eaten around the world.
The Rise of the White Strawberry
During the first half of the 20th century, farmers in southern Chile cultivated the White Strawberry on a larger scale. Production was centered mainly around Contulmo, in the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta and Curepto (in Chile’s administrative Region 6), but we also heard of production in Valdivia, Osorno, and Chiloe, villages and towns south of Contulmo.
Production peaked in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the farmers of Contulmo were growing about 150 tons of fruit annually. Rail freight cars shipped berries to the city of Concepción three times a week.
The End of Commercial Production
Beginning in the 1980s, though, deforestation and industrial-scale production of pine and eucalyptus trees in the region signaled the beginning of the end for commercial White Strawberry production. Today, only 15 to 20 farmers produce the fruit on about 25 acres around Contulmo and surrounding towns. The dislocation of indigenous Mapuche farmers means that knowledge about strawberry farming has not been passed on to new generations.
Despite these challenges, the White Strawberry is highly prized in the local markets, fetching a price 10 times higher than the common red strawberry.
The White Strawberry - a Family Heirloom
During our investigation we had the opportunity to meet the Carvajal family, who have cultivated the White Strawberry for many generations; in fact, the plants are considered part of their inheritance. Each member of the family is equally passionate about the plant. For example, when we met Jairo, a member of the youngest generation, he was finishing his studies in agronomy. His thesis focused on improving the White Strawberry and its yield, and the prevention of plant diseases using only organic methods.
The White Strawberry Today
Today the towns of Contulmo, Curepto, and Purén all hold annual festivals as a way of celebrating the heritage of the White Strawberry. There you will find all types of jams, preserved fruit, and delicious wines made with this extraordinary fruit.
Main Takeaways
The White Strawberry definitely is unique not only in its appearance and peachy taste but also in history. Brought to Europe by a French spy in the early 18th century and being cultivated in southern Chile on a massive scale until the 1980s, it now sells at 10 times the price of the regular red strawberry in local markets.
Take a moment to watch this video to learn more about this heirloom strawberry on YouTube, or purchase Frutilla Blanca plants for yourself when in season.