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Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Beneath the Boulonnais bocage, in the former canton of Samer, local legend has it that the land rests on an extinct volcano — fertile enough, in any case, to ripen in open ground a strawberry celebrated every June since 1959.
Fruit from Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
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In Hauts-de-France, strawberries occupy a special place: the temperate climate means waiting until June for open-ground strawberries, grown under tunnels, whilst soilless strawberries ripen earlier. Several growing areas share the region — Phalempin in the Lille suburbs, Béthune, Landrethun-lès-Ardres near Calais — but it is in Samer, in the Boulonnais hinterland, that this gleaming fruit is celebrated with the greatest fervour. Its cultivation there dates back to 1840; local legend has it that the town was built on an extinct volcano, whose soil is said to retain peerless fertility. On site, the tourist office confirms a tradition now more than a century old, thanks to the quality of the soil, the microclimate of the Boulonnais bocage, and the aspect of the plots.
A fine fraise de Samer is recognised by its deep red, almost bright red colour, and its sharply contrasting green calyx and stem; the fruit weighs an average of around ten grams.
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The production area extends across the entire former canton of Samer, from Dannes and Écault in the west to Doudeauville in the east. The name has become a registered trademark: only strawberries grown in this sector may bear it, under strict specifications that notably prohibit soilless growing — unlike many strawberries from the neighbouring Montreuillois. Around forty growers are dedicated to it, mostly as a supplementary source of income, with only a few farming larger areas.
Every year since 1959, Samer has celebrated its fruit in June: growers showcase and sell their strawberries, the public is invited to taste and choose the best among them, and concerts, shows, and a flea market bring the event to life. During a recent edition, the festivities spanned some ten days, featuring a foot race, tastings and direct sales, concerts, and the illumination of the abbey's bell tower. As a deputy mayor for community events summed it up at the time, it is 'an opportunity [...] to celebrate and defend the fruit that symbolises Samer's know-how'.
Appearance
Fruit of around 10 grams, with a deep red, almost bright red colour, topped by a sharply contrasting green calyx and stem.
Flavour
A taste and flavour renowned as unique, shaped in combination by the soil quality, the microclimate of the Boulonnais bocage, and the aspect of the plots.
More than fifteen different varieties are grown in the Samer area. In Hauts-de-France, each finds its own culinary niche: the highly fragrant Mara des Bois is best enjoyed raw; Gariguette is suited to coulis and ice cream; Nova Gento and Reine des Vallées top tarts; Ciflorette lends itself to smoothies; and Mamie is reserved for jams.
the brand's specifications prohibit soilless growing, unlike many strawberries from the neighbouring Montreuillois.
from mid-May to early July, the season culminates during the June festival.
around forty growers market their strawberries in Samer and the Boulonnais, mostly as a supplementary source of income.
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The fraise de Samer keeps for 48 hours in the refrigerator; it is best taken out half an hour before eating and rinsed under a trickle of water just beforehand. In Hauts-de-France, it lends itself to a strawberry and rhubarb crumble, a strawberry charlotte, a chickpea and strawberry crème brûlée, or a strawberry and basil sorbet. The June festival, where people taste and compare the strawberries of local growers against one another, remains the most direct way to appreciate the fruit.
The fraise de Samer bears none of the six official quality signs (PDO (AOP), AOC, PGI (IGP), TSG (STG), Label Rouge, organic): it is a registered trademark, defended by local growers, which reserves the name for strawberries grown in the former canton of Samer and subjects their cultivation to strict specifications — notably prohibiting soilless growing.
No producer is listed for this product yet.