Sweet Darling strawberry production sites are located about five miles west of the town of Watsonville.  Our hillside locations, overlooking the freezing cold Pacific Ocean on the coastal bluffs adjacent to Sunset, Manresa and Zmudowski State Beaches. Our close proximity to the cold ocean temperature gradient affords fruit ripening at cooler than normal temperatures  The cool ripening temperatures extend the shelf life of our strawberry by two or more days. Typically, the field is exposed to at least an additional full hour of sunlight more than the valley floor due to the situation of our western facing slopes that receive the last rays of the setting sun. All of these factors contribute to the production of ultra-premium fruit with complex flavor and superb color that are characteristics of the Sweet Darling strawberry. The company was established with the mission of producing a superior tasting longer lasting strawberry true to the meaning of our trademark. Our shipping season runs April to November. As the sole producer, Sweet Darling has absolute control of agricultural and post-harvest practice  and this coherent horticultural practice affords continuity of product quality on the retail display from month to month. The Sweet Darling cooler is located in the artichoke capital of the world, cool coastal Castroville California, (where in 1948 Marilyn Monroe was the Miss California Artichoke Queen) The cool receiving dock temperatures in Castroville, state of art cooling equipment, direct control of post-harvest process also contribute to the extended shelflife of our fruit. For various reasons, we enjoy a reputation for getting customer line trucks loaded and out very fast, gaining precious hours on ETA at customer's DC. The Sweet Darling strawberry has gained recognition among a few discreet buyers as a very special strawberry. The Sweet Darling team steadily fullfills our customer's orders. Very little shrink, more repeat sales and higher gross profits.