Looking for Suwannee strawberries

Anybody know of anyone still selling these? Alternatively, I'd settle for Tennessee Beauty, Pocahantas, Fairfax or Earlibelle.

Really wanting June-bearing, but if I can't find these, I'd be interested in Honeylump, an everbearer, or Ozark Beauty (I *know* I can get those, but they're not anywhere near my top choice.)

Or if you have other ideas for really great-tasting berries to replace my bland Allstars, all ideas are welcome!

Terry,
I have to agree that Suwannee is one the best strawberry cultivars for flavor. May be Fairfax comes close but it doesn't come close for vigor and production. I haven't set Strawberrys since I left the New River Valley, but in the 70's and 80's I bought Suwannees, Fairfax, Earlidawn etc from Allen's Berries in Salisberry Md. This company has been used by the family since about 1920 with never a complaint. I do not have thier current catalog so don't know how many of the older varieties they offer. I looked in Yellow pages (internet) and the company is still in business. Tennessee Beauty was widely distributed in the early nineties in the local businesses in the New River Valley. Several pick your own growers in Floyd County were still using them. Check with plant farms, particularly on Marylands eastern shore.

Thanks so much for the tip. Is this maybe the Allen Plant Company out of Fruitland, MD? If so, we have them in the Watchdog, but their website is not working (usually not a good sign.) I've emailed them; if I don't get a reply within a few days, I'll try calling.

Glad to hear someone else speak highly of this variety; I just hope I can locate some plants!

It is possible, although the name at that time was W.F. Allen. W. F. Allen, Co., Salisbury, Maryland 21801. Other sources in the area include Brittingham's Plant Farm, Salisbury, Maryland 21801 ,and Rayner Bros., Inc. P.O. Box 1617, Salisbury, Maryland 21801. Other potential sources listed by the Nebraska Extension Service include Ahrens Strawberry Nursery, Huntingburg, Indiana 47642, The Conner Company, Inc., P.O. Box 534, Augusta, Arkansas 72006, and Wm. Krohne Plant Farm, Rt. #6, Dowagiac, Michigan 59047. Most plant farms shut down for the winter, so snailmail may be your best resort.

Thanks again :)

I think that Nebraska factsheet is a bit outdated (I'm surprised they haven't edited the online version from the 1985 edition.) When I worked on the Plants By Mail FAQ (before Dave created the Garden Watchdog and we ultimately merged the two), I came across press releases indicating that Brittingham had sold and split its business between Nourse and Indiana Berry (this was probably 3-4 years ago, at least.)

WF Allen appears to be Allen Plant Co. (at least their telephone numbers are only one digit apart, which leads me to believe they're probably answered by the same person, or people sitting next to each other *grin*)

Ahrens appears to be defunct, and Krohne has moved to Hartford, MI. I suspect Conner is now Cooley's Strawberry Nursery (Cooley's is located in Augusta, Arkansas, too - and I can't find much on Conner's.)

I've emailed Simmons (another Arkansas berry company), and I just keep looking. Hopefully you're right about Allen just being closed temporarily, and they can provide (or direct me to a source for) the 'Suwannee'.

I'm also tempted to try growing some of the alpine berries, since it appears they're fairly easy to grow and they will set fruit the first or second season.

It's only December and I'm already hankerin' for April...