Though the foliage resembles that on cultivated strawberries, there is no noticeable fruit.

Annual festivals at churches and community halls put the spotlight on strawberries.

For instance, in July 1893 members heard a lecture on strawberries, followed by a panel discussion.

However, read the labels on strawberries carefully: local fruit isn't always marked as clearly as it could be.

Then he added that for sprinkling on strawberries, as people in Modena do, a much better quality is necessary.

He reports that pickers often load up on strawberries in the field, then go to the store to purchase other produce.

The annual strawberry festivals at churches and community halls all over the Island put the spotlight on strawberries.

"We're committed to Billy as our lead guy," he says, between nibbles on strawberries.

The company said it hoped to begin tests on strawberries as early as March.

"That would be like putting something on wild strawberries," he said.