Is it possible to find these growing wild, if so, are any particular regions famed for this?
Has anyone seen these for sale anywhere, as berries to eat rather than plants to grow?
I doubt you will find them for sale (but Jack might know a stall at one of the markets), they are so small and tend to soften very soon after picking. We are at about 900m on Flumserberg and have loads of them growing wild right now, both on our land and along the wanderwegs.
We picked lots this weekend and ate them straight away. I doubt there will be many left at this height by the coming weekend so you may need to go a little higher.
We went for a walk on Sunday near the lake and also picked loads from the side of the road. We wondered if we were committing a major crime but nobody seemed to stop us. God they're delicious!
I heard from a swiss person that you have to be careful of eating wild strawberries here because they often have tiny worms from the foxes in them that are then transmitted to humans. Is there any truth/ logic/ sense in this?
...naw.. in fact you were being pretty swiss
they grow around Wettingen beside some of the paths too.. you' ve just gotta look down.
re: foxes- yes, its sometimes an idea to wash them because someone might have peed on them. but to me the fox-wizz smells pretty wiffy so you're sure to notice
Unfortunately, very true in the Zurich city area. In fact, in Seefeld there is an ill-looking fox hanging around, so I wouldn't be tempted to pick them around here.
Would this by any more true for strawberries than any other kind of edible wild flora? I guess the difference is that strawberries are normally at ground level rather than bush or hedge height. Mushrooms, normally from ground level, are normally brushed and cooked and in the case of morels brined to purge parasites.
Having said that I can't Google any evidence whatsoever of a worm risk on wild strawberries.
Quick rinse would ensure my peace of mind (and stomach).
Here's a link to the University Zurich re fox worms on. The text is in German and I'm sorry, I don't have time to translate it all.
However, here's a (quick) translation of the summary of the recommendations:
- wash berries, vegetables, salad, fallen fruit thoroughly before eating
- deep-freezing the fruit does not kill the worms.
- there is no risk from cooked food, however
- wash hands after intense contact with the earth (eg. gardening work)
- treat ("mausende" = ?) dogs with an efficient medicine monthly
- wash hands after touching odgs (infected dogs or dogs who have rolled in fox poo can have the worm eggs in their fur
- collect fox poo in a plastic bag and throw it in household garbage, not on the compost heap
- do not feed the foxes or attract them by leaving open food sources around (open compost, pet food in garden, etc.)
- people who think they may have come into contact with the egss of the fox- tapeworm can get a blood analysis done by their GP.
I took this photo in Blatten, Valais
There's a German information sheet about the fox tapeworm here . It's in theory possible to get it from unwashed and uncooked wild berries that was in touch with fox or dog excrement. However human infections are rare in Switzerland, only 10-20 a year. The risk of infection is much higher for dog owners than for berry collectors. Still it's an illness to be taken seriously and it isn't easily diagnosed.
In the Alps up to ten percent of the foxes are infected, but in the rest of the country it's 30-60% and more. Keep your dog away from fox excrements.
Edit: Crumbs is too fast for me!
For those who do not read German, here is an article from SwissInfo: Deadly fox disease lurks in gardens :
Thanks for all the info guys! I'll just be sure to wash before eating if i come across yummy looking berries! (not enough posts for a thanks button yet)
I have seen them on rural markets. However, you can buy alpine/forest strawberries seeds, grow them in your own garden or in pots on the balcony. Delicious!
Has anybody found them on markets, did you try my suggestion to grow them in your own garden?
Well, I was wrong, still plenty growing wild around here
There is a berry farm in Hünenberg on the way towards Sins called Boog Farm. Last week they had Japanese strawberries and wild strawberries. Not sure if they still have them in stock.