The Strawberry Festival at the Northbridge Senior Center was a wonderful success, offering an afternoon filled with engaging conversation, fresh local flavors, and a strong sense of community!

Guest speaker Ken Foppema of Foppema’s Farm captivated attendees with his presentation that covered their strawberry-growing process from “seedling to sweetness!”  He shared the history of his family’s farm, established in 1983, and gave a vivid look into the care and dedication behind their strawberries as well as their seasonal harvests.

The crowd was enthusiastic and engaged, enjoying both the presentation and the opportunity to connect over a shared appreciation for both strawberries and local agriculture. The festival took place in the Center’s beautifully decorated dining room, where festive, strawberry-themed décor added a bright and cheerful touch to the celebration. Guests delighted in fresh, flavorful refreshments that highlighted the best of the Foppema strawberry season, which included delicious homemade strawberry shortcake (recipe and efforts courtesy of Maggie Creaser and several other treasured volunteers of the senior center)! As a special takeaway, free raffle baskets were awarded to two lucky winners, and each attendee received a strawberry themed favor—a scrumptious homemade cookie from Oat and Olive Bakery!

The entire event created a warm, welcoming atmosphere that celebrated not only strawberry season, but also the importance of supporting a local farm and coming together as a community.

For more information about the senior center’s special events, please call (508) 234-2002.  For more information on Oat and Olive, please email [email protected], and for more information on Foppema’s farm, please call (508) 234-6711 or visit their farmstand at 1605 Hill Street in Northbridge.

Photos and press release submitted by Amy Cowen