Strawberry

The California Strawberry Festival, an annual celebration on California's "Strawberry Coast," will offer music, arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations and, of course, those wonderfully sweet and colorful berries. More than 8,000 pounds of berries will be covered in whipped cream and poundcake for the "Build Your Own Strawberry Shortcake" event or you can meet the delightful Berryfest Princess of Strawberryland. All proceeds go to charity. Strawberry Meadows of College Park, 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard.

The mild climate along California's coast enables its strawberry growers to dominate commercial production of this fruit; last year they accounted for some 88% of the nation's crop. For strawberry lovers, that's both a blessing, of abundance and reasonable prices, and a curse, because local growers are focused almost exclusively on varieties suited to industrial production. Compared with other states where local sales predominate, California strawberry breeders prioritize firmness and long shelf life, often at the expense of flavor.

Strawberries available practically year-round are emblematic of Southern California farmers markets, but figuring out which ones to buy, when and from whom is tricky, and the subject of frequent discussion, even controversy, among market aficionados. Seasonal timing is a primary determinant of fruit quality. If everything goes right, berries grown in November through January can be extraordinarily rich in flavor, perhaps because they mature so slowly; but production and flavor are often washed out by rainstorms.

  Strawberry dumplings Total time: About 1 hour Servings: 8 to 10 3 pounds strawberries 1/2 cup sugar plus 3 tablespoons sugar, divided 1 vanilla bean, seeded 4 teaspoons Amaretto 1 1/2 cups (6.4 ounces) flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold butter, diced into 1/2-inch pieces 3/4 cup cold buttermilk 1/3 cup sliced almonds Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream 1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

Redheads hold an iconic place in American pop culture. There's the voluptuous come-hither trappings of Rita Hayworth and cartoon sex bomb Jessica Rabbit; the comedic zaniness of Lucille Ball, Debra Messing, Carrot Top and Conan O'Brien; and the girl-next-door sweetness of '80s film princess Molly Ringwald. There's even a template for the icy redhead a la Marcia Cross and Julianne Moore. For all of these famous folks, it could be said that red hair is part of their brand. Naturally red hair is a rare commodity.

Lee Freeman '60s band had No. 1 hit Lee Freeman, 60, a member of the 1960s' band Strawberry Alarm Clock, famous for its flower-power anthem that became a No. 1 hit in 1967, died of cancer Feb. 14 at his home in the Bay Area, his brother, Doug, said in an e-mail. Freeman, who played rhythm guitar, sang and wrote lyrics, was an original member of the band, which was called Thee Sixpence when it was formed in 1966. None of the band members wanted to sing lead on "Incense and Peppermints," intended to be released on the B-side of a single, so a friend on hand for the recording session volunteered.

  Orange-flavored shortcakes with strawberries and cream Total time: 40 minutes Servings: 6 Note: From Russ Parsons. Coarse sugar can be found at baking and cooking supply stores and well-stocked markets. Shortcakes 2 cups flour 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon grated orange zest (about 1 large orange) 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes 2 hard-boiled egg yolks 3/4 cup heavy cream, plus extra for brushing Coarse sugar for dusting (granulated sugar can be substituted)

The number of farmers markets in Los Angeles County has more than doubled over the last decade, from 53 to 129, and many of the venues are new, small and operated by neophytes. Such is the case with the Los Feliz farmers market, which was started five months ago by Helen Lee, a filmmaker who grew up in the area and got into the world of markets when she operated a crepe stand. She has started three markets since April; this one, sponsored by a nonprofit organization called Eco-Op, began near the well-known Dresden restaurant, but a month ago moved two blocks north to its current, more visible location in a post office parking lot. In this modest space Lee has managed to fit 25 stands, of which seven are certified produce vendors and 18 offer prepared foods and miscellaneous merchandise.

It's the cake that has fueled hundreds of thousands of birthdays, weddings and office parties across Los Angeles. You've probably had it: two layers of soft yellow sponge cake that sandwich a filling of fresh strawberries and fluffy whipped cream, frosted all over with yet more whipped cream, ringed with toasted almonds on the sides and decorated with red, blue or pink roses on top. It might have said, "Thank you for all your hard work," "Congratulations,...