This year, Can Marpons, in Arenys de Munt, will open its greenhouses every weekend from April 19 to June 8.

There’s a springtime tradition in Maresme that’s perfect for families: picking strawberries straight from the field, filling up a basket with this beloved fruit, and — best of all — taking it home to enjoy.

Since 2020, **Can Marpons** has opened the gates to its strawberry field every weekend from **April to the end of May or early June**.
Kids and adults alike **can learn more about how strawberries are grown**, discover **where they come from**, and — of course — **taste a few along the way.**

Visiting with kids

A visit to Can Marpons is short and sweet — it lasts less than an hour in total, which makes it ideal even for families with younger children.

It starts with a brief explanation (around 15 minutes) about the history of strawberry farming in Maresme and what makes it special. You’ll learn, for example, why strawberries now grow in raised grow bags instead of directly in the soil, or how farmers protect them from pests.

*Pep Marpons tells us the history and characteristics of strawberry cultivation in the Maresme region and on his family’s farm*

After that, visitors are given a paper basket and a pair of safe (round-tipped) scissors, then head into a greenhouse full of strawberries to pick their favorites. You’ll be surrounded by ripe, juicy fruit — and chances are, your basket will fill up fast!

One thing to keep in mind: inside the greenhouses it can be up to 10 °C warmer than outside. That’s why visits are only offered in spring, when the weather is mild and pleasant for everyone.

Prices & practical info

Babies and preschool-age children: Free (but they don’t receive a basket)
School-age children: €8 (basket included)
Adults: €11

Even though Can Marpons is just a 20-minute walk from the center of Arenys de Munt, if you're coming from outside the town, it's easiest to arrive by car.

From the parking area, the path to the strawberry field is fairly steep, so if you're bringing little ones, a baby carrier will be more practical than a stroller.

It's also a good idea to bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and — of course — an appetite for fresh strawberries!

Why it’s worth it

For children and strawberry lovers, a visit to Can Marpons is a beautiful, hands-on way to learn where this fruit comes from, connecting what we eat with nature and with the work of the farm.

For everyone, it’s a unique and delicious way to spend a spring morning in the Maresme.

And if you want to make the most of your outing, we recommend visiting—or enjoying a picnic at—the Park and Castle of Can Jalpí in Arenys de Munt. It’s a charming spot with pretty trails and an unexpected view of the lake and the castle, both impressive and wonderfully tranquil.

**Spoiler alert:** **Here are a few things we learned about Maresme strawberries**

They enjoyed their heyday in the 1970s, but from the 1990s onward they began to face competition from southern Spain.

The soil in the Maresme is ideal for strawberries because it retains and releases moisture in a balanced way.
Since 2012, strawberries have been grown in grow-bags rather than directly in the ground, to avoid depleting soil nutrients.
Strawberries need a lot of water: 1 kg of strawberries consumes about 200 liters of water. To optimize this resource, hydroponic cultivation is used and the plants are renewed annually to ensure ongoing production.
Pest control has shifted toward more sustainable methods—using physical barriers like mesh netting and less toxic products—after the EU banned several harmful pesticides.
Thanks to the local microclimate and modern cultivation techniques, you can find Maresme strawberries year-round.
The quality of a good strawberry depends on three factors: the variety, the nutrients in the growing medium, and harvesting at the optimal point of ripeness.