Nit Pick the Strawberries

Not sure where you think the continuity error is. Is it that you think the cast shouldn't have been eating strawberries at all? Or they shouldn't have been eating the particular type shown in the film? Or they wouldn't have been picking them in the wild? Or that they shouldn't have been eating the fruit at a particular time of year?

The book was indeed published in December 1815, but wasn't set in that month. The action of the book covers the September of one year (when Miss Taylor gets married) to the November of the next (when Mr & Mrs George Knightley go off on honeymoon). The strawberry picking party takes place in mid-summer, which is the perfect time for picking strawberies. Mine are looking particularly good as I look out of my window this morning .

The strawberries weren't growing wild, they were cultivated in the kitchen gardens at Donwell Abbey. The whole party were there at Knighley's express invitation. Can't recall if this is explained clearly in the film, it's been a while since I saw it. Several different varieties of strawberries are listed in the text of the book, which must have been known to Austen and therefore must have been grown in England at that time.

"You had better explore to Donwell," replied Mr. Knightley. "That may be done without horses. Come, and eat my strawberries. They are ripening fast."

If Mr. Knightley did not begin seriously, he was obliged to proceed so, for his proposal was caught at with delight; and the "Oh! I should like it of all things," was not plainer in words than manner. Donwell was famous for its strawberry-beds, which seemed a plea for the invitation: but no plea was necessary; cabbage-beds would have been enough to tempt the lady [Mrs Elton], who only wanted to be going somewhere....

.....[Emma] walked about and indulged them till it was necessary to do as the others did, and collect round the strawberry beds. The whole party were assembled, excepting Frank Churchill, who was expected every moment from Richmond; and Mrs. Elton, in all her apparatus of happiness, her large bonnet and her basket, was very ready to lead the way in gathering, accepting, or talking -- strawberries, and only strawberries, could now be thought or spoken of. -- "The best fruit in England -- every body's favourite -- always wholesome. These the finest beds and finest sorts. -- Delightful to gather for one's self -- the only way of really enjoying them. Morning decidedly the best time -- never tired -- every sort good -- hautboy infinitely superior -- no comparison -- the others hardly eatable -- hautboys very scarce -- Chili preferred -- white wood finest flavour of all -- price of strawberries in London -- abundance about Bristol -- Maple Grove -- cultivation -- beds when to be renewed -- gardeners thinking exactly different -- no general rule -- gardeners never to be put out of their way -- delicious fruit -- only too rich to be eaten much of -- inferior to cherries -- currants more refreshing -- only objection to gathering strawberries the stooping -- glaring sun -- tired to death -- could bear it no longer -- must go and sit in the shade."

No continuity problems in terms of having strawberries at the time of the action of the film.

It may be that the type of strawberries used in the films weren't exactly he same as those listed in the book. If you can identify that from the quick shots we had, you really must know your stuff, gardening wise! The actual varieties of fruit shown in the film may have depended on what the filmmakers could actually get their paws on, but I'm growing hautboys among other things and they have very large, red fruit. They taste really good too!

I'd just continue to enjoy the film

He looks like what happens when you punch a cow!

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Or should I just say to heck with it and enjoy the film, which I did?

Yep! No point in getting an ulcer over eating some strawberries.🐭

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