The color and chemical composition of three strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duchesne) cultivars, `Arking', `Cardinal', and Earliglow' and one advanced selection, A-7383, were examined at four maturity stages in a 2-year study. Cultivar- and maturity-related differences were observed in CIELAB color space coordinates, L*, a*, b*, anthocyanin concentration, percent soluble solids; pH, titratable acidity, sugar/acid ratio, and total solids, insoluble solids, fructose, and sucrose content. No cultivar effect was detected for glucose concentration. `Arking' and `Cardinal' had the most intense red color and were similar in L*, a*, b* values, titratable acidity, and the concentration of anthocyanin, soluble solids, total solids, and fructose. They differed significantly in pH, sugar/acid ratio, and insoluble solids. A-7383 and `Earliglow' exhibited differences in all measured characteristics except total solids. A-7383 fruits contained the lowest anthocyanin concentration and were the darkest and least red of the genotypes.