Strawberry Facts
If you like a good strawberry, facts say you are not alone.
• Strawberry festivals run around the country from February until May. It's hard to find a place that doesn't have strawberries – but why would you want to?
• Strawberry facts point out that there are over twenty named types of the fruit. The one we most commonly see is the Garden Strawberry.
• The United States is the highest strawberry-producing nation in the world, and Spain is the second highest. Our American strawberry industry brings in over 1.2 billion dollars a year. The strawberry is the most popular berry around the world.
• The early Argentinians in the 1800's, strawberry facts say, thought that it was a poisonous fruit. Things have certainly changed since then! Romans loved the intense, rich berries, and strawberries were once a fruit that only the richer people could afford. We're glad that changed!
• There are about 45 calories in a cup of strawberries, so they make a delicious and low-calorie snack. They can also be used in jams, and fruit salads.
• Do you wonder how to keep your strawberries fresh? Even the stores can't do it with 100% efficiency. The best way is first to remove any damaged or moldy strawberries, and then put the rest into paper towels, in layers, and keep them inside a sealed bag or a container, in a refrigerator. They can also be frozen for longer periods of time. Don't wash strawberries until you're ready to eat them; this can make them lose their freshness and best taste.
• One cup of strawberries, facts say, contains about 50 calories. They are a good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C, and also contain healthy amounts of phosphorous and potassium, and manganese and dietary fiber. Strawberries also contain phenols, which can act as powerful antioxidants.
• Technically, strawberries are not an actual fruit but a “false fruit”, thus called because the fleshy, fruity part is not grown in the ovaries of the plant, but from the bottom of the part (peg) that holds the ovaries in place.
• Besides being eaten fresh and used in jams, strawberry facts tell us that they can also be dried and used in fruit bars, and they taste great in dairy products like milk shakes, yogurts and smoothies. Of course, strawberry pie has been a favorite in the country for a long time.
• Strawberries are a great fruit to include in a fruit salad. You can also add them to a green salad, or layer them with yogurt to make a delicious parfait.
• Another serving suggestion, strawberry facts say, is to mix them with cinnamon, lemon juice and maple syrup, and use this on pancakes and waffles.
• You can add strawberries to breakfast or diet shakes to give them a burst of flavor without adding a lot of calories.