Sound Off In Our Weekly Poll
Ask Sadie
iLunchbox Blog 
The Sweet Strawberry- not a berry at all. |
| Posted by Beth Ann Bentley on May 21 2008 |
| iLunchbox Blog >> Beth Ann |
The strawberry is a small plant of the rose family (Rosaceae). Strawberries are not really berries or fruit in the botanical sense at all. A strawberry is an aggregate fruit; the real fruit are the objects we think of as the strawberry seed properly called achenes. Achenes are fruits in the same way that a raw sunflower seed with its tough shell is a fruit. The "berry" is actually an enlarged receptacle and is not reproductive material. As a result, strawberries must be picked at full ripeness, as they cannot not ripen once picked.
The strawberry plant grows close to the ground on the stem in groups of three. The greenish white fruits turn to a rich red color when they ripen. When the strawberry ripens, the petals of the flower fall off and all that remains is the calyx, a leafy substance shaped like a star. Not every flower produces fruit. They do not normally reproduce by seeds. When the fruit is developing, the plant sends out slender string-like growths called runners that grow on the ground and send out roots in the soil. The roots then produce new plants which grow and bear fruit.
Strawberry plants grow both wild and cultivated and produce fruit in warm weather spring through fall. The warmer the temperature, the more fruit that is produced.
Strawberries are thought to have been cultivated in ancient Rome. The berries seem to be strewn among the leaves of the plant, thus the plant’s first name was strewberry, and was later changed to strawberry. The modern strawberry grown in the United States was originally grown in northern Europe, but species are also found in Russia and Chile. The first American species of strawberries was cultivated about 1835. The first important American variety, the Hoveg, was grown in 1834, in Massachusetts. The hybrid variety was developed in France. The strawberry is considered one of the most important small fruits grown in the Western Hemisphere. Today every state in the United States and every province in Canada grows the strawberry plant.
Strawberries are not only pretty and delicious, they also have had medicinal uses reported. In the 13th century in France strawberries were cultivated as a medicinal herb. The berry was used to help digestive upsets and the roots were used for gout. Externally the berries and the juices were used for sunburn and skin blemishes as well as discolored teeth.
Today we mostly think of strawberries as delicious heart-shaped nuggets of juicy goodness. A Super Food high in vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants, folate and fiber, they are a great snack on their own or tossed in salads, salsas, smoothies, pies, cakes and muffins. A serving of strawberries is about 8 pieces of fruit, which will yield only 50 calories and 160% of the Daily Recommended Values of vitamin C.
If you are picking your own berries look for bright red fruit, then carefully pick the berry by pinching or cutting the stem and leave the fruit on the stem. If you are purchasing the berries at the farmers market or grocery store look for bright red fruit without white or green “shoulders.” They should be free of blemishes and mold. Don’t wash strawberries until you are ready to eat them. They can be stored, un washed, in the refrigerator of up to a week. Just take out the fruit you want to eat and wash them by soaking or running them under cold water. You can also prepare strawberries as if you going to eat them, then freeze them for enjoyment in the future. Here is a tip: if you want to enjoy individual strawberries, clean and trim the fruit then place them on a lined cookie tray and freeze. Once frozen transfer them to a re-sealable freezer bag and can be used at any time you want.
My kids just like to eat strawberries, nothing fancy about it - out of a bowl all fresh and juicy. But if you are looking for a few more ways to incorporate strawberries into your day, check out these recipes.
Back The strawberry plant grows close to the ground on the stem in groups of three. The greenish white fruits turn to a rich red color when they ripen. When the strawberry ripens, the petals of the flower fall off and all that remains is the calyx, a leafy substance shaped like a star. Not every flower produces fruit. They do not normally reproduce by seeds. When the fruit is developing, the plant sends out slender string-like growths called runners that grow on the ground and send out roots in the soil. The roots then produce new plants which grow and bear fruit.
Strawberry plants grow both wild and cultivated and produce fruit in warm weather spring through fall. The warmer the temperature, the more fruit that is produced.
Strawberries are thought to have been cultivated in ancient Rome. The berries seem to be strewn among the leaves of the plant, thus the plant’s first name was strewberry, and was later changed to strawberry. The modern strawberry grown in the United States was originally grown in northern Europe, but species are also found in Russia and Chile. The first American species of strawberries was cultivated about 1835. The first important American variety, the Hoveg, was grown in 1834, in Massachusetts. The hybrid variety was developed in France. The strawberry is considered one of the most important small fruits grown in the Western Hemisphere. Today every state in the United States and every province in Canada grows the strawberry plant.
Strawberries are not only pretty and delicious, they also have had medicinal uses reported. In the 13th century in France strawberries were cultivated as a medicinal herb. The berry was used to help digestive upsets and the roots were used for gout. Externally the berries and the juices were used for sunburn and skin blemishes as well as discolored teeth.
Today we mostly think of strawberries as delicious heart-shaped nuggets of juicy goodness. A Super Food high in vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants, folate and fiber, they are a great snack on their own or tossed in salads, salsas, smoothies, pies, cakes and muffins. A serving of strawberries is about 8 pieces of fruit, which will yield only 50 calories and 160% of the Daily Recommended Values of vitamin C.
If you are picking your own berries look for bright red fruit, then carefully pick the berry by pinching or cutting the stem and leave the fruit on the stem. If you are purchasing the berries at the farmers market or grocery store look for bright red fruit without white or green “shoulders.” They should be free of blemishes and mold. Don’t wash strawberries until you are ready to eat them. They can be stored, un washed, in the refrigerator of up to a week. Just take out the fruit you want to eat and wash them by soaking or running them under cold water. You can also prepare strawberries as if you going to eat them, then freeze them for enjoyment in the future. Here is a tip: if you want to enjoy individual strawberries, clean and trim the fruit then place them on a lined cookie tray and freeze. Once frozen transfer them to a re-sealable freezer bag and can be used at any time you want.
My kids just like to eat strawberries, nothing fancy about it - out of a bowl all fresh and juicy. But if you are looking for a few more ways to incorporate strawberries into your day, check out these recipes.
