Strawberries

Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa )

The first garden variety of strawberries was cultivated in Brittany, France from a cross of a species native to the East Coast of North America and another species from Chile.

The strawberry is not, from a botanical point of view, a berry. Technically, it’s an aggregate fruit—each “seed” on the outside of the fruit is actually a separate fruit with its own seed inside it!

Strawberries are sweet and delicious and full of vitamin C!

Pick strawberries ripe—they don’t continue to ripen after picking.

Storage Tips:

• Strawberries are best eaten fresh and soon after picking.

• You can keep unwashed strawberries for a few days in a colander in the refrigerator. Wash before eating.

• Try freezing strawberries to enjoy all year: sort out any mushy fruits, wash the remaining ones and cut off the tops. Let dry for about 10 minutes in a colander and then spread them in a single layer on a cookie sheet (this keeps them from freezing into a solid block). Freeze overnight. Then pack the loose frozen berries into freezer bags. These work great for smoothies and baking!