Strawberries
Estimated Inventory, 12 ct : 0
Description/Taste
Strawberries are small to medium-sized fruits, ranging in size from 2 to 5 centimeters in diameter, and have a plump cordate shape with broad, curved shoulders tapering to a blunt or pointed, narrow tip. Each Strawberry will vary in appearance, size, aroma, and flavor, depending on the variety, and is capped with a tuft of small lanceolate green leaves growing in a circular formation. Despite their berry moniker, it is important to note that Strawberries are not true berries and are labeled as false fruits or pseudocarps. The brightly colored, fleshy portion of the Strawberry is known as a receptacle to hold the ovaries, also known as achenes, of the flower. These ovaries are the tiny yellow-brown to white specks seen on the outside of the Strawberry, and they are often referred to as seeds. One Strawberry can have over 200 ovaries on its surface, and each ovary contains a single seed. Strawberries can vary in color, appearing in shades of bright red, dark red, pink, peach, to white, and the fruits develop a faint sheen when ripe. The fruit's surface is delicate, easily damaged, and soft. Underneath the surface, the flesh is typically aqueous, firm but tender, and sometimes crisp with a succulent nature. The seeds on the outside also provide a subtle crunch. Strawberries release a fragrant, fruity aroma and must be picked when mature, as they will not continue to ripen after being harvested. Depending on the variety, they can be syrupy-sweet, fruity, sweet-tart, candy-like, to sweet with balanced acidity.
Seasons/Availability
Strawberries are available year around with peak season in the spring and summer.
Current Facts
Strawberries, botanically classified as Fragaria ananassa, are a type of aggregate fruit belonging to the Rosaceae family. There are more than 600 varieties of strawberries worldwide, and the fleshy, juicy fruits offered in commercial markets in the modern day were developed from centuries of breeding smaller wild species. Strawberries develop on low-growing, herbaceous flowering plants and form at the ends of runners, offshoots that extend from the mother plant. In fact, the name Strawberry is thought to be a corruption of the words "strewn berry," a descriptor given for the way the fruits are naturally strewn across the ground when ripening. In commercial production, Strawberry is a general term encompassing a broad range of varieties ranging in size, appearance, flavor, and disease resistance. Some of the most popular Strawberry varieties are Northeaster, Albion, Sable, Primetime, Aroma, Cardinal, Diamante, Camarosa, Tristar, Hood, Earliglow, Annapolis, Delmarvel, Surecrop, Guardian, Sparkle, Allstar, Jewel, Winona, Ventana, Mesabi, and Tribute. Three main groupings are also used to classify Strawberry varieties according to their flowering time: June-bearing, Everbearing, and Day-Neutral. June-bearing Strawberries are the most common in commercial production, fruiting once per season in the late spring through early summer. Everbearing types typically fruit twice per season, and Day-Neutral varieties can fruit several times per season with extended production time. Worldwide, Strawberries are grown in greenhouses, commercial fields, and home gardens, favored as a fresh-eating and culinary ingredient.
Nutritional Value
Strawberries are a source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, and vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning. The fruits also provide vitamin E to reduce inflammation, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, copper to develop connective tissues, and other nutrients, including manganese, iron, and iodine. The pigmented skin and flesh contain anthocyanins, natural compounds that give the fruit its coloring and have antioxidant-like properties to protect the cells against the damage caused by free radicals. Historically, Strawberries were used in ancient civilizations such as the Romans to reduce symptoms associated with inflammation, melancholy, fevers, and infections. The leaves and dried fruits were also used in teas in Asia to detox the body. In the 13th century France, Strawberries were thought to soothe upset stomachs and were used topically for skin rashes, blemishes, and complexion.
Applications
Strawberries are a universal ingredient and generally have a sweet, tart, and fruity taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The fruits are traditionally consumed straight out of hand or sliced and tossed into salads, added to fruit medleys, or served on cheese platters for added color, texture, and flavor. Strawberries can also be sliced and used as a fresh topping over yogurt, granola, pancakes, and French toast, dipped whole into chocolate, or placed as an edible decoration over cakes and desserts. In the United Kingdom, Strawberries are famously served with cream, a dessert that can be traced back to the early 16th century. It is said that the right-hand man to King Henry VIII, Thomas Wolsey, served the Strawberry-centric dessert at one of the king's banquets in 1509. Strawberries and cream were later served to spectators of tennis matches in the United Kingdom, establishing a tradition that is still honored at the Wimbledon Championships in the modern day. In addition to fresh preparations, Strawberries can be simmered into jams, jellies, syrups, and compotes. They can also be baked into cakes, bread, tarts, pies, cheesecakes, and shortcakes. The sweet, tangy nature of Strawberries complements sweet and savory dishes, and some chefs roast the fruits whole in a coating of balsamic vinegar. Strawberries can also be blended into sorbet and gelato or used to flavor icings, whipped cream, and fillings. Beyond culinary preparations, Strawberries are blended into smoothies and milkshakes or muddled into cocktails. They are also dried for extended use and added to granola mixes, bars, fruit leather, and chocolate. Strawberries pair well with berries such as blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, citrus, melon, rhubarb, spices including cinnamon, cardamom, and coriander, herbs such as rosemary, mint, and basil, cheeses including ricotta, mascarpone, and feta, vanilla, maple syrup, and chocolate. Whole, unwashed Strawberries will keep for 3 to 5 days when stored in the refrigerator. The fruits can also be frozen whole for approximately two months.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
According to Cherokee folklore, Strawberries were introduced onto Earth to reunite the first man and woman. The tale begins at the dawn of time when the first man and woman were building their new life together. One day, the man and woman began fighting, and the woman became so upset that she decided to leave. The woman walked east toward the land of the rising sun. When the man realized she had left, he waited for her to return, then began following her as he missed her. The man was no longer angry and pined for his woman to come back. While the woman was walking east, she did not look around as she was determined to continue in her travels, but the man was filled with sadness, wishing she would stop and turn around. Unelanuhi, the Sun God, noticed the man's anguish and took pity on him. The Sun God suddenly created a huckleberry bush in the woman's path to entice her to stop and eat the berries. The woman was unphased and continued walking on her angered path. Unelanuhi then created a blackberry bush, but the woman still ignored the succulent berries. Finally, Unelanuhi decided to make a fruit that had not been seen on Earth before to catch the woman's attention. Unelanuhi created a patch of Strawberries, and the shiny, red berries stopped the woman in her tracks as she was amazed by the new fruits. The woman ate the juicy berries, and her angry mood left her, opening her heart to joy and happiness. Filled with renewed hope, the woman gathered the Strawberries and turned around to find the man. She quickly reunited with the man who was still following her and shared the fruits with him. They sat down together to eat the Strawberries, agreeing to live in partnership. From that day on, the man and woman populated the earth and carried Strawberry plants with them as a reminder of forgiveness,
Geography/History
Strawberries sold in commercial markets are descendants of wild strawberry species that have been growing wild since ancient times. Experts believe there were approximately 5 to 6 wild species naturally growing in temperate regions of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and the earliest records of the aggregate fruits can be traced back to the Greeks and Romans. Wild strawberries were used in small quantities in medicinal and culinary applications throughout the Greek and Roman Empires and were well-respected, viewed as a gift from the Gods. Strawberries were once a symbol for Venus, the Goddess of Love, as their red, cordate-shaped appearance symbolized the heart. Later, in pre-modern Europe, wild strawberries remained a foraged item, and there were three main species eaten, including the Woodland strawberry, Fragaria vesca, Musk strawberry, Fragaria moschata, and Green strawberry, Fragaria viridis. Selective cultivation of Strawberries did not occur in Europe until the 13th and 14th centuries, and Germany, Italy, and England were the top producers at the time. Increased cultivation led to Strawberries appearing in artwork, stone carvings, literature, and decorative margins of clothing and manuscripts. Historical records indicate that King Henry VIII was a known strawberry enthusiast, and Madame Theresa Tallien, a prominent member of Napoleon's court, was famous for bathing in fresh strawberries. Legend has it that she used around twenty-two pounds of strawberries per bath. While Europe was beginning to cultivate its wild strawberry species, tribes in North and South America were already growing and slowly domesticating their own wild strawberries. Spanish and Portuguese explorers carried North American strawberry species back to Europe in the early 17th century. In 1714, Frenchman Amedee-Francois Frezier smuggled several Chilean strawberry plants from Chile and planted them in France. In a series of trials, the North American strawberry, or Fragaria virginiana, was planted beside the Chilean strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis. The two species were allowed to cross-pollinate, developing larger and sweeter fruit. This new species, called Garden Strawberries, quickly replaced wild strawberries in commercial production. By the 1770s, Garden Strawberries were introduced into the United States. Over time, Strawberries were commercially bred, and many different improved varieties were released for fresh preparations and processing. Today Mexico, China, and the United States are the top Garden Strawberry producers and account for about half of the total Strawberries grown worldwide. Strawberries are produced in various countries around the world and are sold through grocers, farmer's markets, and distributors. In the United States, Strawberries are grown in California, Florida, and Oregon and can generally be produced year-round.
