White Alpine Strawberries
Estimated Inventory, bskt : 0
Description/Taste
Most White Alpine strawberry plants do not send out horizontal runners, and instead produce short individual stemmed plants approximately 15 centimeters tall. The tiny berries first appear green and later ripen to creamy shades of yellow or greenish-white. They are covered in small edible seeds that protrude slightly from the skin. White Alpine strawberries are dense and juicy with sweet concentrated strawberry flavors mixed with tropical notes of guava and pineapple.
Seasons/Availability
White Alpine strawberries are available in the spring and summer.
Current Facts
Alpine strawberries are a slightly larger variety of wood strawberry that is botanically classified as Fragaria vesca. There are both red and white cultivars which can range from shades of creamy yellow to greenish white. Some commonly found varieties include Bush White, Pineapple Crush, Yellow Wonder, White Soul, Alpine Yellow, and Alpine White. White Alpine strawberries are easier to grow than their red counterparts because birds and other animals are not tempted by them.
Nutritional Value
White Alpine strawberries share many of the same health benefits as the conventional red varieties. The provide potassium and vitamins such as A and C.
Applications
White Alpine strawberries are just as versatile as their red counterparts, but are best when simply prepared raw to showcase their unique flavor and unusual appearance. Their obvious advantage, or perhaps disadvantage depending upon the desired outcome, is that they lack any red pigmentation that may bleed into a dish. They make an interesting addition to salads and fruit salsas and may be cooked, but will lose some of their delicate pineapple flavor. White Alpine strawberries are more fragile than the larger strawberry varieties and should be used shortly after harvest.
Geography/History
White Alpine strawberries are a natural mutation of the wild growing red wood strawberry. First discovered about 300 years ago east of Grenoble in the low Alps, the Alpine strawberry quickly became a favorite among gardeners. While most wood strawberries bear fruit only in spring, Alpine strawberries fruit continuously throughout the growing season and produce larger berries. They can produce fruit whenever temperatures are warm, but are considerably less productive in extremely hot weather.
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