Harvest of the Month: Strawberries
For some of us, the warm months haven’t officially arrived until we’ve wandered through the strawberry patch to pluck up some juicy red fruits. The good news? That trip to the strawberry patch yields more than just mouth-watering sweetness. It also connects you with a big dose of healthiness. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, manganese (which fuels a lot of bodily functions), vitamin B9 (which promotes tissue growth and cell function), and potassium. Here are a few other things you might like to know about strawberries:
- Americans eat an average of 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year.
- Strawberries smell so good because they’re technically members of the rose family.
- Speaking of technicalities: Strawberries technically aren’t berries. They’re “accessory fruits.”
- You’ll find about 200 seeds on the average strawberry.
Want to make sure you get the best berries when you’re getting ready for a juicy treat? My Fearless Kitchen offers these tips for choosing strawberries:
- Look for bright red berries. Unlike other fruits, berries don’t continue to ripen after they’re picked.
- Look for green leaves. Leaves start to wilt after picking, so the greener the leaves, the fresher the berry.
- Plumpness matters. If berries look a little dry or shriveled, pass them by.
- Size doesn’t matter. Big or small berries can be tasty.
- Avoid mold. Mold equals rot.
- Check ’em all out. When buying a box of berries, check out as many as you can to make sure there aren’t bad berries buried on the bottom.
Try strawberries in this refreshing Strawberry Gazpacho recipe!
Tags: food, health, healthy food, healthy living, recipes, strawberries, strawberry recipe