One of the best things about spring is that we can begin to get delicious locally grown fruits and vegetables again. It is really a treat to have the opportunity to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables after a long winter of eating canned or frozen fruits and vegetables or those fruits and vegetables from grocery store shelves that traveled thousands of miles before they got to us.

Now, it's strawberry time again. Strawberries are usually ready to harvest by mid-April each year and are one of the earliest fruits available in this area.

We are fortunate that we have an abundance of strawberry producers right here in Robeson County. There are producers in virtually every community, so all you have to do is travel just a short distance to pick your own berries fresh off the bush. Most producers have berries available that are already picked, so if you prefer, you don't even have to pick them yourself.

When you pick your own strawberries or select ones that have already been picked, look for berries that are firm and fully colored. Size really has no bearing on flavor. The large ones should be just as delicious as the small ones. The flavor of the berries is determined by growing conditions such as weather, rainfall, amount of sunlight, and soils.

For strawberries to stay fresh, do not wash them right away. Store them in a large container with a dry paper towel at the bottom. Separate the berries by layering them with paper towels to maximize freshness. Just before using, wash strawberries with the caps attached under a gentle spray of cool water. For best flavor, allow strawberries to reach room temperature before serving.

Another good thing about strawberries is that you can freeze them and enjoy them all year long. If properly frozen, they will be almost as delicious as when they were fresh. However, because of the moisture content of the berries, once they are frozen, they lose some of their texture. Frozen berries are best used in beverages and sauces instead of in recipes calling for fresh berries. After washing as described above, berries can be placed directly into freezer bags and placed in the freezer. They can be sweetened to taste when thawed.

To prepare presweetened berries, mix equal amounts of sugar and water in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is clear. Cool the mixture completely. Measure one cup of stemmed and sliced strawberries into a pint-sized freezer bag and then pour one-half to two-thirds of a cup of the sugar-water mixture into the bag, just enough to completely cover the strawberries. Seal and freeze the bag in a single layer.

Most people eat strawberries just because they taste great, but do you know just how much nutrition is packed into each strawberry? Just eight strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange. In fact, they contain 140 percent of the recommended daily amount for vitamin C. Strawberries have only 50 calories per serving and no cholesterol or saturated fats. Strawberries also contain potassium and fiber, fundamental parts of a healthy diet that reduce chances of cancer and heart problems.

Strawberries should be a special treat for expectant mothers. Eight strawberries have 20 percent of the folic acid needed each day. Studies have shown that expectant mothers should consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to help prevent neural tube birth defects.

Many people ask what are the small specks on the outside of the strawberry? This is actually the seed, and there are about 200 of them on each berry. However, the plants you pick your berries from did not grow from a seed. Commercial strawberry plants are actually cuttings from a parent plant in order to ensure the highest quality and flavor possible.

There are a lot of interesting facts about strawberries. In France, strawberries were regarded as an aphrodisiac of the highest quality. Newlyweds traditionally were served a soup of thinned sour cream, strawberries, borage (a European herb whose flavor is reminiscent of cucumber), and powdered sugar. The second wife of Henry VIII, Queen Anne Boleyn (1507-36), had a strawberry-shaped birthmark on her neck. Unfortunately, some claimed this fact proved she was a witch.

The strawberry is recognized as representing absolute perfection in the Victorian language of flowers. Medieval stonemasons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals, symbolizing perfection and righteousness. During the same time period, strawberries were served at important state occasions and festivals to ensure peace and prosperity.

It is not uncommon to see a double strawberry. This is a result of how the berry was pollinated as it began to form on the plant. Legend says that if you break a double strawberry in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you will soon fall in love with each other.

I encourage you to take advantage of the fresh strawberries that are now available. I have already sampled them from several fields, and they are delicious. If you need directions to the strawberry field closest to your house, please call my office at 910-671-3276, and we will be glad to give you directions.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 4/30/02