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Berry Interesting Facts about Strawberries

© Mary M. Alward

Late June is the time that strawberries ripen in my part of the country. Soon, we will be picking, washing and preserving this delicious fruit. Just for fun, I decided to do a bit of research on strawberries. Here are some fast facts that I know you will enjoy.

* Strawberries are the only fruit that grows seeds on the outside.

* There are over 200 seeds on every strawberry.

* 12 ounces of strawberries = 97 calories if no sugar is added. A great food for diets.

* The strawberry was a symbol for the Love Goddess, Venice.

* Ancient Romans used strawberries as medicine. They believed the fruit could cure fever, bad breath, gout, sore throats, depression, fainting and diseases of the blood.

* Iroquois Indians grew strawberries, which was one of their most important crops. They used strawberry leaves to brew tea and the berries to season meats and soups.

* In Bavaria, farmers harvest strawberries and tie small baskets of the fruit on their cow's horns. This is an offering to the elves, which they believe can help produce healthy calves and increase the milk supply of cows.

* If strawberries grown in California were laid together side-by-side, they would circle the globe 15 times.

* The California Strawberry Association awards 99 scholarships to the children of farmers each year.

* Eight strawberries contain more Vitamin C than a medium sized orange.

* One serving of strawberries daily will decrease systolic blood pressure.

* Strawberries are high in folic acid, fiber and potassium.

* That people once believe if a pregnant woman craved strawberries and didn't eat them, her baby would be born with a strawberry birthmark.

* The second wife of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, had a strawberry birthmark on her neck. Some people claimed that this proved she was a witch.

* Strawberries are a member of the rose family.

I hope you enjoyed these amazing facts about this delicious fruit. Now, let's enjoy a strawberry pie.

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Strawberry Pie

What you will need

1 graham cracker pie crust, baked and cooled.

1 package of light vanilla instant pudding.

1 quart of fresh strawberries.

1 cup of 2% milk.

Confectioner's sugar for dusting. (This is also called icing sugar or powdered sugar.)

What to do

Put the milk in a medium sized bowl.

Add the powdered instant pudding.

Whisk brisky for three minutes.

Refrigerate for 45 minutes.

Take pudding out of the refrigeratore and pour it into the graham wafer pie shell. Spread evenly.

Place strawberries in the pudding with the pointed ends up.