California Strawberry Festival

The California Strawberry

FUN FACTS & TIPS

Courtesy of the California Strawberry Commission.
More info available at www.calstrawberry.com

Now That’s A Lot Of Frequent Filer Miles…

If last year’s crop of California strawberries was lined up, berry to berry, they would cross the nation 149 times. That’s enough to provide every U. S. household with 9 pint-sized baskets of strawberries.

Berry Winter Wonderland…

In January and February alone, California strawberry growers produced more than 649 million strawberries. That’s enough strawberries to cover the San Francisco Golden Gate bridge 15 times.

A Seedy Fact…

There is an average of 200 seeds on each strawberry.

I’d Like To Thank the Academy…

It would take 7,000 strawberries to create the red carpet that welcomes the stars to the Academy Awards every year.

Here’s To Your Health, Baby!…

The U.S. Census reports that nearly four million babies will be born this year. By eating strawberries, expectant mothers consume folic acid, an important B vitamin that helps prevent neutral tube birth defects such as spina bifida.

Eight Is Enough!…

Eight medium sized strawberries supply 160 percent of the recommended intake of vitamin C, 270 milligrams of potassium, 4 grams of dietary fiber and 20 percent of the daily need for folate.

Hey, Mikey Likes It!…

Strawberries are a favorite with people of all ages, especially children. In a recent survey, kids seven to nine years old picked strawberries as their favorite fruit, followed by grapes, apples, oranges and bananas.

California Dreaming…

California provides approximately 88 percent of the nation’s strawberries.

California’s strawberry coast is the best place in the world to grow strawberries. Western ocean exposure and balmy Pacific winds insulate fields from extreme temperatures. Warm, sunny days, cool, foggy nights and mild winters combine with sandy soil, creating perfect growing conditions.

California grows 88 percent of the nation’s strawberries, providing a delicious, year-round supply. Volumes peak in April, May and June when production in all districts overlap. The berries are replanted annually on raised beds. The beds are covered with plastic that helps keep the berries away from the soil and retains moisture. Drip irrigation reduces disease problems by keeping moisture away from the strawberries and uses water more efficiently.

For the best berry, the nose knows…
Experts and growers agree, the best berries can be found by fragrance. Whether at a Farmer’s Market or the local grocery, take time to make sure they have a sweet aroma. They should have a shine on the skin and fresh green eaves. Be sure to check the bottom of the box for leading or overripe berries.

Storing berries…

To store the strawberries, remove them from the original container with a dry paper towel in the bottom. The paper towel is important to absorb the condensation that berries produce. Do not wash them until just before use. Using this method, you should be able to keep your berries fresh and good for seven to 10 days. When ready to wash, leave the stem and leaves in place. Removing them before washing causes them to soak up more water and diminish the flavor.

Freezing berries for year-round use…

The best method for freezing is first cleaning, hulling, and then pulsing the berries in a blender. By pulsing the berries, you have a more chunky texture. Add a tablespoon of sugar to each blender portion to prevent the pale pink color of the thawed berries. Pour this mixture into sandwich-sized plastic bags and freeze, placing flat in freezer. As needed, open the bags, break off a piece of the frozen product, reseal the bag and replace in freezer. The frozen section can be thawed for use on waffles, meringues, ice cream or in smoothies.

Sprinkle sugar over the berries once thawed to prevent pale pink coloration and maintain ruby color.