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“Doubtless God could have made a better berry,
but doubtless God never did”
William Butler (1535-1618)
Oxford Dictionary of Quotes
As June arrives in our seasonal calendar, Canadians from east to
west wait in eager anticipation for word that strawberries are ready to
be picked. The unique taste of this berry is only a memory for 11
months of the year, but with the advent of summer, you can
practically hear the stampede of eager feet to the pick-your-own
strawberry fields or to the market where a “locally grown” sign
proclaims this year’s harvest. The perennial favourite has returned!
The delicate heart-shaped berry has connoted purity, passion,
and healing for hundreds of years. Indeed, medieval stonemasons
carved strawberry designs on altars and pillars in churches to
symbolize perfection. Strawberries have grown wild for thousands of
years in temperate regions of the Earth – they are indigenous to every
major continent except Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Although small, wild berries were cultivated in ancient Rome, it
wasn’t until the 18th Century that strawberries developed into the
luscious fruits we know today. In 1714, a French engineer sent to
Chile and Peru to monitor Spanish activities in these countries was
introduced to a native strawberry much larger than those found in
Europe. He brought samples back to France. These plants did not
flourish well until a natural crossbreeding occurred between this
species and a neighbouring North American variety. The result was a
large, sweet, juicy fruit that won over the hearts and taste buds of
Europeans. Like other perishable foods of the time, strawberries
remained a luxury item until the mid-19th Century when railways
were able to transport them more quickly to markets.
Because the berries seem to be strewn among the leaves of the
plant, the original name of this fruit was strewberry. Later, the
name may have changed to strawberry since farmers would keep the
berries fresh by transporting them to market on beds of straw.
Horticultural Facts
The strawberry is a small plant of the Rosaceae (Rose)
family and all varieties belong to the Fragaria genus. Despite
its name, it is not a real berry or fruit in the botanical sense, but
instead the enlarged end of the plant’s stamen. The strawberry
is actually an aggregate fruit – the real fruit are the tiny yellow “seeds” clinging to the outer skin. The plants do not tend to
reproduce through their seeds, but rather through long runners
that root themselves into the soil and produce new plants, which
grow and bear fruit.
Selecting Strawberries
Berries are best picked in early
morning or evening when the
temperature is cooler. Choose
plump, firm, deep red berries with
bright green caps and no signs of
mold. Strawberries without caps
should be avoided as they may be
overripe and not good quality.
Storing and Preserving Strawberries
Fresh strawberries are highly perishable and delicate. If not
using mmediately, remove the berries from their containers,
arrange in a single layer in a shallow pan, loosely cover, and
refrigerate. Use fresh berries within one to two days for best
quality. Wash strawberries gently in cold water just before you
are ready to use them as the washing action removes their natural
protective outer layer.
Leave caps on during washing to prevent water from soaking
into the strawberry, diluting the flavour and changing the texture.
Let the sand and soil sink to the bottom and then lift the
strawberries out with your fingers. Let the berries air dry, or
gently pat with a towel.
To freeze berries, simply lay them in a single layer on a tray
and place in the freezer. Once frozen, quickly transfer them to
freezer bags and place back into the freezer. It is not necessary
to add any sugar!
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Did You Know?
· The average strawberry has 200 ”seeds”
· One serving of strawberries has more vitamin C
than an orange
Heart Smart!
Not only are strawberries the
world’s most popular berry,
they are also nutritional jewels.
Studies presented at the 2003
American Dietetic Association
Food and Nutrition Conference
and Exhibition revealed that in
addition to being low in fat and
calories, strawberries are high
in fiber, potassium, vitamin C,
folate, and antioxidants. They
not only resemble the shape of a
heart, strawberries are packed
with nutrients that promote a
healthy heart!
Strawberry Varieties
While there are more than 600 varieties of strawberries, they can all be identified by their red flesh pierced with yellow “seeds” on the outside, and a small, perky, green cap that adorns the crown.
Locally, producers can chose from more than 30 common
varieties, matching their specific climate and soil conditions along with preferences for harvest yield, berry size, colour, sweetness and resistance to common pests and diseases. Many of the varieties such as Annapolis, Mira and Cavendish were developed in Nova Scotia, while others including the Veestar and the Governor Simcoe where developed right here in Ontario. |
