The Strawberry

Got your eye on someone special?

Legend has it that sharing a double strawberry means you are destined to fall in love.

Take two and call me in the morning

Many Native American tribes considered strawberries to be medicine as well as food. They were used to purify the blood, and to treat stomach issues. Ground wild strawberry leaves were applied to burns to speed healing, and were also used to prevent infection in newborn babies.

Keeping the elves happy

Bavarian farmers tied small baskets of wild strawberries to the horns of their cows, as an offering to the elves that help the cows produce healthy calves and a good supply of milk.

Strawberries were once the symbol for Venus, the Goddess of Love, due to their bright red color and heart shape.

Who needs white strips?

Strawberries have been proven to effectively whiten teeth, due to the presence of malic acid.

We have a runner!

Strawberry plants send out long tendrils called runners. When the runner reaches the ground nearby, it roots into the soil and starts a whole new plant.

If you want to get technical...

Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. Botanically speaking, though, each of those yellow bumps is an ovary containing a seed, which means each is technically a separate fruit!

Strawberry seeds do not need soil to germinate, only light.

Storage tips

Strawberries do not ripen after they are picked, so select bright red berries. Refrigerate until ready to serve, ideally arranged in a single layer on a paper towel. Do not wash until you are ready to serve them, as water makes them break down more quickly.