All about Strawberry

Since I had been touring around Strawberry farms in Cameron Highland I wanted to post some facts about Strawberry, Here it comes to your eyes for readings...

• Strawberries were cultivated by the Romans as early as 200 BC


• The first sketch of a strawberry plant was printed in 1484


• The ancient Romans believed that strawberries alleviated symptoms of melancholy, fainting, all inflammations, fevers, throat infections, kidney stones, bad breath, attacks of gout, and diseases of the blood, liver and spleen


• To symbolize perfection and righteousness, medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals


• In medieval times, strawberries were served at important functions to bring peace & prosperity


• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside


• The average strawberry has 200 seeds


• In parts of Bavaria, country folk still practice the annual rite each spring of tying small baskets of wild strawberries to the horns of their cattle as an offering to elves. They believe that the elves, are passionately fond of strawberries, will help to produce healthy calves and an abundance of milk in return


• Madame Tallien, a prominent figure at the court of the Emperor Napoleon, was famous for bathing in the juice of fresh strawberries. She used 22 pounds per basin. Needless to say, she did not bathe daily


• In the sixteenth century strawberries were sold in cone-shaped straw baskets thus becoming one of the earliest packaged foods.


• Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring


• In France, Strawberries were thought to be an aphrodisiac. A soup made of strawberries, thinned sour cream, borage, & powered sugar was served to newlyweds


• There is a museum in Belgium (The World Capital of Strawberries) just for strawberries


• Strawberries are a member of the Rosaceae(rose) family and its botonical name is Frugaria


• Ninety-four percent of US households consume strawberries


• Americans eat 4.85 pounds of fresh strawberries each year plus another 1.8 pounds frozen per capita


• Over 53 percent of seven to nine-year-olds picked strawberries as their favorite fruit


• Eight medium strawberries contain 140% of the U.S. RDA for Vitamin C. That's more than oranges!


• Strawberries are High in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium and low in calorie


• Strawberries, as part of a 5 a day fruit & vegetable program suggested by the American Cancer Society can help reduce the risk of cancer & heart attacks


• According to a recent national survey, strawberry lovers were labeled as "health conscious, fun loving, intelligent and happy"


• Folk lore states that if you split a double strawberry in half and share it with the opposite sex, you’ll soon fall in love


• When selecting strawberries, make sure they have a bright red color, a natural shine and fresh-looking green caps. Santa Maria strawberries are fully ripe at the time they are picked and do not continue to ripen afterward


• Always refrigerate strawberries immediately in a dry container covered loosely with plastic wrap, and they will keep for several days. Do not wash them until just before they are served, and do not remove their green caps until after they are washed


• For best flavor, allow strawberries to reach room temperature before serving