Strawberries – Superfood!
Like all of our products here at Bella Viva Orchards, strawberries are chock-full of nutrients in addition to their superb flavor. Strawberries contain many important dietary components including vitamin C, minerals, folate, dietary fiber, and are a rich source of beneficial phytochemical (naturally occurring chemical compounds found in plants) compounds. In the past ten years, there have been various research studies done to discover more about the effect of antioxidants in strawberries. Strawberries are a good source of antioxidants, which may help reduce the risk of a variety of chronic disease conditions such as obesity, infections, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and cancer. Additionally, recent studies have shown that dietary fiber and fructose contents may contribute in regulating blood sugar levels by slowing digestion. The fiber content in strawberries also contributes to the control of overall calorie intake by its satiating effect. Strawberries are also a source of healthy, essential fatty acids because strawberry seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acid.
5 Strawberry Facts - Did you know?
- What we think of as the “seeds” on the outside of the strawberry are actually the true “fruits”, called achenes. The large red fleshy structure that we call the “berry” is actually a greatly enlarged stem end called a receptacle. Therefore, botanically speaking, a strawberry is not a berry at all! However, strawberries are considered a “berry crop” in the marketing, nutrition, and culinary realms.
- Due to strawberries being the most economically and commercially important and widely consumed berry, they are among the most studied berries from the agronomic, genomic, and nutritional points of view.
- Strawberries are grown in every state in the U.S. and every province of Canada. California produces 88 percent of the nation's strawberry crops. In 2012, more than 2 billion pounds of strawberries were harvested. California strawberries are available January through November, with peak quality and supply from March to May.
- Strawberries are in the Rosacea (Rose) family – along with stone fruits (such as peaches, cherries, apricots, and plums) raspberries, apples, pears, and of course, roses!
- There is a town in California named “Strawberry”!
