Happy NATIONAL STRAWBERRY DAY!

As much as I love strawberries I wasn’t aware they had their own day. Well it’s true, today, February 27th, is National Strawberry Day! It’s a day created to celebrate those little red fruits bursting with sweet perfection! These juicy, sweet berries just happen to be one of the most popular fruits in the world and they deserve to be recognized.

• There are approximately 8,000 acres of strawberry fields in Florida
• California produces 80% of the strawberries in the United States.
• Florida is second in production. The Florida season runs from December to May and peaks during March and April. To meet the demand, winter strawberries are usually imported between November and May.
• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside—about 200 of them. A berry has its seeds on the inside.
• Since the seeds are on the outside, strawberries aren’t true berries, like blueberries or grapes.
• Strawberries are a member of the rose family.
• Ninety-four percent of United States households consume strawberries.
• Strawberries at room temperature are sweeter than cold strawberries.
• Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium.
• Strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges.
• Strawberries contain no cholesterol.
• Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring and must be picked at full ripeness; they cannot ripen once picked.