'Tis the Season

Of the STRAWBERRY! I love these little gems, especially when they go on crazy sale for less than a dollar a pound! I always tell myself that I'm going to make some strawberry jam with them, but they never last long enough for me to break out all the gear for that process. Either that or I'm just too lazy - probably the latter! Pictured below is one of my flavorite snacks! Toast with peanut butter, sliced fresh strawberries, and honey. Yum!
Here are some interesting facts that I learned about strawberries:
1. They are beach bums! They thrive in areas with mild temperatures between 55 and 78 degrees.
2. California harvests 83% of the strawberries grown in the U.S. on 24,500 acres. Florida is the second largest producing state with 5,000 acres.
3. Strawberries are "early risers" or one of the first fruits to bloom in the spring. Their peak season is April - June. During this time, up to 10 million pint baskets are shipped daily.
4. They are most people's favorite fruit. Respondents to a recent national survey labeled strawberry lovers as "health conscious, fun loving, intelligent and happy." Non-strawberry lovers, on the other hand, were described as "weird, boring, stuffy--picky, fussy eaters who avoid healthy foods."
5. They are not considered true berries because they carry their seeds on the outside unlike blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Each strawberry contains, on average, about 200 of these yellow "seeds" on their exterior.
6. Strawberries are a good source of folic acid (dig in, pregnant ladies!), fiber, and potassium.
7. American Cancer Institute suggests that strawberries may reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.
8. Strawberry juice combined with honey will reduce inflammation or sunburn.
9. Strawberries have long been associated with love and flirtation. In France, they are traditionally served at wedding breakfasts with a soup of thinned sour cream and powdered sugar.

You can read more interesting facts and find my source from here.