Strawberry

Strawberries are small, fleshy, heart-shaped red fruits that are rich in sweet juice. Strawberries are among some of the healthiest fruits people can eat. They offer various health benefits, such as reducing the risk of developing heart disease and cancer. Humans have been aware of strawberries since ancient times, but they did not begin eating them in earnest until the medieval period. Today, tens of billions of pounds of strawberries are harvested and shipped globally every year, making them one of the most popular fruits in the world.

Strawberry Biology

Strawberries are a type of fruit, the fleshy masses that mature plants form to protect their inner seeds. Strawberry plant stems grow white flowers from which the familiar red strawberries eventually blossom. The outsides of these fleshy fruits hold particles called achenes, which are simply one-seeded strawberry fruits that do not develop on their own.

Like all living things, strawberries are classified by scientific name, a two-part Latin title assigned to every species on earth. Although more than six hundred varieties of strawberries exist today, the most popular and commercially successful species of strawberry is Fragaria × ananassa.

Strawberries have long been an extremely popular fruit. Tens of billions of pounds of strawberries are grown each year in the United States alone. Strawberries are an attractive product due to their sweet yet somewhat tart taste and substantial health benefits. In general, higher fruit consumption has been linked to healthier skin and hair, better weight control, and increased energy. Strawberries, specifically, offer much more than this, however.

One major benefit of strawberries is their ability to guard against heart disease. They are rich in anti-inflammatory chemicals that reduce damage done by low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, in the blood. Too much bad cholesterol can cause heart attacks. Strawberries also contain powerful antioxidants, which fight off the risks of stroke and cancerous tumor development.

High levels of the element potassium in strawberries can lower high blood pressure and also reduce the risk of stroke. The vitamin C contained in strawberries bolsters heart health and can reduce the severity of asthma, while the fruit’s high fiber content fosters regular and healthy bowel movements. Science has shown that frequent consumption of strawberries and other fruits can greatly increase one’s general health and reduce the risks of developing medical complications.

Historical Development of Strawberries

Evidence of humanity’s longtime awareness of strawberries can be found in the writings of the ancient Roman writers Ovid, Virgil, and Pliny. These writers, however, referenced the fruit only in ornamental and medicinal capacities; wild strawberries were eaten at this time, but their dietary value would not be known and truly enjoyed until approximately the 1300s.

During this era, known as the Middle Ages, the French began replanting wild strawberry plants in their own gardens, where the fruits were grown as both ornaments and food. The English soon borrowed this practice from the French, and strawberries became an important culinary staple in both England and France by the late 1400s. In fact, strawberries were such a commonplace food at this time that William Shakespeare referenced them in his 1597 play Richard III, when the titular king requests that strawberries be brought to him.

However, the particular species of strawberry that was harvested in England and France at the time, Fragaria vesca, was not the variety that has since become popular around the world. Fragaria vesca was grown in these two countries simply because it was the only species known at the time. Within a few hundred years, it had been replaced by larger, more colorful strawberry strains imported from the New World.

In about 1624, for instance, the Virginia strawberry, Fragaria virginiana, was introduced to Europe. In 1712, the Chilean strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis, arrived in France. Later, these two species were bred together to create Fragaria × ananassa, the oldest ancestor of modern garden strawberries. All strawberries eaten today are descendants of the crossed Virginian and Chilean strawberries.

In the United States, strawberries are planted in the fall, when the small flower buds form. Over the winter, the plants can be protected from snow and ice by layers of straw. The fruits themselves form in the warmth of spring and throughout most of the summer, though unusual spring heat can begin the strawberry season early.

More than half of the billions of pounds of American strawberries grown annually are harvested in California. Florida grows the second-largest amount of strawberries, producing more significant numbers during the winter months. The harvest across the rest of the country is much smaller but still vital to the economies of local produce farms. Vermont, for instance, boasts more than 120 such farms with a total of about 185 acres of strawberry fields. One acre generally produces about six thousand pounds of strawberries, meaning the fruits must be harvested, shipped, and consumed quickly, before they spoil.

Today, the United States is one of the largest strawberry producers in the world, harvesting more than thirty-six billion pounds and bringing in more than $2.4 billion in profits in 2012. American strawberry production makes up about 29 percent of global production. Meanwhile, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico produce much of the rest of the world’s supply.

Bibliography

Blackburne-Maze, Peter. "Strawberry." Fruit: An Illustrated History. London: Firefly Books, Ltd., 2003, 181–182. Print.

Boriss, Hayley, Henrich Brunke, and Marcia Kreith. "Commodity Strawberry Profile." Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. United States Department of Agriculture. Mar. 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2015. http://www.agmrc.org/commodities‗‗products/fruits/strawberries/commodity-strawberry-profile/

Grubinger, Vern. "History of the Strawberry." Vermont Vegetable and Berry Program. University of Vermont. June 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2015. https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/strawberryhistory.html

Watson, Claire. "What Is a Strawberry: A Fruit or a Berry?" AZCentral. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Web. 23 Nov. 2015. http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/strawberry-fruit-berry-19241.html#

Ware, Megan. "Strawberries: Health Benefits, Nutritional Breakdown." Medical News Today. MediLexicon International Ltd. Web. 23 Nov. 2015. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271285.php