Spotlight on Produce #3 - Strawberries

Welcome to our third edition of Spotlight on Produce. This week I chose a popular fruit, Strawberries! According to wikipedia.org, a strawberry is both a vegetable and a fruit. The seeds are the actual fruits of the plant and the flesh is the vegetable part. Interesting, eh? The lure of this plump cone of juicyness is too much to ignore. They are wonderful in desserts or when eaten alone but Whole Heath MD provides recipes they tested where they are a good addition to salads and chutney's. Strawberry Mango & Lentil Salad with Balsamic Dressing salads and Fresh Strawberry-Ginger Chutney. Strawberries are rich in dietary fiber, a great source of vitamin C and manganese, provide ellagic acid which helps combat carcinogens and are only second to blueberries in their antioxidant power. All 50 states in the USA grow them, but California and Florida produce the most. They are even found in the wild. Over 70 varieties exist lending to their popularity. Available year around, they are best when they are in season in your area. After all, the shortest distance from the field to your tummy, is the freshest route. Purchase fruit that is plump, dry, firm and well-shaped with uniform color. Pale, greenish, or yellowish fruit is unripe and will be hard and sour-tasting. The leafy cap should look fresh and green. Once home, store them dry to deter mold and rot and only rinse just before using. Strawberries are like little sponges and I gently blot mine with a damp paper towel to clean them if I am using them in a dessert or other recipe. They freeze well, lasting up to a year. Do not prewash them before freezing. Individually quick freeze them on a baking sheet before storing in a container or freezer safe bag. Low in fat at just 43 calories for a cup of whole strawberries with only 1/2 gram of fat none of which is saturated. And high in dietary fiber with 3.3 grams. They are almost sodium-free at just 1mg and have 82 mg of vitamin C, which is diminished by heat). However, they have 10 grams of carbohydrates for those watching carbs. I found lots of festivals around the country but here are a few to kickstart your search. The Florida Strawberry Festival coming up quickly on March 2-12, 2006. The Tennessee Strawberry Festival May 5 through 13, 2006. The California Strawberry Festival, May 20th and 21st, 2006. And in my own backyard, the Eastside's Heritage Center's Strawberry Festival in Old Bellevue, WA. **Note, I am not a nutritionalist. The above article is a summary of my own personal research and is not intended for use as as a nutritional guide or as medical advice. For more information check out the references I used in conducting my research and then use the full information to form your own opinion and what is right for you. References: California Strawberry Commission Whole Health MD Wikipedia