Strawberry Facts

The cultivated strawberry as we know it today originated about 250 years ago in Europe. It was produced by the accidently mating of two different types of berries; the wild Virginian variety and a large white strawberry from Chili.
 
The strawberry belongs to the genus Fragaria in the rose family, Rosaceae.
 
There are several different theories where the word, "strawberry" originated. One being that it came from the fact that straw was used to mulch the berries, keeping the plants and berries clean. The second relates that children would string fresh berries on straws and sold them "by the straw" or as a "straw of berries." Still another theory is that the name represents the spreading nature of the plant runners which are strewn or strawed over the ground.
 
The strawberry is the only fruit with the seeds on the outside. In reality, the seed is the fruit and the berry inself is part of the flower. On average, there are 200 seeds on a strawberry.
 
The strawberry is the first fruit to ripen in the spring.
 
Seventy percent of a strawberry's roots are found in the top three inches of soil.
 
Eight medium strawberries provide 140 percent of the US recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, which is more than one orange.
 
Native forms of strawberries are indigenous everywhere except Africa, Austraila and New Zealand.
 
Strawberries are grown in every state in the United States and every province in Canada.
 
Strawberries are one of the few sources, along with grapes and cherries, of ellagic acid, a compound which has been shown to prevent carcinogens from turning healthy cells into cancerous ones.
 
The strawberry is recognized as representing absolute perfection in the Victorian language of flowers.
 
Ever eaten a double strawberry? Legend holds that if you break it in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you will soon fall in love with each other.