Did you know these 25 strawberry facts?
- The average strawberry has 200 seeds.
- A strawberry flower averages five to seven petals
- Technically berries have seeds on the inside and they don’t come from a single ovary, so strawberries are really in a group all their own.
- Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.
- The majority of the roots are located in the top 3 inches of soil.
- 94% of American households consume the berries.
- According to the USDA, Americans eat 3.4 lbs. of fresh strawberries a year.
- Americans also eat another 1.8 lbs. of frozen strawberries a year.
- One acre of land can grow about 50,000 pounds of strawberries.
- Strawberries are grown in every single U.S. state and Canadian province.
- California produces 75% of crops in the U.S.
- About 1 billion pounds of strawberries are produced each year in California alone.
- In California, each acre of land produces an average of 21 tons a year.
- Each year, 23,000 acres are planted in California.
- Peak harvesting season in California is from April through June.
- 10 million baskets of strawberries are shipped daily during harvest time in California.
- Florida is second in production with about 5,000 commercial acres.
- North Carolina is ranked third with about 1,600 acres.
- Every plant is hand-picked about every three days.
- Native Americans were eating way before strawberries before Europeans landed in North America.
- Ancient Romans used the berries to treat everything from depression to fever and sore throats.
- The flavor is influenced by weather, variety, and ripeness when harvested.
- The perfect temperature for strawberry plants is between 55 and 78 degrees.
- Strawberry can be produced via seed, by planting one fruit in the ground.
- More common, strawberries are produced via runners.
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Sources:
Country Living: 16 Fun Facts All Strawberry Lovers Should Know
University of Illinois Extension: Strawberries
North Carolina Strawberry Association
PickYourOwn.org: Strawberry Facts
SFGate.com