What's New: Strawberries [May]

Just the Facts

• Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.
• The seeds of the strawberry are really the fruit while the red fleshy part is the receptacle that holds the parts of the flower together.
• On average, there are 200 tiny seeds on every strawberry.
• Strawberries are the most popular berry in the United States.
• Ninety-four percent of United States households consume strawberries.
• Americans eat 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year plus another 1.8 pounds frozen per capita.

HOME GROWN FACTS
Did You Know? Strawberries

• California is the largest producer of domestically grown strawberries, supplying 88 percent of the strawberries grown in the United States.
• On average, more than 30,000 acres produce over one billion pounds of fresh and frozen strawberries.
• If all the strawberries produced in California this year were laid berry to berry, they would wrap around the world 15 times. That is enough strawberries to provide every household in the United States with 12 one-pint baskets.
• There are four main growing regions for strawberries in California (see map), each with different growing periods.
  

For more information, visit:
www.calstrawberry.com

Download this month's:
Educator Newsletter (PDF)
Family Newsletter (PDF, English) ... Spanish
Menu Slick (PDF, English) ... Spanish

Health and Learning Success Go Hand-in-Hand
With Standardized Testing and Reporting taking place in classrooms, it is more important than ever for students to eat nutritious meals and get daily physical activity. Research demonstrates improved cognitive development, academic performance and behavior with proper nutrition and regular activity, especially among low-income students. Harvest of the Month connects with core curricula to give students the chance to explore, taste and learn about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables. It links the classroom, cafeteria, home and community to motivate and support students to make healthy food choices and be physically active every day.

©2007 California Department of Public Health | Public Health Institute | Acknowledgements |
Visit or return to the Network for a Healthy California website at: www.networkforahealthycalifornia.net or Champions for Change www.cachampionsforchange.net. For more information, contact info@cachampionsforchange.net or info@harvestofthemonth.com.