Summer in Michigan means lazy days, weekend family outings and the sweetest fresh strawberries you can imagine. Depending on the summer month and location in the state, chances are Michigan motorists can find a roadside pick-your-own strawberry patch. Strawberries are grown in every county in Michigan, and are indigenous to every major continent except Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Strawberries are one of the most widely distributed fruits in the world.

The strawberry, a member of the rose family, is unique in that it is the only fruit with seeds on the outside rather than the inside. On average, there are 200 seeds in a strawberry. Strawberries were first called strewberries because of the way they grow, strewn among the leaves of the plant.

Fun History Facts about Strawberries
	The ancient Romans believed that strawberries alleviated symptoms of melancholy, fainting, all inflammations, fevers, throat infections, kidney stones, bad breath, attacks of gout, and diseases of the blood, liver and spleen.
	To symbolize perfection and righteousness, medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals.
	In parts of Bavaria, country folk still practice the annual rite each spring of tying small baskets of wild strawberries to the horns of their cattle as an offering to elves. They believe that the elves, who are passionately fond of strawberries, will help to produce healthy calves and abundance of milk in return.
	Madame Tallien, a prominent figure at the court of the Emperor Napoleon, was famous for bathing in the juice of fresh strawberries. She used 22 pounds per basin. Needless to say, she did not bathe daily.
	The fruit size of the very early strawberries was very small.
	Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.
	There is a museum in Belgium just for strawberries.
	Strawberries are a member of the rose family.
	Ninety-four per cent of United States households consume strawberries.
	Americans eat 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year plus another 1.8 pounds frozen per capita. Although strawberries are available in many forms-frozen, jam and jelly, and ice cream- nothing compares to the taste of a fresh vine ripened strawberry.
	Over 53 percent of seven to nine-year-olds picked strawberries as their favorite fruit. Strawberries are high in iron and Vitamin C; they also have less than 60 calories per cup. Eight strawberries will provide 14 percent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C for kids. Ninety-four percent of households in the U.S. consume strawberries.

Choosing Strawberries…

When choosing strawberries, look for those that are dry, firm, and have a uniform red color and bright, clean and fresh appearance. Choosing just the right strawberries will ensure your enjoyment of mature, flavorful berries with minimum waste and maximum flavor and food value.

Selecting Commercial Berries at the Grocery Store

Look for bright red berries with fresh green caps on. When you remove the caps, you tear cells in the berries, activating ascorbic acid oxidase, an enzyme that destroys Vitamin C.

Visually check each package, making sure there are no signs of mold growth. If one berry is molded, mold spores will have traveled throughout the entire package. Research has linked mold to some forms of cancer; always avoid moldy berries.

When purchasing strawberries by the pound, one-and-a-half pounds equal one quart. This will yield about four cups of sliced strawberries.

GO PICKING!!

Picking Tips for Strawberries

Check the Farm Market and U-Pick Directory to find out where to get fresh strawberries in Michigan.

GROWING STRAWBERRIES IN THE GARDEN

Types of Strawberries

Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring. There are three major classes of strawberries:

The principal difference between these types is the daylength conditions that stimulate flower bud formation. June-bearers initiate their flower buds in the fall when days are relatively short and bear the following spring. Everbearers initiate flowers and fruits under the long days of summer. Day-neutrals can initiate flower buds under any daylength.

In Michigan, everbearers and day-neutral plants appear to have similar fruiting habits in the field, although the day-neutrals are usually more reliable producers. Growing varieties that ripen at different times can provide a longer picking season. Fresh strawberries are available in southern Michigan beginning in early June and the harvest moves northward, ending in the UP in late July.

For Strawberries to Grow…

Strawberries prefer a well-drained soil, high in organic matter. They need full sun for the highest yields, at least 6 hours per day. Do not plant strawberries where peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and potatoes have been grown. These plants could harbor verticillium wilt, a serious strawberry disease. Strawberries need about one inch of water per week during the growing season.

For More Information

Strawberry Recipes