"Berry" Interesting Facts

Around The World With Strawberries
If all the strawberries produced in California this year were laid berry to berry, they'd wrap around the world 15 times. That's enough strawberries to provide every U.S. household with 12-pint baskets.

Berry Winter Wonderland
In January and February alone, California strawberry growers produced more than 649 million strawberries. That's enough strawberries to cover the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge 15 times.

I'd Like To Thank The Academy
It would take 7,000 strawberries to create the red carpet that welcomes the stars to the Academy Awards each year.

California Dreaming California provides approximately 83 percent of the nation's strawberries.

Rated No. 1 With Children
Strawberries are a favorite with people of all ages, especially children. In a recent survey, kids seven to nine years old picked strawberries as their favorite fruit, followed by grapes, apples, oranges and bananas.

Better Start Eating Strawberries
Respondents to a recent national survey labeled strawberry lovers as "health conscious, fun loving, intelligent and happy." Non-strawberry lovers, on the other hand, were described as "weird, boring, stuffy--picky, fussy eaters who avoid healthy foods."

Hand-Picked And Packed
All strawberries are picked, sorted and packed by hand in the field. The trays of strawberries are then rushed to shipping facilities where they are cooled-down to about 34 degrees Fahrenheit. (A tray normally contains 12 one-pint baskets.) Within 24 hours of harvest, the strawberries are loaded on refrigerated trucks for delivery to local supermarkets across the country. This unique distribution system ensures that this delicate fruit reaches consumers in fresh-from-the-field condition.

What's The Best Method/Technique For Growing Strawberries?
Commercial strawberry growing is not the same as techniques a hobbyist would use. Our advice is to contact your local nursery for growing tips.

What's The Best Way To Store Strawberries?
For strawberries to stay fresh, do not wash them right away. Store them in a large container with a dry paper towel at the bottom. Separate the berries by layering them with paper towels to maximize freshness. Just before using, wash strawberries with the caps attached under a gentle spray of cool water. For best flavor, allow strawberries to reach room temperature before serving.

Can I Freeze Strawberries?
In a saucepan, mix equal amounts of sugar and water. Stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is clear. Cool the mixture completely. Measure one cup of stemmed and sliced strawberries into a pint sized freezer bag. Pour one-half to two-thirds of a cup of the sugar water mixture into the bag... just enough to completely cover the strawberries. Seal and freeze the bag in a single layer. Because the moisture content of strawberries varies throughout the season, it's recommended that home frozen strawberries be used in beverages and sauces, not in recipes where liquid variations could make a difference. (Commercially frozen strawberries are consistent in texture and density.)

How Many Seeds?
On the average, there are 200 tiny seeds in every strawberry.

Care and Handling
California strawberries are fully ripe at the time they are picked and do not continue to ripen after picking. The berries should have a bright red color, natural shine and fresh looking green caps.

Strawberries should always be refrigerated and kept dry until just before use. Leave green caps on and wash berries with a gentle spray of cool water. After washing, remove the green caps from the berries with a light twist or with the point of a paring knife.