Strawberries are the June Harvest of the Month
This month’s Harvest is a bright red berry, known for being juicy and sweet. The strawberries we know today are a hybrid of wild strawberries and were first bred in France in the 1750s. They are widely used in desserts, smoothies, milkshakes, and as snacks.
During the month of June, you may find strawberries used more abundantly in a variety of recipes from our cafeterias.
Did You Know?
- The average strawberry has over 20 seeds
- Based on their biology, strawberries are technically just fruits, not berries
- Over half of children age 7-9 list strawberry as their favorite fruit
Try These Delicious Recipes
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
Strawberries and Cream Cookie Sandwich
How to Buy, Store & Prepare: Strawberries are best when bought in season. They reach their peak season in May and June. When shopping for strawberries choose bright red berries that appear plump. Look for signs of mold in strawberry containers, as any presence of mold can spread rapidly to the rest of the berries. At home, store strawberries in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Avoid washing strawberries too far in advance. This can cause them to spoil faster. If you must wash them in advance, be sure to pat them dry with a paper towel before placing them back in the refrigerator.
Making it Kid-Friendly: Strawberries tend to be widely accepted by kids due to their sweetness. When introducing infants older than 6 months to solid foods, avoid using strawberries as a first food. Their sweetness can make babies less tolerant of foods that are less sweet, like vegetables. Strawberries pair well with almost any meal and snack for kids, just be sure to remove the green stems beforehand.
Nutrition and Health Benefits: Strawberries are a very nutritious fruit. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, which makes them excellent to pair with iron rich foods. Many sources of irons are not well absorbed by our bodies unless they are in the presence of vitamin C. If iron absorption is a concern for you, consider adding strawberries to iron rich foods such as spinach and iron fortified cereals. Strawberries are also an excellent source of ellagic acid, a polyphenol. Ellagic acid has been falsely marketed as a cure for cancer, but eating foods high in ellagic acid like strawberries helps to prevent cancer by reducing oxidative stress.
| Calories: 53 | Calcium: 27mg |
| Total Fat: 1g | Protein: 1g |
| Total Carbohydrate: 13g | Potassium: 254mg |
| Iron: 1mg | Vitamin C: 89mg |
| Fiber: 3g | Magnesium: 2mg |