Summer Strawberries

Celebrating Summer Strawberries

I know that Strawberries are a summertime thing but this was the fruit that was chosen in the CoreHarmonic Community Poll. Also, I think it is a good idea to think wistfully about summer in the dead of winter. In the ‘olden times’, strawberries would be canned or made into jam so families could enjoy the taste of summer even during the darkest nights of the winter.

My Love Letter to Strawberries

Strawberry always takes me straight to summer. I grew up in a time where fruits and vegetables were more seasonally. Strawberries only appeared around May or June. Fresh strawberries were expensive (probably because they were shipped to Arizona from California). In our household, fresh strawberries were a treat. No offense to the square can of frozen strawberries but there is nothing like finding the perfect bright, red strawberry in pint of strawberries.

Fresh strawberries came in lots of shapes and sizes. It was well know in our house, the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice. The dark berries were coveted. Usually, my mother would buy two pints. One for us to eat and one for us to make strawberry sauce (mashed strawberries with sugar) to go with my grandmother’s pound cake recipe that my father’s memory held fondly.

Strawberry is a go-to flavor. It may be because of the strawberry’s distinguishable scent or its squishy/soft/juicy texture or its sweet, semi-floral flavor or its bright-red color. Strawberry jam, pie, ice cream, milkshakes, bubblegum, Quik strawberry milk, Strawberry Soda like Jarritos, Crush, Fanta or Faygo (the original strawberry flavor from 1907 was renamed Redpop in the late 1960s), and Strawberry Kool-aid (an original flavor that has since been discontinued) are all memorable strawberry experiences for me. Strawberries always bring me back to summers which were a happy time.

How Strawberries got their name and other Strawberry weirdness

People don’t know how Strawberries got their names. Here are three possibilities:

1. the name comes from the Old English streawberige because the plant sends out runners that look like pieces of straw

2. the name originated from the practice of mulching strawberries with straw or finding them growing wild among matted hay or straw

3. the name came from the practice of selling the berries skewered on a piece of straw in open-air markets as a snack

(SpruceEats)

The truth is that Strawberries aren’t berries. Technically the strawberry is an “aggregate accessory fruit” each ‘seed’ on the outside of the strawberry is actually an achene, a botanical fruit with a seed inside it. Basically, when you eat a strawberry you are eating a fruit covered in a lot of things that are basically peas. Food for thought.

Nutrition

Strawberries mainly consist of water (91%) and carbohydrates (7.7%). They contain only minor amounts of fat (0.3%) and protein (0.7%).

The nutrients in 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw strawberries (3Trusted Source) are:

• Calories: 32

• Water: 91%

• Protein: 0.7 grams

• Carbs: 7.7 grams

• Sugar: 4.9 grams

• Fiber: 2 grams

• Fat: 0.3 grams

Most of these berries’ carbs come from simple sugars — such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose — but they also contain a decent amount of fiber.

Strawberries have a glycemic index (GI) score of 40, which is relatively low (4).

This means that strawberries should not lead to big spikes in blood sugar levels and are considered safe for people with diabetes.

One 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of strawberries provides 2 grams of fiber — both soluble and insoluble.

Dietary fibers are important to feed the friendly bacteria in your gut and improve digestive health.

(Healthline)

Strawberry Sensitivity and Allergies

It is possible to be allergic to strawberries, although this allergy is much less common than many other dietary allergies. Heating strawberries will distort the proteins in them, so some people with a strawberry allergy or sensitivity may be able to eat cooked strawberries.

Strawberry Jello Pie from

• One 6.3 oz package of Crunchy Vanilla Honey Graham Cookies. (there are gluten-free cookies)

• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/3 cup vegan butter, room temperature

• STRAWBERRY PIE FILLING:

• 1 (3 oz.) package strawberry jello (there are vegan jellos)

• 2/3 cup boiling water

• 1/2 cup cold water

• 1/2 cup ice cubes

• 1 (8 oz.) container Coco Whip (this is a coconut based cool whip)

• 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced*

1. Place the entire package of cookies in a food processor. Pulse until the cookies are crumbly. Mix in the cinnamon and butter until it resembles a sticky, fine sand. Press the mixture into a 8 or 9 inch spring form pan covering the bottom and sides. (You can use a regular pie pan, but I like the spring form since it makes for a better presentation since you can take the sides off when it's set.) Place the pie crust in refrigerator.

2. In a large bowl, add boiling water and Jello contents. Whisk gelatin powder until completely dissolved.Then, add the cold water and ice cubes, stir until gelatin is slightly thickened. Let it sit for a few minutes to thicken slightly before you add the Cocowhip otherwise it won’t set up.

3. With the whisk,stir the Cocowhip into the gelatin mixture until everything is incorporated. Stir in the sliced strawberries. Pour the mixture into the crust. Refrigerate for 6 hours or until mixture has thickened and set.

4. The mixture will be delicate and needs to keep cool except for when you're eating or serving it. Serve plain, or garnish with additional whipped topping and strawberries.

Strawberry Playlist

Strawberry has been an inspiration for so many great songs. From the Beatles to the Brothers Johnson to Coldplay, some great music has been titled with Strawberry.

Strawberry Facts

• Bad News First- Pesticides: Strawberries have highest traces of pesticides among all fruits and vegetables.

• Biology: The strawberry comes from the rose family, Rasaceae.

• History of Cultivation: Strawberries have been enjoyed since ancient times, with evidence of wild strawberries being consumed in Europe and the Americas. The modern garden strawberry (*Fragaria × ananassa*) originated in France in the 18th century from a cross between native North American and Chilean strawberries. (*Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension*)

• World Production: China is the largest producer of strawberries in the world, followed by the United States, Mexico, and Turkey. The state of California is particularly famous for its strawberry production, contributing around 90% of the strawberries grown in the U.S. (*Source: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations*)

• Symbolism: Strawberries have been associated with love and fertility throughout history. In ancient Rome, strawberries were used for various medicinal purposes, and during the Middle Ages in France, they were considered an aphrodisiac. The heart shape of the strawberry is often seen as a symbol of romance. (*Source: "The History of Strawberries" - Southern Living*)

• Seasonality and Storage: Strawberries are generally in season from late winter through early summer, varying by region. They are best enjoyed fresh, as their high water content makes them perishable and washing them before storage can lead to quicker spoilage. (*Source: American Farm Bureau Federation*)

• Strawberry Festivals: Strawberries are celebrated in various festivals across the United States, such as the California Strawberry Festival and the Festival of the Strawberry in Florida. These events often include strawberry-themed food, rides, and activities, celebrating the fruit’s cultural significance. (*Source: California Strawberry Festival*)

June: Strawberry Moon

The wild strawberries that start to ripen during early summer gave name to June’s Full Moon when it is said Native American tribes gathered strawberries. Other native names are Berries Ripen Moon, Green Corn Moon, and Hot Moon.The 2025 Strawberry Moon is Jun 11, 2025 at 12:43 am (PST). The 2026 Strawberry Moon is Jun 29, 2026 at 4:56 pm (PST).

Our Video Tribute to the Summer Strawberry