HISTORY
Strawberries have a history that goes back 2,200 years and can be traced back as far as the Romans—possibly even the Greeks.

Strawberries grew wild in Italy as long ago as 234 B.C., although the fruit was not discovered in America until 1588, when the first Europeans landed in Virginia. The early settlers enjoyed eating strawberries grown by Native Americans, who cultivated strawberries around 1643.

By 1860, strawberries were being widely grown in many parts of America.

Strawberries got their name when children threaded them into straw and offered them for sale.

Commercial strawberry production first began in Louisiana in 1876. Louisiana consistently ranks in the Top 10 in U.S. strawberry production.

PRODUCTION

Strawberries are a member of the rose family and are produced as annuals.

They usually are planted near good water sources both to enhance irrigation and for frost control. Land preparation begins in June with producers liming the soil and planting cover crops.

Few plants are produced in Louisiana. Most growers buy their plants from commercial growers around the country. These plants are planted by hand starting in October through early November.

Plants are irrigated daily for the first 7-10 days to ensure establishment.

After a strawberry plant blooms, it takes about 1 month to produce a ripe strawberry.

In most years, harvest begins in February and continues until May.

Strawberry plants are unique; during the harvest season, the plants continue to produce fruit. Because the plants keep producing, they may be picked 2-3 times per week.

PRODUCTS

Strawberries are sold fresh, frozen or made into preserves, and are also used in the manufacturing of many food products.

Strawberries are used in some skincare products and tooth whiteners. They also have been used as a natural remedy for sunburns and to aid digestion.

“BERRY” FUN FACTS

  • 75% of a strawberry’s roots are located in the top 3-inches of soil.

  • Strawberries are a member of the rose family.

  • Strawberries are grown in every state and every province of Canada.

  • There are about 200 seeds on the outside of each strawberry.

NUTRITION 

Strawberries are packed with antioxidants including vitamin C. One serving of 8 medium-sized strawberries has only 45 calories and provides an adult with 140% of their recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, 210 milligrams of potassium and almost 3 grams of fiber.

Additionally, leading health research links diets high in fruits and vegetables to a reduced risk of heart disease and various types of cancer.


VARIETIES

Strawberry varieties that historically have produced well in Louisiana are classified as short-day varieties. For these varieties, flowers are initiated during short days and cool temperatures in the fall and winter months, and fruit appears in the late winter and early spring in Louisiana when conditions are favorable for good-quality fruit production.

Varieties that performed well in LSU AgCenter trials in 2010-2013 included: Festival, Benicia and Sweet Ann. Other varieties that tend to perform well in the state include: Camarosa, Camino Real and Chandler.

Choose Festival for a medium-sized berry and excellent production.

Benicia produces slightly softer, but larger berries than Festival.

Combining Benicia and Festival plants would provide excellent production throughout the season in the home garden.

Sweet Ann strawberries actually are a day-neutral plant. Sweet Ann berries have long, large fruit and are not as disease resistant as Festival and Benicia.

Sweet Ann produces an excellently flavored berry, but it does not ripen all the way up to the shoulder. Both the interior and the exterior of the fruit along the shoulder tend to remain white, even when the fruit is fully ripe. Because of the lack of red color when ripening, commercial production of Sweet Ann is not recommended.

ANATOMY

TERMS TO KNOW

  • Day-neutral Plant - a plant that flowers regardless of the amount of daylight it receives 

  • Irrigation - the supply of water to land or crops to help growth 

  • Short-day Plant - a plant that flowers when it is exposed to long periods of darkness and short periods of light

RECIPES
Strawberry Delight Cake

Ingredients:

  • 18 ½-ounce box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix

  • 8-ounce package Philadelphia cream cheese, softened

  • 8-ounce container Cool Whip, thawed

  • 16-ounce frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed


Directions:

  1. Prepare cake mix according to package directions.

  2. Allow cake to cool and split layers in half.

  3. Beat cream cheese; add Cool Whip.

  4. Drain half of the syrup from strawberries; add strawberries and ½ syrup to cheese mixture. Beat well.

  5. Frost each layer and top cake with a heavy frosting. Refrigerate. Improves second day.


Foods à la Louisiane—a cookbook by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Women
Submitted by Grace Graugnard of St. James Parish

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