Commodity Articles
How Sweet It Is
Florida Strawberry Season Is Here
February 2007
Plant City, Florida, is the "Winter Strawberry Capital of the World." From December through February, Florida strawberries dominate the U.S. market. They're available in grocery stores, packed in tidy clamshell containers, or you can find them at our local farmers' market-just-picked, plump, ruby red, ripe, and sweet. If you're trying farm-fresh strawberries for the first time, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the sweetness and sharpness of the flavor.
Strawberries are among the tenderest and perishable of fruits, so the best-tasting ones will probably be those that have traveled the fewest miles to your table. When shopping for the freshest berries you must know what to look for. The biggest berries aren't necessarily the most flavorful ones, but color is important. Look for strawberries that are fully and deeply red. Don't choose a berry with white or green spots in hopes it will ripen up on your windowsill; strawberries stop ripening as soon as they are picked.
Low in calories and free of sodium and fat, strawberries are packed with potassium, fiber, folic acid and powerful, disease-fighting antioxidants. Ounce for ounce, they've got more vitamin C than oranges.
The Florida Strawberry Growers Association has teamed up with grocers to promote the state's signature berry through its new "Drop Red Gorgeous" campaign that embodies the idea that "you are what you eat." Retailers feature fresh Florida strawberries and the eye-catching "Drop Red Gorgeous" point-of-sale signage in their produce sections from December through February. The marketing campaign touts the nutritional benefits of Florida strawberries, which are low in calories and free of sodium and fat, and packed with vitamin C, potassium, fiber, folic acid, and powerful, disease-fighting antioxidants.
So don't wait for a special occasion to add Florida strawberries to your shopping list. This winter, take advantage of the abundance of fresh berries by including them in everything from desserts, breakfast treats, and snacks to savory dishes. Slice them over cereal, dip them in chocolate, mix them into salsas, toss them into salads, or try one of these simple, tasty recipes.
- Recipes featured with this article:
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