STRAWBERRY

Aromatic, sweet, delicious strawberry fruit (Fragaria virginiana, Fragaria vesca) is a member of the rose family. It is native to Northern Hemisphere temperate regions, but now cultivated varieties are grown throughout the world. Strawberry plants are low-growing, and each heart-shaped red fruit has about 200 external seeds. The fruits are popular worldwide and consumed fresh, or in desserts, baked goods, jams, candies, juices and other beverages.

More than 25 different anthocyanins have been found in strawberries, including pelargonidin, which is the most abundant, and is also responsible for the fruit’s bright red color. Its other beneficial plant compounds include ellagic acid, ellagitannins and procyanidins. Strawberries are a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C and manganese, and they also contain folate, potassium, magnesium, vitamin K, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid.