1. Tulare County Office of Education Strawberries

2. Reasons to Eat Strawberries ½ cup of sliced strawberries is about 4 large strawberries. This amount provides an excellent source of vitamin C. This is more than 80% of the Recommended Daily Value!

3. Vitamin C Humans do not have the ability to produce vitamin C. We must get it through the foods we eat in our diet.

4. Enjoying Strawberries Have you ever tried strawberries in a spinach salad?

5. Delicate Vitamin C Vitamin C is sensitive and can be lost when exposed to too much air, heat, and water. To prevent loss of vitamin C in fresh fruits and vegetables, avoid prolonged storage, over-cooking, and processing.

6. How Do Strawberries Grow? Strawberries are a perennial plant. Perennial means, “Continuing without interr u ption” “Present all seasons of the year” While strawberry plants can survive and produce fruit for many years, large farming operations replace the plants every two to four years.

7. How Do Strawberries Grow? Strawberry plants require pollination by bees or other insects.

8. How Do Strawberries Grow? Cool or wet weather discourages bee activity. If bees stay in their hive, the flowers do not get pollinated and there will be no fruit production.

9. How Do Strawberries Grow? Many strawberry plant varieties produce stolons that spread out from the base and take root to form new plants.

10. How Do Strawberries Grow? On average, it takes about 30 days for flowers to develop into fruit.

11. How Do Strawberries Grow? Strawberries are delicate and must be picked by hand when ripe. It is very hard work!

12. A Slice of Strawberry History Strawberries have a history that goes back more than 2000 years.

13. A Slice of Strawberry History Strawberries occurred naturally in the northern and southern hemispheres.

14. A Slice of Strawberry History European explorers discovered strawberries in North America in 1588 when they landed on the shores of the state of Virginia.

15. Home Grown Facts California supplies almost 90% of the strawberries grown in the United States.

16. Home Grown Facts If all the strawberries produced in California this year were laid berry to berry, they would wrap around the world 15 times.

17. Home Grown Facts There are four main growing regions for strawberries in California, each with different growing periods. Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Orange/San Diego

18. Home Grown Facts Worldwide, look where California strawberries are exported. How do the strawberries get to these countries?

19. 1.½ cup of strawberries gives you 80% of your Daily Value for___. Vitamin C 2.Vitamin C is lost if over-cooked. True or False? True, they are sensitive to heat 2.Strawberry plants produce_____that spread out and take root to form new plants. stolons 4.European explorers discovered strawberries growing when they landed in _________. Virginia Test Your Knowledge

20. Tasting Trio Strawberry Shortcake Preparation time: 15 minutes Ingredients:  1 sleeve graham crackers (9 full crackers)  1 container (32oz) low-fat or fat-free vanilla yogurt  2 lbs. fresh strawberries  1 gallon-sized bag

21. Strawberry Shortcake Preparation: 1. Wash and pat dry the strawberries. 2. Stir the yogurt. 3. Place the graham crackers in the gallon-sized bag and close. 4. Pass the bag around the class, allowing each student to help crush the crackers into fine crumbs. 5. Dip each strawberry into the yogurt and then the crushed crackers. 6. Place all coated berries on a tray and freeze for 10 minutes before serving. This recipe can also be enjoyed immediately.

22. Strawberry Shortcake Nutrition information per serving: Calories 28, Total Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 1mg, Sodium 10mg, Carbohydrates 5g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugar 4g, Protein 1g HOW I FELT ABOUT THIS RECIPE Loved it It was okay Didn’t like it 

23. d Even turtles love strawberries! For CalFresh information, call 1-877-847-3663. Funded by USDA SNAP, an equal opportunity provider and employer. Visit www.cachampionsforchange.net for healthy tips. California Department of Public Healthealth