Fruit of the Month for May: Strawberries

You may have noticed (either from your own garden or by the many road signs announcing their arrival) that strawberries started producing fruit last month! And o'man are they delicious this year!

If you're not growing them in your garden, find the closest Strawberry Farm location to you on the Farm Locator and go pick your own, stocking up to preserve or freeze them for later in the year.

Storage Tips

• Store ripe berries in the refrigerator for only a few days.
• Do not wash berries prior to storage. For the best quality, gently wash them immediately before eating.
• Here is an easy, healthy method for freezing berries:

Wash and cap the strawberries. Place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and put them in the freezer. Later, place the frozen berries in freezer bags. Simply remove the number of berries you need for specific recipes. These berries are great in smoothies or mixed with other fruits for a taste of springtime all year long.

Nutritional facts about strawberries

• a super source of nutrition, providing antioxidants, which help reduce the chance of heart disease and cancer, and phytonutrients, which aid in the prevention of cancer and diabetes. 
• high in vitamin C, promoting healthy gums, teeth and bones
• a good source of potassium, which helps maintain blood pressure and aids muscle contractions.

Recipe

Strawberry Shrimp Cocktail



Find this and other strawberry recipes here.

And feast your eyes on scrumptious strawberry creations here.

This great information was provided by The Produce Lady and www.theproducelady.org