Fun facts about strawberries

Did you know that botanically speaking, strawberries aren’t really berries at all? In fact, because they’re derived from a single flower with more than one ovary, they’re classified as aggregate fruits. Here are some other things you might not know about strawberries.

• They’re part of the rose family. Strawberries are members of the Rosaceae plant family. Just like roses, strawberries are perennials. However, they’ll only bear fruit for about three years.

• They’re packed with health benefits. Besides their high levels of vitamins and antioxidants, strawberries contain an abundance of healthy nitrates, which have been shown to increase oxygen and blood flow to the muscles.

• They were cultivated for medicinal purposes. Ancient Romans are thought to have used strawberries to treat everything from melancholy to inflammation and throat infections.

• They were once used for bathing. Madame Tallien, a prominent member of Napoleon Bonaparte’s court, was famous for bathing in the juice of strawberries. It took 22 pounds of the fruit to fill her basin.

• They’re one of America’s most loved fruits. On average, people in the U.S. eat three-and-a-half pounds of fresh strawberries a year.

Of course, the most fabulous thing of all about strawberries is eating them. Whether fresh, baked or preserved, be sure to get your fill this summer.