Strawberries How to Choose Cook and Store Strawberries
Strawberries How to Choose, Cook and Store Strawberries This month your child had the opportunity to try strawberries as part of the Farm to School program. Nutrition Facts A ½ cup of strawberries contains 25 calories. Strawberries contain phenols that function as antioxidants which may help protect against cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and antiinflammatory diseases. Strawberries are an excellent source of manganese, Vitamin C, and a good source of Vitamin K, folate, fiber, and Vitamin B 2. Choose: Fun Facts • Choose fragrant strawberries that are bright in color and are free of dark or sunken spots. The average strawberry has about 200 seeds! • Avoid strawberries that have green or yellow spots. This indicates that they are unripe. The largest strawberry in history weighed 8. 17 ounces. This is about the size of a big apple! 94% of U. S. households consume strawberries at least once a year. • If unripe strawberries are picked off the vine, they will not ripen any further once off the vine. In Belgium, there is a museum dedicated entirely to strawberries. Store: Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski • Strawberries will only last a few days in the refrigerator after purchasing. • Strawberries can be frozen for up to one year. Cook: • Rinse strawberries in cold water just before eating. Suggested Books Family Friendly Activity Go strawberry picking in our area. Check out the farms below to pickyour-own fun! Make sure to call before you go! Heritage Valley Farm (Bangor) 608 -486 -4020 heritagevalleyfarm. org Hillendale Farm (Holmen) 608 -386 -3292 Jolivette Family Farms (West Salem) 608 -786 -0432 Holmen Berry Patch/Berry Corner (Holmen) 608 -582 -9221 Hoch Orchard and Gardens (La Crescent, MN) hochorchard. com 507643 -6329 Kathan Homestead Berries (La Crescent, MN) 507 -895 -4633 Made possible by funding from HHS, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and La Crosse County Health Department 1
Strawberries Sweet Corn and Kidney Bean Salad Serves 12 (about ½ cup each) 2 cups sweet corn (fresh or thawed) 1 (15. 5 oz. ) can kidney beans, drained & rinsed ½ cup chopped red onion ½ cup chopped red bell pepper ¾ cup cider vinegar ¼ cup honey 2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro ½ tsp. minced garlic ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. pepper Stay tuned… October’s Harvest of the Month will be Leeks! In a large bowl, combine first four ingredients. In a small bowl whisk together remaining ingredients; combine with corn mixture and stir until well blended. Chill at least two hours to allow flavors to blend. Enjoy! This recipe is a Foot Steps to Health Recipe providing a serving of fruit or vegetable and is 500 Club approved. For more information see www. getactivewisconsin. org Made possible by funding from HHS, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and La Crosse County Health Department 2
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