Its that time of year where we should be diving in to seasonal fresh local fruits , have you ever been to visit a pick your own farm ?,There are loads around the area.

I know it may not sound overly exciting if compared to a trip out to Alton Towers, but if you have a few hours to spare one weekend it can be a wonderful way to pass the time.

Not only does it get you out and about, you can pick up some beautiful fruits in the process.

I used to drag my children out to give me a hand, and found I couldn't get them out of the fields.

Bowls and belly's full full !

Whilst most of us enjoy things like strawberry Ice cream, I thought it a great opportunity to give you some more information all about this delicious fruit.

What's in a name?

There are a couple of associations related to the strawberry; one probably comes from the Anglo-Saxon from the wild strawberry plant "strawberries" meaning runners. The other relates to the bed of straw that the berries are cultivated upon, to prevent thee fruits coming into contact with the muddy earth.

Historical

The wild fruits were grown in Classical Rome as well as in Europe during the 17th Century. The strawberries that we know today are relatively new fruits, when to American species were brought together in the 18th Century to produce the varieties of many of the thousand or so cultivated strawberries today.

Fact

The strawberry is a member of the Rose family and is the only fruit to have its pips on the outside and not on the inside.

Health & Fitness

Strawberries are a good source of Vitamin C and higher than any other berry.

Six average sized strawberries contain as much Vitamin C as an orange with 100g portion containing only 27 calories.

In traditional medicine, strawberries have long been used to cleanse and purify the digestive system and are said to act as a mild tonic for the liver and to have antibacterial properties.In a book published in 1931, it claimed that strawberries held on the teeth for 5 minutes will removed any discolouration and a cut strawberry rubbed over the face after washing will whiten the skin and remove sunburn.

Hints & Tips

Always wash strawberries with their calyx in place, as this prevents water entering into the centre of the fruit, thinning down the flavour and washing away the nutrients.

If the strawberries are lacking in flavour try dusting them with icing sugar and leave them covered at room temperature for 45 minutes.