Strawberries

See Harvest Haven Product List

Strawberries! How irresistible is a pail of juicy, red, Harvest Haven strawberries accented with a splash of fresh, deep green leaves, pouring forth that wonderful aroma which makes it impossible not to pop one into your mouth; then comes that burst of sweet, refreshingly tart flavor that leaves a slight tang lingering in your mouth and inviting you to take another one.

Strawberries are probably one of the most well known fruits, yet how much do people really know about their many and varied health benefits?

Strawberry in the field

Strawberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C, with one cup of fresh berries supplying more than the recommended daily requirement of this important vitamin (and more than what the equivalent amount of the much vaunted orange provides). These little red berries are powerhouses for fighting the cold, helping to keep the skin firm and smooth, and apparently, helping to prevent aging. (Bring on the berries!)

They also have a significant amount of Vitamin A which is necessary for healthy hair and skin.

These most wonderful of fruits, when properly grown and harvested, are high in phytochemicals, including ellagic acid, an antioxidant which fights against cancer-causing chemicals. They contain other antioxidants which help lower cholesterol and ward off cardiovascular disease.

The rich medicinal qualities of *fully ripe strawberries are not affected by processing, such as cooking or freezing. Good news for jam lovers.

Strawberries can be eaten fresh (right from the field when picked at Harvest Haven because we don't use any chemicals), with or without a sprinkle of sugar, drizzled with rich sweet cream, or dipped in tangy whipped sour cream. For something special, dip the whole fresh berry in melted dark chocolate and serve as an elegant dessert. Then there is fresh strawberry, or strawberry and rhubarb, pie with crumb crust, served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

On the lighter side of the calorie counter is refreshing strawberry-spinach salad with piquant poppy seed dressing. For a jump-start in the morning, a quick-to-fix strawberry smoothie blended with high energy hemp seed is a great way to get an easy, nutritious meal.

With all these health benefits and no end to delicious serving suggestions, strawberries should be a part of your diet everyday. During the summer, Harvest Haven has clean, strawed fields for easy picking. The strawberries are ready from the first of July until it freezes, mid to end of September. You can pick your own strawberries, or we can pick them for you. Frozen berries, which were picked in their prime, are available all year. So, there is no reason to go without.

Marilyn Hafichuk

*The only fully ripe strawberries you will likely ever see are the ones that come from, or are on, local plants. Strawberries at the store shipped from California cannot be picked at peak ripeness, which causes you to miss out on maximum flavor and nutrition.

Product Lists / How To Buy