National Strawberry Day

February 27th is National Strawberry Day in the United States.

The strawberry is yet another food that has a name that is not actually accurate. Rather like how few things called nut, especially those with nut in the name, are actually nuts in the botanical sense, many fruits with berry in the name are not actually berries in the botanical sense. The strawberry is an aggregate accessory fruit - which were once called by names such as false fruit or spurious fruit.

Strawberries are a comparatively modern fruit, in domesticated terms, with domestication only beginning with the growth of the first garden strawberry being in Brittany in France in the late 18th century. The fruit was mentioned in Roman literature in regards to its medicinal use, which is, even at around a couple of thousand years old, still quite modern compared to many fruit species.

Although the strawberry was being raised in gardens, especially in France, prior to the introduction of the garden strawberry, most strawberries were either wild strawberries or cultivated from them.

Strawberries are a very popular fruit, used in many different ways. They can be eaten as-is, but are also used as ingredients in jams and other preserves and pies, as well as many desserts including ice cream. They are popular in combination with dairy products. Strawberries are an excellent source of flavanoids and vitamin C. They are also a comparatively easy plant to grow at home, and can be grown almost anywhere. Today, the United States is the world's largest producer of strawberries.

National Strawberry Month

May is National Strawberry Month in the United States.

The strawberry, like so many fruit with berry in the name, is not actually a berry in botanical terms. Instead, it is an aggregate accessory fruit, composed of many smaller parts that comprise the larger fruit. They have a characteristic aroma, a bright colour (in most cases) and are sweet. Strawberries are a popular dish, and can be eaten raw and cold or used cooked and used in jams and preserves.

Strawberries are a comparatively late fruit to be cultivated domestically, with the first one only dating back to the 18th century, compared to others which have been consumed for thousands of years. This is of the type called the garden strawberry, which is a cultivated species. Strawberries that were eaten prior to this are known as wild strawberries, which included some cultivated selections of the plant.

National Strawberry Sundae Day

July 7th is National Strawberry Sundae Day in the United States.

This is yet another day celebrating yet another flavour of the sundae. Sundaes are an ice cream dessert that are topped with syrup, sauces and fruit, although what depends on the recipe, of which there are many. Sundaes in general are believed to have originated in the 19th century United States, although their precise origins are disputed.

In this particular sundae recipe, strawberries are, not surprisingly, an important component, along with the ice cream. Before the strawberries are added to the sundae, they are usually chopped up, sugared, and left to stand for at least an hour to create a sweet syrup. The flavour of ice cream used can vary, but vanilla is the most common one. Another regular component of the strawberry sundae is strawberry syrup, especially if the strawberries weren't sugared beforehand.

National Strawberry Parfait Day

June 25th is National Strawberry Parfait Day in the United States.

This is another day celebrating a type of parfait. In this case, it is probably celebrating the American parfait, not the original French frozen dessert which dates back to the nineteenth century, and definitely not the savoury British meat paste, or pâté.

American parfaits are layered desserts, comprised of layers of parfait cream, ice cream and gelatins, that are served in a tall glass and then topped with whipped cream and fruit. In many respects, it actually resembles a sundae of some type. An alternative version of the American parfait is made using layers of yoghurt, granola, nuts or fresh fruit.

For this particular day being celebrated, whichever version of American parfait is made, the fruit used is, of course, strawberries.

National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day

June 9th is National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day in the United States.

This is another one of the more specific national days, celebrating not just a pie, but a pie that has two specific ingredients - strawberries and rhubarb.

Rhubarb, although it is usually treated as a fruit, is actually a type of vegetable. It grows from rhizomes and has long, thick stalks topped with large leaves. The stalks are the part which is eaten - other parts of the plant are poisonous. Rhubarb stalks are quite firm and need softening in order to be made into a pie, so they would usually be pre-cooked before used to fill the pie shell. Rhubarb is also quite tart to the taste, so this is usually countered with something sweet; in this case, strawberries.

National Strawberries & Cream Day

May 21st is National Strawberries & Cream Day in the United States.

Strongly associated with the Wimbledon Championships, held later in the year, this is a traditional English dessert.

Strawberries are a type of fruit cultivated all over the world and can be eaten fresh, as in this case, as well as being used as an ingredient in prepared foods and in preserves and jams. A common commercial crop, they are a good source of vitamin C, and are a comparatively easy fruit to grow yourself, although the growing season will likely be limited.

The top layer of butterfat is skimmed from the top of milk (not non-dairy), which is the cream. This is then poured over the strawberries which, depending on their size, may be cut into smaller pieces - strawberries can be quite large, large enough that putting a whole one in your mouth could be a bit tricky.

National Strawberry Ice Cream Day

National Strawberry Ice Cream Day is on January 15th in the US.

The middle of January may not seem like an ideal time for a national day celebrating ice cream - it does tend to be rather cold in winter, and cold desserts are preferable in the summer. Strawberries are also not in season at this time of year.

Of course, it isn't necessary for the fruit known as the garden strawberry, to distinguish it from the wild ones and from which it was first grown in the late 18th century, to actually be in season to eat, or even make strawberry ice cream.

Strawberry ice cream dates back to at least 1813, as it is known to have been served at the second inauguration of U.S. President James Madison, and is one of the three flavours in Neapolitan ice cream, along with chocolate and vanilla, and is therefore used in Neapolitan-style ice cream sandwiches. Most common types of strawberry ice cream are made with strawberry flavouring, but if making it at home it is certainly possible to use fresh or frozen strawberries. Some better commercial makes will also use whole strawberries rather than flavouring.