Wine Facts | Strawberry Industry Facts | Santa Maria Valley Facts

Strawberry Industry Facts

Local Facts

• Americans consume an average of 4.85 pounds of strawberries per capita each year, and many of those strawberries are grown in the fertile soils of the Santa Maria Valley.

• Most of Santa Maria's strawberry fields are replanted every year. It's a practice that may be more costly, but produces a better quality fruit and higher yields.

• Santa Maria Strawberries are always hand-picked at the peak of ripeness, rushed to coolers and shipped immediately by means of refrigerated trucks or by air freight. The entire process means that, wherever you live, you will be buying the freshest, most flavorful strawberry possible.

• In the spring and summertime, the sweet fragrance of strawberries perfume the air all around Santa Maria. You won't have to look far to sample these succulent berries. Fruit tands line many a street around the city, offering strawberries for sale, fresh from the fields.

• Another sure bet for finding fresh strawberries is at one of the area's Farmer's Markets. Contact the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau for times and locations.

• If it's the ultimate strawberry experience you are seeking, then make plans to attend the Annual Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival, which takes place each April at the Santa Maria Fairpark. You'll have the chance to sample different strawberry varieties, sink your teeth into scrumptious strawberry desserts prepared by local non-profit organizations, learn about the strawberry industry, and enjoy the food, rides and fun of an old-fashioned carnival.

• Santa Maria boasts the perfect sunny, coastal climate for growing strawberries, and its mild winters and moderate summers produce a long growing season. All in all, Santa Maria produces 10 million boxes of strawberries annually, which are transported to supermarkets all across the United States

• Each year California harvests enough strawberries, if laid berry to berry, to wrap around the world nearly 15 times.

Fun Facts

• Besides being versatile and delicious, strawberries also pack a nutritional punch. They are an excellent source of Vitamin C, fiber, folic acid and potassium. All that, and they're low in calories and fat-free too! So go ahead, add them to your cereal, load them onto desserts, throw a handful into your salad, or just pop them into your mouth for a sweet and healthy treat.

• Did you know there are approximately 200 seeds in the average strawberry?

• When selecting strawberries, make sure they have a bright red color, a natural shine and fresh-looking green caps. Santa Maria strawberries are fully ripe at the time they are picked and do not continue to ripen afterward.

• Always refrigerate strawberries immediately in a dry container covered loosely with plastic wrap, and they will keep for several days. Do not wash them until just before they are served, and do not remove their green caps until after they are washed.

• For best flavor, allow strawberries to reach room temperature before serving

• Did you know that eight medium strawberries contain 140% of the U.S. RDA for Vitamin C. That's more than oranges!

• As part of the 5-a-day fruit and vegetable program suggested by the American Cancer Society, strawberries can play a part in helping reduce your risk of cancer and heart attacks.

• According to a recent national survey, strawberry lovers were labeled as "health conscious, fun loving, intelligent and happy."

• In France, strawberries are believed to be a potent aphrodisiac! Newlyweds were served strawberry soup made from thinned sour cream, strawberries, an herb called borage (tastes of cucumber) and powdered sugar. Yum!

• If you happen upon a double strawberry, break it in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex. Watch for Cupid, because legend has it you’ll soon fall in love with each other. Believe it or not…

• During medieval times, strawberries were served at important functions to bring peace and prosperity!