Strawberries
Fragrantly sweet and juicy, strawberries are one of the world’s most popular berry fruits. They are easily identified by their unique shape and deep red color, with yellow seeds that pierce the surface. Cultivated strawberries are typically much larger than their wild counterparts.
Berry love
This vibrant red, heart shaped berry bestows lots of love on your body with a unique phenol content of anthocynanins and ellagitannins that make them heart-protective, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory all at once. The potent antioxidants contained in one cup have repeatedly been shown to protect cell structures in the body and prevent oxygen damage in all the body’s organ system. In addition, strawberries protect against macular degeneration and rheumatoid arthritis and are an excellent source of Vitamin C, B5, B6, and K, manganese, dietary fiber, iodine, potassium, folate, riboflavin, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and copper… not bad for just 43 fragrantly sweet little calories.
Sources:
- Nutrition profile for strawberries, Nutritiondata.com
- Cho E, Seddon JM, Rosner B, Willett WC, Hankinson SE. Prospective study of intake of fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and carotenoids and risk of age-related maculopathy. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004 Jun;122(6):883-92. 2004. PMID:15197064.
- Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, Denisova NA et al. Long-term dietary strawberry, spinach or vitamin E supplementation retards the onset of age-related neuronal signal-transduction and cognitive behavioral deficits. J Neurosci 1998 Oct 1;18(19):8047-55 1998.
- Kahkonen MP, Hopia AI, Heinonen M. Berry phenolics and their antioxidant activity. J Agric Food Chem 2001 Aug;49(8):4076-82 2001. PMID:13450.
- Meyers KJ, Watkins CB, Pritts MP, Liu RH. Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of strawberries. J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Nov 5;51(23):6887-92. 2003.
- Wood, Rebecca. The Whole Foods Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Prentice-Hall Press; 1988 1988. PMID:15220.
How do you ensure product quality on the line?
At Townsend Farms, quality and safety is of utmost importance. We approach our entire business from a family consumption perspective. To ensure the quality of what's inside each frozen bag as well as the bag itself, our Quality Team removes 6 bags every 20 minutes from the line to review package and product integrity. Through this system, any issues are able to be resolved immediately.
Do we need to wash the berries before we eat them?
It depends. If the product is frozen, then you can if you'd like, but it isn't necessary. See our section on Packaging and Delivery for more information on our frozen process. For fresh produce, even if it is organic, it's a good idea to rinse the fruit under cold, running tap water just before preparing or eating it. Using fruit and vegetable washes or soap is not necessary.
I'm not a fan of your reclosable package, can you redesign?
Although we regret you were not 100% satisfied, we are happy to inform you that we are on the verge of launching a revamped package design in September. These new, consumer-friendly packages will feature a zipper-style opening that can be pulled on either side.
Availability
First week in June through first week in July. (only at our roadside stands)
Care and Handling
Strawberries don't have a long shelf life and should be eaten or frozen soon after purchase. Wait until just before consumption to wash. For storage, place on a paper towel in a tightly-covered container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
First week in June through first week in July. (only at our roadside stands)
Care and Handling
Strawberries don't have a long shelf life and should be eaten or frozen soon after purchase. Wait until just before consumption to wash. For storage, place on a paper towel in a tightly-covered container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
