In 2023, world production of strawberries exceeded ten million tons, led by China with 40% of the total. Strawberries have appeared in literature and art from Roman times; Virgil wrote about the snake lurking beneath the strawberry, an image reinterpreted by later writers including Shakespeare. It had fewer but larger flowers and gave rise to larger fruit. However, the Chilean strawberry was not hardy and was difficult to grow inland, away from mild coastal climates. These two New World species of strawberries were crossed in Europe, giving rise to the modern strawberry, Fragaria ananassa. Strawberries are indigenous to both the northern and southern hemispheres. They have been found growing by the seaside, in the woods, and on mountain tops. The strawberry was first described in literature as early as 1000AD and the first sketch of a strawberry plant was printed in 1484. Most likely the word strawberry comes from the Old English streawberigebecause the plant sends out runners which could be likened to pieces of straw. But others contend the practice of mulching strawberries with straw or finding them growing wild among matted hay or straw led to their name. And yet, other pundits believe the name came from the prac...See full list on thespruceeats.comStrawberries are native to North America, and Indigenous peoples used them in many dishes. The first colonists in America shipped the native larger strawberry plants back to Europe as early as 1600. Another variety, also was discovered in Central and South America, is what the conquistadors called "futilla." Early Americans did not bother cultivati...See full list on thespruceeats.comCultivation began in earnest in the early part of the 19th century, when strawberries with cream quickly became considered a luxurious dessert. New York became a strawberry hub with the advent of the railroad, shipping the crop in refrigerated railroad cars. Production spread to Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, and Tennessee. Now 75 percent of the Nor...See full list on thespruceeats.comStrawberries are delicious eaten out of hand or used fresh in any number of dishes, but they also lend themselves to being cooked. Tarts and pies are common ways to cook with them, but muffins, quick breads, jams, jellies, preserves, and sauces are other good choices. Fresh berries are delicious uncooked in salads, smoothies, and even wine sangria....See full list on thespruceeats.comJun 22, 2025 · New research reveals the complex ancestry of modern strawberries, tracing hybrid species and chromosome evolution over centuries. · Learn how the strawberry became a quintessentially English fruit through colonialism,crossbreeding, and imperialism. Discover the origins and meanings of different varieties of strawberries from Europe, North America, and Chile.What is the history of the Strawberry?The history of the strawberry is thus a history of empire involving war, slavery, espionage, and the extractive colonial history of botany. In particular, the taste of the “modern” strawberry would not exist without the French, British, and Spanish Empires.When did Strawberry grow in Europe?By the 1300's the strawberry was in cultivation in Europe, when the French began transplanting the wood strawberry (Fragaria vesca) from the wilderness to the garden. At the end of the 1500's the musky strawberry (Fragaria moschata) was also being cultivated in European gardens.Where do strawberry plants come from?The garden strawberry was first bred in Brittany, France, in the 1750s via a cross of F. virginiana from eastern North America and F. chiloensis, which was brought from Chile by Amédée-François Frézier in 1714. Cultivars of F. × ananassa have replaced the woodland strawberry F. vesca in commercial production.What was the first Strawberry hybrid?“Hudson” was the first strawberry hybrid developed in the USA in 1780. And in 1843 Cincinnati Ohio growers were the first to ship strawberries using refrigeration, in the form of ice placed on top of the boxes. This development led to increase marketing areas and yet more increase in popularity. · Next time you bite into a juicy, ripe, red strawberry, spare a thought for the three centuries of history, exploration, and botanical adventure origins that bring this seasonal staple to your table. · New research reveals the complex ancestry of modern strawberries, tracing hybrid species and chromosome evolution over centuries. · Learn how the strawberry became a quintessentially English fruit through colonialism,crossbreeding, and imperialism. Discover the origins and meanings of different varieties of strawberries from Europe, North America, and Chile. · Next time you bite into a juicy, ripe, red strawberry, spare a thought for the three centuries of history, exploration, and botanical adventure origins that bring this seasonal staple to your table.
