Scrumptious! What better word is there to describe the red, ripe and juicy flavor of fresh strawberries? Plus, they are good for you, too!

Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C, potassium and fiber. One serving of fresh berries (1 cup) contains 50 calories and no fat or cholesterol. Eat them fresh, add them to your favorite cereal, make a salad by adding them to spinach, another summer favorite, or use them on top of pancakes and waffles.

If you would like to capture that yummy flavor all year round, consider freezing strawberries or making strawberry jam. The National Center for Home Food Preservation provides you with the latest and safest information on doing both. Check out their website at www.uga.edu/nchfp, and click on the specific food preservation method you are interested in.

Let this be the start of enjoying the bounty that this year’s growing season has to offer. Strawberries, asparagus and salad greens are some of the first produce available in Illinois. But, many more fruits and vegetables await you. They include green beans, tomatoes, sweet corn, peaches, watermelon, zucchini and other berries such as raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

Check out your local farmers market, roadside stand or U-pick farm for the freshest and best of the season. Or, check out the Illinois Farm Direct website at www.illinoisfarmdirect.org for information on the locations closest to you.


Author: Brenda Derrick, MS, RD, University of Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator, Adams-Brown Unit, Quincy, IL, (217)223-8380