Strawberry Fields Forever

Did you know . . . . . . . .California provides 88% of the nation's strawberries, and the region is experiencing an incredibly bountiful harvest this year. With over 35,000 acres of fields across California, the growers will be picking nearly 6 million crates of delicious, ripe strawberries this week to deliver to grocery stores nationwide.

Looking for the perfect summer snack? Check out the California Strawberries Recipes section from the California Strawberries Website.

We are going to try this one:

Tropical Strawberry Smoothie
1 1/2 cups California strawberries, stemmed 1/2 cup fresh, frozen or canned pineapple chunks 1 container (8 ounces) lowfat pina colada yogurt 1/2-cup orange juice 1 1/2 cups ice cubes
Directions
In container of blender, combine all ingredients except ice cubes; blend until smooth. Gradually add ice cubes with motor running; blend until smooth. Makes 2 servings (about 2 cups each serving)

Nutritional Information
200 calories; 2 g fat; 6 mg cholesterol; 76 mg sodium; 40 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 7 g protein

Strawberry Facts for MOMS:

California Strawberries pack a powerful nutritional punch!
Essential vitamins, Fiber, Potassium, and phytochemicals. One serving of strawberries - about 8 strawberries - is an excellent source of vitamin C. A serving of strawberries provides more vitamin C than an orange!

California strawberries are now certified by the American Heart Association and may display its heart-check mark.
Strawberries are setting the direction of nutrition research in the 21st century. Strawberries are one of nature's healthiest "packages" of power nutrients.

Strawberries and Cognitive Function Age-related declines in cognitive function have been related to both oxidative stress and inflammation. Because of their high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, strawberries are being studied for their ability to slow or prevent such decline.

STRAWBERRYVILLE:

While you are at their website be sure to check out California Strawberries for Kids and take your kids on an adventure through Strawberryville!!!

Fun strawberry facts to share with your kids:
If you lined up all of the strawberries grown in California in one straight line, they would wrap around the entire Earth 15 times.
There are about 200 seeds on the outside of each strawberry.
California harvests over a billion pounds of strawberries annually.
One acre of land (about the size of one football field) grows about 50,000 pounds of strawberries - that's the same weight as 4 elephants!

Make sure you add strawberries to your shopping list!!!!!!

**Thanks Mom Central for sharing this Fruity Fun event!**