Strawberries are one of the most consumed fruits in the world. In 2009, North Carolina farmers harvested 1,500 acres — or 19.5 million pounds — of strawberries and produced nearly $20.5 million in value for the state. These numbers put North Carolina as the 3rd largest producer of the heart-shaped fruit. The Tar Heel State trails only California and Florida.
Strawberries are annually harvested in the late spring and early summer, usually from mid-April to early June. Although there are many varieties of strawberries, three are commonly grown in North Carolina: Camarosa, Chandler, and Sweet Charlie. Like blueberries, strawberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C and rich in fiber and antioxidants. They are also a great source of vitamin K, vitamin B, and folic acid.
Sources
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Statistics – Cash Receipts: 2009 North Carolina Top Commodities by Cash Receipts, http://www.ncagr.gov/stats/economic/cashreceipts/topcommodities.htm, (last accessed November 16, 2010); North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Statistics – North Carolina’s Rank in US Agriculture, http://www.ncagr.gov/stats/ncrank.htm, (last accessed November 16, 2010); North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Statistics — Vegetable Summary, http://www.ncagr.gov/ stats/crops/fruitsum.html, (last accessed November 16, 2010); North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture, Statistics — Fruit & Nut Summary, http://www.ncagr.gov/stats/crops/ fruitsum.html, (last accessed November 16, 2010); N.C. MarketReady, N.C. State University, The N.C. Strawberry Project, http://www.ncmarketready.org/strawberry-project/nc-strawberries.php, (last accessed November 16, 2010).