Strawberries come from a plant called ‘fragaria’.

Strawberries are edible (and rather tasty) but technically they are receptacles (the thickened part of a stem) rather than berries.

Making things even more confusing, the little hard pieces that appear to be seeds on a strawberry are actually a type of dry fruit (called achene)....that contain their own seeds!

When ripe, strawberries are bright red, juicy and very sweet.

Strawberries have lots of vitamin C.

Strawberry plants decline in quality and production after a few years so are typically replanted.

Strawberries are picked with part of the stem still attached.

Unlike some other fruits, they don’t continue to ripen after being picked.

A large number of different pests, such as slugs and fruit flies, like to feed on strawberries.

They are also susceptible to a number of diseases, especially those of the fungal variety.

Strawberries survive in a range of conditions and will grow happily in most places around the world.

Strawberries are eaten in a number of different ways including fresh, dried, as a jam, in a drink or even in a muesli bar.

Strawberry is also a popular artificial flavor added to a variety of foods.