Strawberries
-may have been named for placing straw around the berry or from 1000 years ago because the habit of the plants to "strew" the berries all around. -a member of the rose family. -cultivated by Romans as early as 234 B.C. -discovered by Europeans in Virginia in 1588 -enjoyed by New England settlers that were grown by Native Americans. -written about by a Maryland Colonist "We cannot set down a foot but we tread on strawberries. -carved onto altars and pillars by stonemasons in medieval times and were served at state occasions and festivals to ensure peace and prosperity. -ancient myth of Egyptians "if you eat 300 strawberries you will turn into a cat". -have more vitamin C than oranges or any other berry, have 0 fat,and are good source of fiber and for ellagic and folic acid. -300 years ago Dr. William Butler said, "Doubtless GOD could have made a better berry, but doubtless GOD never did".
Blackberries
-grow the world over and have gone by many names in the past including brambleberry, brumblekites and lawers. -eaten by Neolithic peoples in Britain and surrounded by superstitions. -English myth, the first blackberry spotted in the spring would banish warts. And should not be eaten after October 10, because they have been spit upon during the "night". -are a good source of folate, vitamin E, fiber and 19% of RDA of vitamin C.
Raspberries
-are a member of the rose family. -reds are indigenous to Asia Minor and North America. -records of domestication by Palladius a 4th century agriculturist and seeds found in Roman forts in Britain. -the British improved them through the middle ages and by 1771 were in New York. -blackcaps are native to only North America and most abundant in the east. -improvements didn’t take place until after 1800 because of the popularity of the European reds and the number of wild fruit. -were used as a cure for sore eyes and throats and mouth rinse. -purple berries are a cross between the reds and the blacks, yellows are mutated reds.
|