A member of the Rosaceae (Rose) family, the botanical name of strawberries is Frugaria, which in Latin means 'fragrance.' Origins of the common name include the reference to 'straw' used in mulching the plants. Children in London collected the berries, strung them on pieces of straw and sold them in the markets as "Straws of Berries." The French, Italian, and Spanish word for the fruit is "Fraise" or fragrant berry. Narragansett Indians in North America called the fruit "wuttahimneash" or "heart berry."

Growers from all over the world claim their strawberries to be the best. In Wepion, Belgium, "The World Capital of Strawberries," they even have a museum dedicated solely to this sumptuous red berry. Folks in Plant City, Florida claim their town to be "The Winter Strawberry Capital of the World." Towns such as Strawberry, Arizona and Strawberry, California chose their namesake for some berry compelling reason. Strawberry Mountain is found in Oregon and Mansikkala, Finland, literally translated means "The Place of the Strawberry."

Some of the earliest accounts of strawberries came from ancient Rome circa 200 BC. The first sketch of a strawberry plant was printed in 1484. Early publications spoke of medicinal uses for strawberries, not as edible fruit. In the 12th Century Saint Hildegard von Binger pronounced strawberries unfit to eat because they may have been contaminated by snakes and toads due to the fact that they were grown so close to the ground. In the mid 18th century, Charles Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, put this superstition to rest by switiching to a diet consisting only of strawberries to prove them edible.

It was the French who led the way in strawberry cultivation. Cartier, the French explorer, brought strawberries back to France from Quebec in 1534.In 1697 Jean de la Quintinie, the royal gardener at the Palace of Versailles under King Louis XIV, kept the first detailed account of how to develop larger berries, how to prepare the soil and deal with insects. The French King chose strawberries as his favorite fruit and even initiated a poetry contest on the merits of the strawberry.

In the 18th Century one of the first breeding crosses were made to improve the strawberry. A Virginia variety with good flavor and fruitfulness was crossed with a Chilean variety and became known as the Pineapple or Pine strawberry due to its distinctive flavor. "Hudson" was the first strawberry hybrid developed in the USA in 1780. And in 1843 Cinncinatti Ohio growers were the first to ship strawberries using refrigeration, in the form of ice placed on top of the boxes. This development led to increase marketing areas and yet more increase in popularity.

Strawberries are native to both the northern and southern hemispheres. They are grown in every state in the US, every province in Canada, all over Europe, Australia and even in Iran. They can grow by the sea, in the woods, and on mountain tops. Ideally strawberries are planted outdoors, but in the colder regions of the world, heated glass houses provide a safe growing environment. Commercially grown strawberries, shipped from far locations, although visually stunning, originate from varieties bred for shipping and a longer shelf-life. These varieties tend to have half the sugar content of a traditional June bearer which makes a compelling reason to grow your own. For more on growing strawberries visit our Strawberry Planting and Culturing Guide.