8 Juicy Facts About Strawberries (You Probably Didn’t Know)

At Robért Fresh Market, we take our strawberries seriously — especially the ones from Landry-Poché Farms in Springfield, Louisiana. This family-run farm has been growing some of the sweetest berries around since 1926, and we’re proud to be their exclusive grocer.

Before we dig into some fun (and surprising!) strawberry facts, here’s a little peek at what makes Landry-Poché berries so special:

How Landry-Poché Grows Its Sweet Success

It all starts with the soil. The team at Landry-Poché preps their fields each year by plowing, tilling, fertilizing, and testing the sandy soil — perfect for strawberries. Once ready, they lay down mulch to protect the plants from the weather, bugs, and weeds.

When cold snaps hit, they tuck the berries in with blankets to protect them from frost. As spring temperatures rise, the berries ripen quickly. Fun fact: Faster ripening means smaller berries, but also sweeter ones!

By May, the harvest wraps up. The plants are then trimmed and returned to the earth to enrich the soil. A cover crop (usually red beans or field peas) is planted to keep the land healthy year-round.

And now… let’s get to the good stuff.

8 Surprising Facts About Strawberries

1. Strawberries are part of the rose family.

That’s right — these sweet treats are cousins of your garden roses. Cultivated strawberries can be traced back to the 18th century in Europe. 🌹 Source

2. Each strawberry has about 200 seeds — on the outside!

Technically, those little dots aren’t seeds — they’re individual fruits. That also means strawberries aren’t true berries. (Mind blown? Same.) Source

3. Don’t wash strawberries before freezing.

Strawberries soak up water like sponges, which can leave you with a mushy mess. Instead, hull them, freeze them flat on a tray, then transfer to a container. Rinse only when you’re ready to use. Source

4. Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in spring.

And in Louisiana, spring can show up early! Thanks to our mild winters, you can often find fresh local strawberries as early as December. Source

5. Over half of kids ages 7 to 9 say strawberries are their favorite fruit.

What’s not to love? Landry-Poché even hosts field trips and family outings during peak season, letting kids pick berries straight from the fields. Source

6. Strawberry juice can help soothe sunburns.

Strawberries contain phenolic compounds like tannic acid that reduce inflammation and ease sunburn pain. A little honey mixed in makes it even more soothing.

7. Strawberries are a superfood.

They’re loaded with vitamin C, antioxidants, potassium, fiber, and folate — making them a guilt-free snack with serious health perks.

8. Strawberries are Louisiana’s official state fruit.

Out of all the delicious options here in the Bayou State, strawberries reign supreme. We couldn’t agree more.

Want to Taste the Difference?

Pick up a pint of Landry-Poché strawberries during your next Robért Fresh Market visit. They’re fresh, local, and just waiting to brighten your day — whether you snack on them plain, toss them into a salad, or blend them into something sweet.

The food is fresh. The fun is lagniappe.