Strawberries are a summer favorite, but a shocking fact about those white spots on their skin is leaving people stunned. Spoiler: they’re not what you think!
As the UK basks in sunnier days, many are planning picnics or visiting fruit farms to pick fresh strawberries. With an estimated two million strawberries devoured annually at Wimbledon alone, this beloved fruit is a British staple. Yet, many are unaware of its fascinating secrets.
What Are the White Spots on Strawberries?
Each strawberry is dotted with hundreds of brownish-white specks. Most assume these are seeds, but they’re actually tiny fruits called achenes. Each achene contains a single seed, and the average strawberry boasts around 200 of them, making it a fiber-packed powerhouse.
“When you eat a strawberry, you’re consuming hundreds of tiny fruits, not just one,” explains Aaron Liston, a botany expert from Oregon State University, in an interview with Live Science. The true seed hides inside the achene, meaning most people have never seen a strawberry’s actual seed.
How Do These Tiny Fruits Form?
Achenes develop when a strawberry flower is pollinated. The fertilized ovaries in the flower transform into small, dry fruits that appear as “seeds” on the strawberry’s surface. Other plants with achenes include quinoa, buckwheat, and even buttercups.
Chris Gunter, an associate professor of horticultural science at NC State, clarifies, “Strawberries don’t store seeds outside their fruit. Those specks we call seeds? They’re not seeds at all.” This clever design helps strawberries attract animals to spread their seeds or disperse them through wind or water, like dandelions or coconuts.
Social Media Buzz: Minds Blown!
A recent Reddit thread sparked amazement when users learned the “seeds” are actually fruits. Comments flooded in:
The revelation left strawberry fans reeling, with some charmed by the tiny stems on achenes.
Strawberries Aren’t Even Berries!
If the seed fact wasn’t surprising enough, here’s another twist: strawberries aren’t technically berries. Botanists classify them as false fruits because they form from the flower’s receptacle—the part connecting the flower to the stem—rather than the ovary. This swollen receptacle becomes the juicy, red “fruit” we love, covered in tiny dry achenes.
Despite their name, strawberries mimic true fruits genetically, ripening into the sweet treat we enjoy. This quirk makes them unique in the plant world.
How Strawberries Reproduce
Strawberries don’t rely solely on seeds to grow. They can reproduce via runners—horizontal stems that sprout from the parent plant, take root, and form new plants. This adaptability ensures strawberries thrive even if seed dispersal fails.
The Business of Strawberries: A Bitter Feud
Last summer, tensions flared between berry pickers and farm owners. Some farms, like Vale Pick Your Own in South Wales, accused visitors of “shoplifting” by nibbling strawberries before paying. The family-run farm emphasized that unpaid tasting impacts their business, comparing it to taking items from a store without payment.
“We allow free access to pick fruit, but eating before paying hurts us,” they shared on social media, warning that offenders could be asked to leave. The pick-your-own model relies on trust, with customers paying for their haul after picking.
Strawberries by the Numbers
Strawberries remain a UK favorite, with shoppers spending a record £847.5 million on them in the 12 months leading to July 2024. However, rising costs and supermarket price pressures threaten the industry. Reports suggest 40% of British berry growers could face closure by 2026 if trends continue.
Why Strawberries Matter
From their surprising biology to their cultural significance, strawberries are more than just a sweet snack. Whether you’re enjoying them at a picnic, a tennis match, or straight from the farm, knowing the truth about those white spots adds a fun twist to every bite.
