TODAY we celebrate National California Strawberry day as part of National Nutrition Month.
Strawberries are my all-time favorite fruit since I was a kid. They are not only low in sugar and calories, but they also provide a unique combination of essential nutrients, dietary fiber, and phytochemicals. Clinical research suggests that eating a serving of just eight strawberries a day may improve heart health, reduce the risk of some cancers, support brain health, and help manage diabetes. A serving of strawberries has more vitamin C than an orange and is packed with beneficial antioxidants and nutrients including potassium, folate, and fiber.
California is known for producing some of the most delicious and high-quality strawberries in the world. California strawberries are typically bright red, juicy, and sweet with a slight tanginess, making them a popular ingredient in many dishes and desserts.
The state of California produces more than 80% of the strawberries grown in the United States, with most of the production concentrated in the central coast region. The mild climate and rich soil in this area provide ideal growing conditions for strawberries, which are typically harvested from March through September.
California strawberries are often enjoyed fresh, but they are also used in a variety of products such as jams, jellies, ice cream, and baked goods. Additionally, they are packed with nutrients like vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, making them a healthy choice for snacking or adding to meals.
California strawberries are a healthy and very versatile fruit to enjoy every day in different types of food. One of my favorite recipes is having strawberry in my Kale salad mixed with some toasted pecans drizzle with some slaw dressing. If I am in the mood for Quinoa, I love to make my favorite Strawberry Quinoa Salad with some chopped pistachios. During evening snack, I love to snack on sliced strawberries and just munch them while I watch tv.
So, today, celebrate this day by making your favorite recipe that includes strawberries and share your favorite recipe on social media with some photos to show.
1965 Martin Luther King, Jr. begins the march from Selma to Montgomery
In the name of African-American voting rights, 3,200 civil rights demonstrators in Alabama, led by Martin Luther King Jr., begin a historic march from Selma to Montgomery, the state’s capital. Federalized Alabama National Guardsmen and FBI agents were on hand to provide safe passage for the march, which twice had been turned back by Alabama state police at Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge.
In 1965, King and his Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) decided to make the small town of Selma the focus of their drive to win voting rights for African Americans in the South. Alabama’s governor, George Wallace, was a vocal opponent of the African-American civil rights movement, and local authorities in Selma had consistently thwarted efforts by the Dallas County Voters League and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to register local blacks.
Although Governor Wallace promised to prevent it from going forward, on March 7 some 500 demonstrators, led by SCLC leader Hosea Williams and SNCC leader John Lewis, began the 54-mile march to the state capital. After crossing Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were met by Alabama state troopers and posse men who attacked them with nightsticks, tear gas, and whips after they refused to turn back.
(excerpted from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/selma-to-montgomery-march-begins)
