Strawberries are actually a group of fruits (genus Fragaria) containing several varieties and are part of the rose family. The typically red fruit has an early summer harvest, with the actual growing season depending on the variety and location. Growers in some regions like California and Florida harvest strawberries almost the entire year, while in other parts of the world the fruit is only ripe for picking for a few short months. They need little prep and can be eaten out of hand. The price for strawberries tends to fluctuate through the growing seasons, with the cheapest berries available in the late summer.

Strawberries are high in water and a healthy part of any diet. In addition to being low in calories and saturated fat, strawberries contain plenty of antioxidants and vitamin C (100 grams contains 65.3 percent of the recommended daily value).1 They're also a good source of dietary fiber.2

Note that strawberries frequently top the yearly Dirty Dozen food list.3 The list is comprised of foods that contain the highest levels of pesticides. Some organizations recommend buying organic strawberries whenever possible to minimize your exposure to pesticides.