The celebrated English Physician and writer William Butler (1535-1618) was so much enamoured of strawberries that he could not help saying, "Doubtless God could have made a better berry but doubtless God never did."
Strawberry is a blood-red fruit of genus "Fragaria". It is a small herb of "Rosaceous" Family, which has many other edible fruits. It is a mouth-watering treat for the voracious fruit-gluttons in the world.
Previously, it was a rarity in Pakistan like the other exotic fruits, but it is now scattered and cultivated haphazardly in Pakistan, because of many problems and lack of facilities required in its proper cultivation. It is propagated by the pimply yellow seeds, that cover the outer skin of the fruit. Propagation through its "runners" detached from the mother plant is common as it improves the quality of the fruit. The strawberry fruit is the most popular desert in the west with multiple medicinal and industrial benefits.
Strawberry's pleasant flavour is due to the presence of a volatile oil. The fruit is delicate and perishes quickly, if cool atmosphere is not available to it. Strawberry is fondly called a pomological treat by all its lovers. The fruit is a fine blend of a little sweet, sour and soft with a pleasant odor. The plant is still found growing wild in the temperate regions of America and Europe.
Interestingly, the first cultivated strawberry variety was developed in France in the 17th century and the first variety - Hovey was developed in the USA in 1835. It is now abundantly grown throughout USA including the State of Alaska, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Korea, Egypt and Mexico.
Strangely enough, no strawberry producing country has yet given it the status of being its "National Plant" or "National Fruit" despite its enviable popularity and qualities.
In the subcontinent it is grown in the hilly tracts and Indo-Gangetic plains. At present, Pakistan is a small producer of strawberry. It is not only grown in Kheybar Pakhunkhwa (KPK) but has caught the attention of the progressive fruit growers in the Punjab. Sindh is also taking part in this race.
Strawberry is a popular desert fruit. In the east it flavours cakes, cold drinks, ice-creams, jams, jellies, milkshakes and yoghurts. Petulant children or the elderly patients, who hate taking bitter medicines, take them smilingly when they have a flavour of strawberry.
Historical records indicate that like many other soft exotic fruits, strawberry was also unheard in Pakistan decades ago. Thanks to the enterprising growers, strawberry is today cultivated in the Punjab and Sindh. It is no more a mere dream. Strawberry is also grown in pots by the hobbyists for ornamental purposes and curiosity's, sake. A potted strawberry plant can now be bought for Rs 80-90 (per potted plant) with "dos and don'ts" for their care from big nurseries.
The progressive group of fruit growers of Punjab deserve a pat on their back that with their meager efforts Pakistan has also entered into strawberry cultivation. Today it is emerging as a paying fruit crop despite some growing and marketing problems. The fruit is growing well in KPK with bright future prospects. In Hazara district strawberries grown in pots after their harvest are consumed early to save them from perishability. Swat, Dargai, Malakhand, Takhtbai, Mardan, Walli Bagh and Charsada can still bring unexploited areas to achieve the hidden potential of strawberry. Strawberry is grown from March in Abbotabad, Mansehra and the crop is harvested early July in Chattar plains of Mansehra district.
Moreover, strawberry is now the privilege only of the rich people and the poor cannot afford it due to its high costs. However, areas of river-beds in Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhelum and Rawalpindi also have better prospects of strawberry cultivation. The fruiting season is, however, short but can be lengthened by introducing new early, medium and late maturing varieties.
Sindh could be a popular strawberry grower like KPK. In Sindh, areas around Sukkur and Khairpur are potential areas to grow strawberry. Pano Aqil is already producing strawberries at commercial scale and the fruit is coming to Karachi fruit market. Even push cart-fruit venders are selling it on roads.
Strawberry is a nutritive fruit with other benefits tagged to it. Health conscious people take it as a desert to maintain their health. Nutritionally, strawberry has low calories, carbohydrate, a good source of vitamin C and fiber, provides more ascorbic acid than citrus fruits. A mature strawberry may contain 89.9% of water the remaining 10 percent contains 64 mg vitamin C, 5 mg vitamin A, 15 mg manganese, 0.90 iron, 2.5 mg sodium, 0.12 mg zinc, 0.9 mg of lipids and 39.9 kcal energy. Vitamin C is essential for formation of bones and teeth, curbs bleeding gum, helps healing of wounds, strawberry is diuretic, blood purifier, anti-cancerous, cholesterol-reducing, and good for cardiac-patients. Cosmetically, its pulp and juice are used to whiten teeth as an exfoliate.
(The views expressed in the article are not necessarily those of the newspaper)
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