Berries are any of the small, soft, and fleshy fruits that may have
several seeds, but no stone or pit. With more than 400 different edible
varieties out there, berries occur in a range of bright colors. Because of
their juicy texture as well as sweet or sour taste, they are extensively
used in jams, desserts, and spreads
Fun Facts!
The tiny hairs are called ‘styles’. Styles are leftover from
the berry blossom, they serve to protect the berry from damage. Styles
are completely safe for consumption.
A true berry is a fruit which grows from one flower with one
ovary. Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are considered
aggregate fruits since the flowers they grow from have more than one
ovary. Blueberries, tomatoes, bananas, and avocados are considered true
berries since they grow from flowers containing one ovary.
Raspberries and blackberries are aggregate fruits, meaning that
the big piece of fruit you enjoy is actually dozens of tiny fruits
growing together. These tiny fruits, or bumps, are called drupletes.
A strawberry plant can reproduce in two ways. One way the plant
can reproduce is through the pollination of the berry flower and the
strawberry fruit and seeds. The second way the plant can reproduce is to
shoot off runners and clone itself multiple times.
