Prior to this, wild strawberries and cultivated selections from wild strawberry species were the common source of the fruit.

The first garden strawberry was grown in Brittany, France, during the late 18th century.

In 2019, world production of strawberries was 9 million tonnes, led by China with 40% of the total.įragaria × ananassa 'Gariguette,' a cultivar grown in southern France Each apparent 'seed' ( achene) on the outside of the fruit is actually one of the ovaries of the flower, with a seed inside it. Technically, it is an aggregate accessory fruit, meaning that the fleshy part is derived not from the plant's ovaries but from the receptacle that holds the ovaries. The strawberry is not, from a botanical point of view, a berry. Cultivars of Fragaria × ananassa have replaced, in commercial production, the woodland strawberry ( Fragaria vesca), which was the first strawberry species cultivated in the early 17th century. The garden strawberry was first bred in Brittany, France, in the 1750s via a cross of Fragaria virginiana from eastern North America and Fragaria chiloensis, which was brought from Chile by Amédée-François Frézier in 1714. Artificial strawberry flavorings and aromas are also widely used in products such as candy, soap, lip gloss, perfume, and many others. It is consumed in large quantities, either fresh or in such prepared foods as jam, juice, pies, ice cream, milkshakes, and chocolates. The fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic aroma, bright red color, juicy texture, and sweetness. The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry Fragaria × ananassa) is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus Fragaria, collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit.

Strawberry shortcake ice cream