Let’s get one thing straight – strawberries are very sneaky. There is a strong reason for it and you will know soon. They are the ultimate con artists of the plant kingdom. It is not exactly a fruit. That juicy red bit which you’ve been gobbling up? Not at all a fruit. You love to eat it though. Those gritty specks that you thought were seeds? Not seeds at all. Each one of them is the actual fruit. The luscious red flesh that you call strawberry is a cunning decoy. Contrary to everyday belief, a strawberry isn’t a simple fruit but an aggregate accessory fruit. You will need microscopic vision to understand it’s complete structure. It is just a swollen stem and up to 200 Achenes stud each berry like natural polka dots.

Yeah, you are shocked at finding out that the strawberry is a package of micro-sized fruits. What looks like a fruit called the strawberry, is actually an enlarged floral receptacle while each “seed” that you see spammed on it’s skin is called an achene. Beneath every juicy strawberry skin lies Achenes and each of them are a miniature dry fruit guarding it’s own seed. Meaning, each achene is a tiny fruit with an even smaller seed inside. Meet the Achenes (pronounced aykeens) — the strawberry’s true fruits with each holding a seed in it. This botanical twist is that when you are munching on a strawberry, you are really tucking into dozens or even hundreds of tiny fruits clinging to a juicy stem piece.

Buckle up, because this berry has got more twists than a Love Island reunion. In this post, you will discover that Achenes are dry fruits each hiding a seed inside and also how the strawberry is not a fruit. Lets unpack their anatomy, dish out quirky trivia (including strawberries’ octoploid genome), explore how they pack an antioxidant punch, share real stories from California and Mahabaleshwar farms, spotlight cutting-edge ripening research and even slip into debates over “superfood” claims. Along the way, you will find expert opinions, learn handy farming tips and glimpse the future of strawberry science. This isn’t just a berry but a botanical heist, a tale of survival and a nutritional powerhouse rolled into one. Ready to unravel the secrets? Let’s dive in.

The strawberry’s real fruits – Understanding the Achenes

Why you must not spit the Achenes out

Tiny fruits | Mega treasures

Nutritional scorecard

Science spotlight

From spies to socialites - History's juiciest gossip

Farming fiascos due to climate change

CRISPR to the rescue

Tales from the field - Grower diaries

Climate change, diseases, pests, trials, tribulations and triumps in cultivation

🤔 Crunchy controversies

Wonders and blunders - DIY and kitchen wins (and fails)

Pop culture and quirky trivia

The road ahead

Why Achenes matter

The final nibble

Further reading and references

The strawberry’s real fruits – Understanding the Achenes

These Achenes that spam the skin of a strawberry are not the seeds of the berry. Do not be confused. Those tiny specks on a strawberry are each a dry fruit with it’s own seed inside. They are tiny fruits with super tiny seeds inside each of them. Achenes are dry one-seeded fruits that don’t burst open when ripe. A single strawberry can bear up to 200 Achenes with each contributing to the berry’s ability to reproduce and thrive. The whole strawberry is a swollen receptacle which means it is the flower’s stem that balloons after pollination. Think of it as a botanical beanbag cosying up 200+ Achenes. As one scientist cheekily put it…

“Strawberries are the Kardashians of the fruit world — all show, no substance”.

Close up of an Achene in strawberries

Technically, the strawberry is not a fruit and so it is called an accessory aggregate fruit. The red part that you eat is actually a swollen flower stem (the receptacle) while the Achenes (each of them) are separate fruits born from separate flower ovaries. After pollination, it balloons into a plump sweet lure to trick animals (and humans) into spreading it’s seeds. Since a single strawberry can have so many fruits latched on to it, you are munching multiple fruits in one single bite. When you are eating a strawberry, you are really eating a flower along with it’s multitude of fruits.

The Achenes are microscopic marvels indeed. Under magnification, every achene reveals a hard pericarp (ovary wall) that shields the seed within. You will clearly get to see a fruit and it’s seed inside under the scope. Unlike many fruits designed to fling their seeds far and wide, the Achenes hitch a ride inside animals — or on human tongues — before finally ending up lodged in soil where they can germinate. They make it out of the animal’s system eventually when they have been consumed and by then, the animal would have travelled far away from the source. This is an efficient evolutionary strategy to spread the plant’s seed far and wide. The seeds are too tiny and becomes very easily portable through external agents like animals and insects.

Why you must not spit the Achenes out

The tough shells of Achenes resist digestion and act as prebiotic fibre that feeds good gut bacteria in your body. They are extremely good for your gut health. Nutritionist Dr. Emily Carter notes…

“Two strawberries give your gut more fibre than a bowl of porridge — and taste better than kimchi”.

Achenes are powerhouses of antioxidants. Each Achene is packed with a lot of them. A 2023 study found Achenes have 17x more antioxidant power than that fleshy part of the strawberry. This is true because the rest is just a flower. Achenes are loaded with ellagic acid which are known to reduce inflammation and reduce risks of cancer. That is a major benefit that our bodies need. As one researcher joked…

“Forget superfoods — Achenes are superheroes”.

They are allergy hacks literally having known to thwart off certain allergies that people can have. Japanese scientists bred white strawberries (like Shiroi Houseki) without the allergen Fra A1. White strawberries (bred in Japan) lack the allergen called Fra A1. These white strawberries are exported to other countries like India and it’s consumers with allergies to strawberries have had no problems any more. When they hit Delhi’s markets in the year 2024, allergy sufferers rejoiced. Some celebrated because this white strawberry wouldn’t give them an allergy compared to previous variants. When Marks & Spencer stocked their shelves with white strawberries in the year 2024, allergy sufferers rejoiced. One customer tweeted on X…

“Finally ate a strawberry without looking like I’d wrestled a wasp”.

Another X user @SnifflesNoMore posted…

“Finally ate a strawberry without looking like I’d hugged a cactus!”

The Japanese Shiro Houseki (white strawberry) | Pic credit - Wish Farms

Japanese white strawberries (Shiroi Houseki) have allergen Fra A1 deliberately minused out of the produce. Today, they are bred exclusively for people who develop allergies from consuming strawberries. Launched since the year 2023, they remain a hit in allergy-prone regions of the world. Shiroi Houseki is truly an allergy-free innovation. Kudos to Japan!

Raw strawberries are 91% water and 8% carbohydrates which provide just 33 kcal per 100 g. Meaning, they hydrate you and also won’t add to your weight. Yet they are a rich source of vitamin C (65% DV) and manganese (17% DV).

Tiny fruits | Mega treasures

By now, you must have realized that the so-called seeds on the skin of strawberries are actually the real fruits with the seed of the entire plant inside each of them called Achenes and that the so-called fruit named strawberry is more of a flower.

What’s in the package? – Even though Achenes make up only about 0.75% of a strawberry’s fresh weight, they contribute 11% of it’s total polyphenols, 41% of it’s phenolic compounds and as much as 81% of it’s antioxidant capacity. They outperform in terms of it’s benefits despite being so small. Phytochemicals such as ellagic acid, ellagitannins, flavonoids and pelargonidin3glucoside — the pigment granting strawberries their signature red — are concentrated in these tiny fruits. They are responsible for that eye-pleasing colour on the berry. Every crunchy nibble thus delivers a potent dose of health-promoting compounds. Consuming strawberries is very beneficial for us.

Marvels of evolution – Each Achene is a self-contained fruit with a hard shell (pericarp) protecting a single seed. It still boggles the mind how tiny these fruits are. They are the quiet geniuses doing all the work while the receptacle hogs the spotlight. It might seem unfair but evolution operates unpredictably like that. Commercial growers usually clone plants via runners (horizontal shoots) since Achene germination needs special treatments to break dormancy. These Achenes are truly botanical marvels. Researchers study strawberries because the Achenes sit openly on the flesh and offer a window into fruit-development processes. Besides, complete fruits being so small is already a wonder.

Tiny pellets of essentials – As a fruit, they are full of essential vitamins and minerals. The juicy flesh delivers 65% of your daily vitamin C per 100g along with folate and manganese while the Achenes supply fibre and trace healthy fats in their natural oils. These are important for your body from being beneficial to collagen, connective tissues, bone health, immune system and a host of other resources in the human body. We are still talking about the seeds called Achenes and not the full strawberry.

Healing power – They also offer certain medical perks. Studies show that eating strawberries as a whole may reduce inflammation and joint pains. Their properties provide reprieve for consumers from other problems induced by similar conditions. One trial found that 50g daily cut knee pain markers by a significant margin. This is great gains from the tiny fruits in the strawberry. Regular consumption also supports heart health by improving insulin sensitivity and lowering LDL cholesterol. Worsening of LDL cholesterol is responsible for many of the heart problems. The strawberry has in it’s arsenal the power to tackle LDL.

Friend of your gut biome – Achenes are packed with insoluble fibre that feeds your gut bacteria. It sustains the gut biome in the human body more efficiently. Their insoluble fibre feeds gut bacteria which in turn ends up promoting good digestion. You always want to be in good terms with these bacteria. Nutritionist Dr. Emily Carter (NHS) again reiterated that…

“Two strawberries = one psyllium husk supplements. But tastier, unless you are into eating sawdust”.

Two strawberries provide 1 g of fibre which is equivalent of ¼ of fibre that comes from 1 banana.

Weaponised with antioxidants – Their disease-fighting prowess is really amazing! As an owner of high-quality antioxidants, they are loaded with ellagic acid which reduces cancer risk by neutralizing free radicals (2021 UCLA Study), quercetin which fights off inflammation (good news for arthritis sufferers) thereby easing arthritis pain and anti-allergens. Nutritionist Dr. Sarah Lin’s expert take on Achenes…

“They are nature’s probiotics — tastier than yogurt”.

In a life-changing story, a UK blogger @HealthyHannah reversed her IBS symptoms by blending whole strawberries daily. What an incredible story!

Nutritional scoreboard

Component	Source	Contribution
Total phenolics	Achenes (1% wt.)	11% of berry’s phenolics
Antioxidant activity	Achenes	14% of antioxidant capacity
Vitamin C	Flesh	65% daily value per 100 g
Fibre	Whole berry	Supports digestion

Powerhouse polyphenols – Ellagic acid and ellagitannins in Achenes deliver much of the strawberry’s free-radical defence. It is your ticket out of the highway of major health problems.

Low-calorie treat – At just 33 kcal per 100g and high-water content, strawberries are perfect guilt-free snacks. You won’t add much weight from consuming strawberries unlike carbs.

Science spotlight

Ethylene’s secret role – Traditionally labelled ‘non-climacteric’, strawberries were thought to ripen with little ethylene involvement. A 2024 year’s Fruit Research study found that removing Achenes quadruples ethylene production in the flesh. Further new research has revealed that removing Achenes spikes ethylene release in the flesh. These studies tell us that Achenes help regulate ripening. Hence, Achenes are critical to the entire strawberry’s maintenance and structure.

Genome extravaganza – The cultivated strawberry is an octoploid with 8 sets of chromosomes tracing back to 4 wild progenitors. It is no wonder that they are genetically so rich. This genetic patchwork underlies their adaptability and diversity of flavours, though it also complicates breeding efforts.

Structure of the strawberry plant and the genes responsible for varities | Pic credit - ResearchGate

Epigenetic frontiers – Ongoing studies aim to map achene-receptacle interactions to breed more nutritious and sweeter varieties. It will take time to determine how but someday, hopefully, the mapping will be totally conclusive.

Phenolic profiling advances – Modern metabolomic analyses have identified over 50 polyphenols in strawberry extracts and thereby mapping how Achenes concentrate compounds like pelargonidin3glucoside and cyanidin3glucoside. They are the key to both colour and health benefits.

Metabolomic workflow

Composition and functions – The exact science spotlight are on the Achenes’ composition and functions. It is 90% water, 7% sugar (or carbs) with a dash of Vitamin C. Their function is specifically to act as nutrient-rich lures to spread the plant’s seeds far and wide. Dr. Emily Harper (Botanist, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) quotes…

“The receptacle is like a flashy sports car. The Achenes? The engine under the hood”.

From spies to socialites – History’s juiciest gossip

A French spy who started it all – In the year 1714, a French spy named Amédée François Frézier (Yes, his name itself means “strawberry plant” in French) smuggled Chilean strawberries to Europe. They are called Fragaria chiloensis in Chile. This led to the modern strawberry called Fragaria × ananassa which is a hybrid of Chilean and North American varieties. Hence, he was very likely responsible for strawberry’s intro or migration into Europe. This further led to the hybrid that we are able to get to eat today. Coincidence? Or destiny? His family crest even had strawberry flowers — talk about commitment.

A portrait of Amédée François Frézier

Mughal majesty – Mughal emperor Jahangir called strawberries as ‘Phool ka phal’ (a flower fruit in Urdu). Fast-forward to the year 2025, India’s Mahabaleshwar region produces 85% of the country’s strawberries. Maharashtra’s Mahabaleshwar has managed to consistently produce 85% of India’s strawberries since years by now. The strawberry in India is a ₹500 crore or US $5 billion industry today. Farmers like Rajesh Patil use AI-powered irrigation and sensors to monitor soil moisture because even berries need tech support.

Roman era – Strawberries symbolised Venus, who is the goddess of love. Hence, strawberries were in great demand there back then. Newlyweds ate them for fertility. By showing piety in consuming strawberries, they were honouring their Roman goddess of love. It was believed to bring good tidings for a new family.

Medieval Europe – Masons carved strawberries into cathedrals as emblems of purity (ironic, given their sneaky anatomy). You can see strawberry symbols in the handiworks of those medieval sculptors. The people from those era were big fans of strawberry.

A medieval cathedral named Chartres Cathedral

Farming fiascos due to climate change

These incredible power fruits have become victims of climate change as they sailed into our modern times. Rising temperatures are roasting strawberries all over the world unfortunately. The heat is intolerable for these precious fruits because they aren’t evolved for it. Californian farmers now use UV-blocking nets, dubbed as ‘Berry sunglasses’ while in the state of Kerala (India), growers battle monsoons with the Israeli drip tech. That method is supposed to combat erratic rain patterns in the Western Ghat regions of India. But climate change still has the upper hand over technology. Yields have dropped by atleast 12% in India since the year 2020.

“Strawberries hate wet feet!”

…explains a farmer named Anjali Nair from Kerala.

India's Western Ghats

California (USA) has it’s own heat crisis in the recent years. The 2022 year’s heatwaves in California had destroyed 20% of the overall strawberry crops. Then again in the next year of 2023, heatwaves shrivelled 15% of these crops. Strawberry farmers are struggling direly from the effects of climate change in California. Farmer Joe Ramirez quipped…

“We’re growing raisin prototypes”.

CRISPR to the rescue

Over time, science has come up with some ingenious resolve to sustain the berry through climate change. Scientists managed to tweak the genes of strawberries and create heat-resistant ‘Ever Red’ strawberries (UC Davis) and droughtproof ‘Thar Berries’ in Rajasthan, India. One farmer joked…

“These berries survive better than my WiFi”.

In the year 2023, according to UC Davis, these ‘Ever Red’ strawberries are engineered to survive 40°C – 45°C heat using the Fa-SGR gene. India’s ‘Thar Berries’ are drought-resistant hybrids and is thriving properly in the deserts of Rajasthan. Despite the tremendous desert heat, these gene-modified strawberries are getting cultivated without any problems so far.

Controversies rose immediately after the news of gene editing in farming strawberries came out. Activists decry CRISPR strawberries as ‘Frankenberries’ in reference to the zombie monster Frankenstein. Activists decry GMOs. An Indian farmer named Ravi Mehta argues in favour of CRISPR by asking…

“Would you prefer gobbling sand, starving or eating a lab-tweaked berry?”

Tales from the fields – Grower diaries

Watsonville’s Counting Contest – In California’s famous Watsonville district, a third-generation grower Linda Turner once amused visitors by staging a ‘Guess the Achenes’ contest at her farm. You had to guess how many Achenes did a strawberry shown to you at the contest had. Participants can get to not only learn about strawberries but also win prizes for correct answers and near-misses. The contest was complete with an inflatable strawberry prize. The guesses ranged from 50 to 400 per berry. Her point? No two berries carry the same number of Achenes and that variability is part of the fruit’s rustic charm. The contest was about proving that all strawberries are different from each other.

Pic credit - The Pajaronian

Mahabaleshwar’s monsoon miracle – High in India’s Western Ghats, family-run farms and Mahabaleshwar farmers grapple with erratic monsoons. Once upon a time, the region had a fine climate pattern which has gone for a toss by today. In the Mahabaleshwar hills, a farmer named Radha Deshpande turned failed crops into record yields after experts explained how Achene health influences plant resilience. Being a veteran grower, she recalls how a visit from agricultural scientists explaining the Achenes’ role in plant resilience, prompted changes in irrigation and organic pest control. She revamped her entire farming routines especially with respect to pest-control and watering. Because of this complete overhaul, it helped her in transforming the failing crops and other potential crop collapse into bountiful harvest. Today, her produces are much better than ever before. It resulted in sparking community training sessions and new organic methods of strawberry agriculture.

A street vendor of strawberries in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra (India)

Expert insight from North Carolina State (USA) – Dr Christopher Gunter, a horticultural scientist at NC State, clarifies that strawberries “don’t keep their seeds outside their fruit” — those Achenes are fruits themselves with each springing from a flower’s ovary. This botanical nuance has firmed up extension workshops across the United States. Dr. Christopher Gunter says…

“Those seedlike dots are fruits and the red part is a swollen stem”.

It helps in reminding us how that everyday wonders can hide in plain sight. Unless scientists had discovered what a strawberry really was, we would still be calling it a fruit and the Achenes as seeds.

Dr. Christopher Gunter | Pic credit - UF/IFAS

Historical insights – Long before modern science, indigenous Californians used controlled burns to enrich soil for wild strawberries. Yes, it actually would work. They developed an understanding that such disturbance spurred vigorous new growth. The technique has since been passed down through the generations. It remains a practice echoed even today in regenerative farming across California.

Climate drama, diseases, pests, trials, tribulations and triumphs in cultivation

Strawberries are famously fickle – Grey mould, red stele disease and the relentless two-spotted spider mite, test growers’ mettle while breeding or growing strawberries. They are nuisance for the farmers which keeps bothering their cultivation work. Then, in India, unseasonal rains can shred blossoms while Californian in the US fields, bake under rising heat. Both weather conditions are detrimental for the proper growth of strawberries. Farmers combat these threats with integrated pest management, protective tunnels and raised beds. They seem to successfully tackle the menacing issues to some extent.

A group of strawberries that fell victim to infections after the harvest

Harnessing hormones – Ethylene has a surprising role in ripening the strawberries. It seems to play a vital role in the whole process actually. Long deemed non-climacteric, strawberries were thought to ripen independently of ethylene. But it turns out to not be so. A 2024 Phys.org report shows that removing Achenes boosts ethylene output in the receptacle by nearly fourfold and hence pointing to a nuanced organ-specific ripening mechanism. It was a breakthrough study in farming strawberries in the year 2024. This breakthrough could reshape harvest timing and storage methods. It could further improve processes and help farmers navigate better through the harsh effects of climate change.

🤔 Crunchy controversies

Science v/s superfood – Strawberries are often crowned as ‘superfoods’ yet critics warn that celebrity hype can outweigh solid evidence. It was always a battle between marketing and science. While celebrities hype strawberries as cure-alls, nutritionists caution that balance and not such buzzwords, makes a diet healthy. Influencers also often crow about strawberries as miracle foods yet nutritionists continue to stress that no single fruit can alone substitute for a balanced diet. As antioxidant studies are promising, not one single fruit in the world is a panacea. So, do not replace actual science with heresy from social media and movie stars.

Conventional v/s organic – Debate rages over pesticide residues and yield security. It is one way or the other. Indian smallholders increasingly adopt organic and polyculture methods to curb pesticide use while Californian megafarms rely on precision fungicide programmes. Many Indian growers across the country have integrated organic systems claiming to have quality yields. Largescale Californian farms, on the other hand, rely on precise deterrent use for better yields. Indian farmers even push organic methods to limit residues on strawberries which could potentially make it up into the food chain. However, their large Californian counterparts conduct operations relying on targeted fungicides wanting to do away with the work of pests and weeds. Each style comes with it’s own different trade-offs. Both of them, nevertheless, involves wrestling with cost, environmental impact and yield. You have to compromise for one over the other because wanting both is impossible. Both are productive and both have their cons. Each one would make you feel that the grass is greener on the other side as well as this side.

A farmer in California displaying samples of the yield | Pic credit - California Strawberries

Why botanists ruin parties – They are ruining the party with the “Not a berry!” controversy. The friction is over vocabulary. Since it is a flower but the public have already labelled strawberries as a fruit, botanists have a problem with convincing their interlocutors (so to say) otherwise. They are the ‘Not a berry brigade’. True berries like bananas, blueberries, tomatoes etc have internal seeds. It is what makes them a whole fruit. Strawberries? Not so. Imposters. They are just a flower and their fruit is tinier than the flower which goes against the stereotype. Botanist Aaron Liston sighs…

“Calling strawberries as berries is like calling tea a salad or a penguin a pilot”.

Another Botanist Dr. Liam Cole also voiced the similar sentiment by saying…

“Strawberries are the fake news of the fruit world”.

Calling strawberries as berries misleads shoppers yet marketers exploit the term for shelf appeal. It seems that it is going to be botany versus the world, forever. Well, in my opinion as a nobody, we could go back and forth about the labels but it is best to not overthink about labels and reap the benefit of this flower and it’s fruits.

The great GMO debate – When CRISPR-edited strawberries breached Indian agriculture, activists cried ‘Frankenberries!’ They labelled the use as taboo and urged farmers to follow suit in their narrative. Scientists in India had to wrestle with the traditional mindsets of farmers to make them include this breakthrough method into their strawberry cultivation. It has met with much success though.

Climate change pressures – Shifting weather patterns alter flowering times and pest cycles. Like all exotic plants, strawberries need certain conditions to flourish. Top experts outline 10 key climate-induced challenges to overcome. They keep ranging from erratic rainfall to heat stress. These challenges are hindering effective strawberry cultivation all over the world. They propose adaptive solutions like polytunnels and drought-resistant rootstocks.

The ‘Achene v/s Seed’ feud – Reddit’s r/Botany wars erupted in the year 2024 when user @SeedSleuth posted this…

“ACHENES ARE FRUITS, NOT SEEDS! FIGHT ME!”

It was not the first time on Reddit anyway. Another Reddit’s 2023-year debate peaked when user @SeedGeek ranted that…

“ACHENES ARE FRUITS! WAKE UP, PEOPLE!”

Scientists facepalmed. Everyone else kept eating strawberries. Nothing much came of it.

Wonders and blunders – DIY and kitchen wins (and fails)

Experimenting on food – Food blogger @SpiceQueen tried achene pakoras. She is a female influencer in India. Her feedback on her experiment was…

“Tastes like crunching Gandhi’s sandals”.

Beauty blunders – Indian Influencer @GlowGupta touted achene face scrubs. @GlowGuru did indeed make an achene face scrub. There is no limit to human imaginations. Dermatologist Dr. Kiran Sethi, however, warned against the practice and then said…

“Rubbing fruit guts on your face? Enjoy smelling like a jam jar”.

@GlowGuru’s achene face scrub went viral…as it should, because nobody listens to experts anyway and influencers are their gods. Dermatologists groaned.

Zero-Waste genius – Toast Achenes in a pan for a nutty salad topping. Stick to sprinkling toasted Achenes on salads. Chef Jamie Oliver calls it ‘fancy confetti’. Well, what do you know! Toast for salads (thanks, Jamie Oliver!)

Chef Jamie Oliver offering you a strawberry dish

Smoothie disaster – TikToker @BlendQueen tried an ‘All-achene smoothie’. Verdict…

“Tastes like I chewed a tree!”

Yuck! Smh, the things that people do for clout.

Pop culture and quirky trivia

Bollywood berry love – In a Hindi movie titled ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, the actor Shah Rukh Khan gifted strawberries as a love symbol. The character gifted it as a strawberry fruit. Nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar roasted the scene by saying…

“He should’ve said, ‘Eat the Achenes, beta!’”

There have been many other Indian movies where love for strawberry has popped up. In India, there are movies made in many different languages apart from Bollywood Hindi movies and the strawberry keeps coming up as symbols of love and seduction in them.

Vivipary aka seeds gone wild – Ever seen strawberries with green sprouts? Yes? It is a case of fruits growing into plants right away. They are seeds germinating on the fruit. It is nature’s way of saying “Plant me, you lazy sod!”

A case of vivipary in this strawberry

Starbucks’ epic fail – The company’s 2023-year ‘Achene Frappuccino’ and 2024-year ‘Achene Almond Frappé’ confused millions and almost everyone in the world. I mean, what was it anyway!? Barista Priya Menon from Mumbai recalls the moment with…

“One uncle asked if it cured arthritis. We said yes. Tips doubled”.

Another female Barista from India named Priya K joked…

“We told customers it’s a Harry Potter potion. Sold out in hours!”

Not a true berry – You’ve heard this a lot by now. Strawberry is a flower and not a berry at all. True berries enclose seeds within their flesh. However, strawberries wear their seeds proudly on the outside within it’s actual fruits called Achene.

Octoploid oddity – The garden strawberry boasts 8 sets of chromosomes. It is the nature’s way of keeping things interesting especially to us curious humans.

200+ cultivars – From the tiny alpine varieties to the giant ‘Albion’ and ‘Chandler’, over two hundred cultivars cater to every climate and palate in the world. Hmm, that’s right and so much diversity is truly incredible!

Runner propagation – Commercial farmers prefer runners (clonal offshoots) over Achenes. This keeps ensuring consistent fruit quality and faster field establishment. Runners produce flavour consistency and uniform yields.

Snapshot of strawberry runners | Pic credit - Strawberry Plants

Allergy alert – The Fra A1 protein in ripe strawberries can trigger oral allergy syndrome in some people. However, there is a solution. Pale white cultivars lacking this protein, offer an alternative for such sensitive folks. This cultivar without the protein offers a hypoallergenic option for strawberry consumers and strawberry lovers. They can now safely consume all the strawberries that they had wanted without watching with watering mouths.

Edible flowers – In Japan, strawberry flowers are candied as a festive garnish showcasing culinary creativity. These strawberry flowers are used in pampering consumers as a delicate garnish in high-end patisseries. The Japanese chefs are always doing something beautiful and unique with foods.

Pic credit - Kyodo News

Indigenous innovations – Early Californian tribes used to regularly hold strawberry festivals and use small fires to stimulate berry growth. They had improvised upon nature’s own agricultural hack. To their credit, they have managed to pass it down to younger generations who still use it to this day.

Fun fact – Botanist Dr. Priya Sharma (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) from India jokes…

“If strawberries were a Tinder date, the receptacle would be the photoshopped pic. The Achenes? The actual personality”.

Real-life drama – In the year 2024, a TikToker with the tag @BerryDetective went viral for dissecting a strawberry under a microscope. It offered the TikToker’s viewers with unique perspective on strawberries. Commenters gasped with reactions such as…

“All this time, I’ve been ignoring the VIPs?!”

Pollens of strawberries visible only under a scope

Life-changing story – In the year 2024, UK blogger Sarah Jones credited Achenes for her ‘strawberry glow-up’. She claimed to have benefitted with better digestion and clearer skin after blending whole strawberries into smoothies. Could it be a hoax or could it be true? I really do not know. But given how many power resources that Achenes pack, I feel that it might be true.

Japan – In the year 2022, a Japanese study found Achenes’ antioxidant levels rival blueberries. Meaning, strawberries are superior to blueberries in regard to antioxidants. Suddenly, your smoothie just got an upgrade. Have strawberry smoothies.

The road ahead

Epigenetics of ripening – New studies on histone modifications in Fragaria vesca promise to unlock the epigenetic switches steering fruit maturation. This will be very useful in the future. Emerging research aims to tweak gene expression in Achenes to enhance stress tolerance without altering DNA sequences. Truly remarkable research!

Metabolomic mapping – Advances in metabolite profiling aim to breed varieties richer in desired flavours and health compounds. They would all be linked to achene-receptacle interactions. Advanced profiling may unlock new cultivars enriched in anthocyanins, intense taste and rare polyphenols. Metabolomic magic will make breeding strawberries possible for maximum benefits.

Precision agriculture – AI-driven sensors and drone monitoring track ethylene levels in fields and the ripeness of Achenes. Such technologies are helping growers harvest at peak Achene maturity for optimal nutrition and taste. AI sensors may soon gauge Achenes’ maturity in real time which in turn, will help farmers harvest the cultivars at peak flavour.

Supply chain saviours – Blockchain and cold chain tweaks aim to cut waste and deliver fresher strawberries worldwide. This would make trade even more effective and efficient than ever before. Such innovations are essential urgently in the strawberry supply chain. Yes, Blockchain traceability and improved cold chains promise fresher berries with less waste.

Why Achenes matter

Achenes are more than just seeds. They are warriors in the timeline of evolution. They are survivors. What haven’t they survived throughout centuries! They have weathered climate shifts, farming wars and TikTok trends. The uniqueness of having tiny seeds and that too on the skin has taken them to faraway lands. They are the reason strawberries thrive from California to Kerala. Today, you can get a strawberry anywhere in the world. Of course, I won’t discount human intervention in it too, heheh!

The final nibble

Next time you bite a strawberry, remember…you are tasting centuries worth saga of botanical audacity, drama, science, spies and sneaky seeds. Yeah, whether in a smoothie, sundae or as a simple snack, you are biting into a cluster of hundreds of tiny fruits called Achenes. From their complex anatomy and nutritional heft to the trials and triumphs of global growers, strawberries embody a world where culture, science and simple delight converge. Celebrate every crunchy nibble and share the story of the strawberry’s secret fruits.

These micro marvels remind us that nature’s finest details often lie in the smallest packages. Achenes may be tiny but they are the VIPs of this scarlet drama. Share these secrets, savour every crunchy nibble and let the humble strawberry’s story sweeten your next snack! Now, if you will excuse me, I’m off to trademark ‘Achene Chai’ — Starbucks won’t know what hit ’em. #RespectTheAchene