The truth about the white dots on strawberries has left many people surprised when learning about this familiar fruit.
What are the white dots on strawberries?
Many people mistakenly believe that the small white or brownish specks on strawberries are seeds.
However, they are actually tiny fruits called achenes, and each achene contains a single seed inside.
On average, a strawberry has about 200 achenes, contributing to its high fiber content.
These achenes develop when a strawberry flower is pollinated, and the fertilized ovaries grow into small dry fruits, rather than actual seeds as most people assume.
Is a strawberry a real fruit?
Although the name contains “berry,” strawberries are not true berries according to botanical classification.
True berries, like blueberries or grapes, develop from a single ovary and have seeds embedded inside their flesh.
In contrast, strawberries form from an enlarged receptacle—the part of the plant that connects the flower to the stem.
The small achenes on the surface are the actual fruits. Because of this, botanists classify strawberries as “false fruits.”
The “Mind-Blowing” truth that shocked the internet
A recent Reddit post revealing the truth about strawberries left many users astonished. Some of the top reactions included:
- “I’m actually mind-blown by this!”
- “Have I been lied to my whole life?”
- “Wait, they even have tiny stems on them!”
This surprising fact has completely changed how people perceive strawberries—one of the most beloved fruits worldwide.
How do strawberries reproduce?
Unlike many other plants, strawberries do not rely on seeds to reproduce.
If they cannot spread their seeds, its can propagate through runners—horizontal stems that extend from the parent plant and develop roots to create a new plant.
This unique reproduction method allows strawberries to spread easily without waiting for seeds to germinate.
Controversy over strawberry picking at farms
Despite their popularity, the strawberry industry has faced some challenges.
In the summer of 2024, The Vale Pick Your Own farm in Wales stirred controversy by accusing customers of eating strawberries directly from the fields before paying.
The farm compared this behavior to “shoplifting in a store” and warned that anyone caught snacking on the fruit before checkout would be asked to leave.
Challenges facing the strawberry industry
Although strawberry sales in the UK reached a record £847.5 million in the past year, growers are struggling.
Reports indicate that four in ten British berry farmers could be at risk of going out of business by 2026 due to rising costs and pressure from supermarket pricing.