Strawberry Recipe App Expanded Just in Time for Valentine's Day

Gilroy locals know that delicious Uesugi strawberries are only a few minutes away on Highway 25. But after bringing home a box or two from the roadside stand, what's next?

A new mobile app featuring 100 strawberry recipes and nutrition tips launched this week, so Android phone users can whip up a delicious Valentine's Day meal for a sweetheart.

Try pork tenderloin with strawberry mango salsa and chocolate ganache tart with strawberries and meringue.

The Watsonville-based California Strawberry Commission released the Android version of "Strawberries" on Wednesday. The app had only been available for iPhone and iPad users—it launched a year ago, and  The app became popular when Apple named it a staff favorite on iTunes and now has more than 52,000 downloads, according to Jodi Reinman of the strawberry commission.

“We are making a really big effort to communicate directly with consumers," she said.

The free app tries to showcase strawberries as a versatile fruit by providing kid-friendly recipes as well as sweet and savory dishes.

“Now you can just call it up on your phone, and you have the ingredient list in your hand," Reinman said. "It’s a really convenient tool.”

The app also includes nutrition information gathered from dietitians.

“Strawberries are a delicious superfruit that supply essential nutrients to help keep families healthy,” Dave Grotto, registered dietitian and author of 101 Optimal Life Foods, said in a prepared statement released by the California Strawberry Commission. “This strawberry recipe app is a simple way to inspire new and healthy dishes for the whole family to enjoy year round.”

Some app features include:

• More than 100 recipes, categorized by dish type.
• Dozens of “kid-friendly” recipes.
• Shopping lists at user's fingertips.
• Bonus tips from acclaimed dietitians.
• Ability to easily share recipes and tips.
• Links to top food bloggers.
• Complete recipes and dish photos.

The release of the Android app just before Valentine's Day was planned.

“We're glad to be able to launch it around this time, because there’s a lot of people looking for romantic recipes for Valentine’s Day," Reinman said.

Strawberry lovers also participated in a California Strawberry Commission-sponsored recipe contest on Facebook earlier this month. Tuesday night, commission members tried out some of the recipes, and the winner will be announced Friday.