Although we can’t say with any confidence that strawberry rhubarb pie is one of the more popular pies in the U.S., it is popular in certain parts of the United States. So popular, in fact, that it has earned its own holiday—a day that falls on June 9th every year and is known as National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day. It seems to be a type of pie that’s especially popular among people who tend to their own gardens—as strawberries and rhubarb are easy garden crops. If you’re a fan of this pie, then you might want to buy or make one on this holiday. And while you’re enjoying this pie, make sure to have a nice cup of milk to go along with it.

Facts About Rhubarb

For people who aren’t familiar with rhubarb, it can seem like a kind of alien vegetable. It’s a perennial vegetable that has either light green or crimson stalks and large ruffled green leaves. Its stalks are the only edible part of the plant, and its leaves contain toxic amounts of oxalic acid. It’s a vegetable that has been used medicinally in the Far East for thousands of years and only began to be used in pies as recently as the 17th century. Although early pies made with this vegetable only contained rhubarb, adding strawberries to the pie has now become commonplace. Below are some other interesting facts about rhubarb that you might want to know.

• The word rhubarb comes from the Latin word “rhabarbarum,” which means the root of the barbarians.
• The darker the rhubarb stalk, the sweeter it will taste.
• Although rhubarb is a member of the buckwheat family and is normally considered a vegetable, it was classified by a New York court in 1947 as a fruit.
• Rhubarb is extremely cold-hardy, so it is difficult to kill once it has been established.
• Some varieties of rhubarb can grow up to 10 feet in a day.
• Some sources say that greenhouse-grown rhubarb is sweeter than those planted in a garden.

Facts About Strawberries

We don’t want to discriminate against strawberries in this holiday guide since they’re a key component in strawberry rhubarb pie, so we decided to list some of the interesting facts we’ve found about strawberries below:

• Strawberries are one of the first fruits to ripen in the spring.
• In California, over 10 million baskets of strawberries are shipped every day.
• In ancient Rome, strawberries were used to treat sore throats, depression, and even fevers.
• Strawberries can be grown from seed or by a runner.

Observing National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day

The best way to observe this holiday is to grab some fresh rhubarb and strawberries and make your own pie. If you’re uncomfortable with making your own strawberry rhubarb pie, then you can always buy one at most bakeries or online. While you’re enjoying a slice of this pie, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalStrawberryRhubarbPieDay on your social media accounts to continue to spread the word about this holiday.