Slice of Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. Joe Foodie / flickr / 2009 / CC BY 2.0
The 9th of June is Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day.
It celebrates two of summer’s earliest fruits, even though one (rhubarb) is actually a vegetable. There are not many modern desserts that combine fruit and vegetables.
Many people think that mixing rhubarb with strawberries is the perfect combination, and can’t get enough of it. Others say they are sick to death of the combination of strawberries and rhubarb, and would rather just have each on their own.
Rhubarb can make a fantastic pie easily on its own, while strawberries are more problematic in a pie on their own. But, strawberries are sweet, so they can help to cut down on the amount of sweetener needed to make the rhubarb less tart tasting. The strawberries also add a pink colour to the pie filling, in case your rhubarb is a variety that tends to be more green.
Both strawberries and rhubarb are easy to live with plants in the garden, as they are both low-maintenance perennials, and they deliver a high-value crop, to boot.
What do you prefer on the side of your Strawberry Rhubarb Pie: whipped cream, ice cream, or something else?
#StrawberryRhubarbPieDay
See also: Home-Canned Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Filling, Strawberries, Rhubarb, Fruit Pies, Rhubarb Pie Day
History
The earliest print mention that CooksInfo is aware of for a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day dates from 2004 in Wisconsin:
“On a happier note, June 9 is National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day. It’s my feeling that every summer day should be Strawberry Rhubarb Pie With Milk Day.” — Idzerda, Catherine W. Asked and Answered Column. Janesville, Wisconsin: The Janesville Gazette. 5 July 2004. Page B1, col. 1.
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. Kicksonrt66 / flickr / 2006 / CC BY 2.0
Sources
National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day. Sumner, Washington: Rhubarb Pie Capital website. Accessed June 2021 at https://rhubarbpiecapital.com/national-strawberry-rhubarb-pie-day/
National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day. Bismark, North Dakota: KXNET-TV News. 9 June 2021. Accessed June 2021 at https://www.kxnet.com/video/national-day-calendar-national-strawberry-rhubarb-pie-day/
National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day. Bismark, North Dakota: KFYR-TV News. 9 June 2020. Accessed June 2021 at https://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/National-Strawberry-Rhubarb-Pie-Day-571135741.html
Reynard, Christi. It’s National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day. Cape Girardeau, Missouri: KFVS-TV News. 8 June 2015. Accessed June 2021 at https://www.kfvs12.com/story/29265789/its-national-strawberry-rhubarb-pie-day/