Sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb are a match made in pie heaven. National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day, on June 9, celebrates this classic early-summer dessert, when both crops are in season in much of the country. The bright pink filling bubbling through a golden crust is a sign that summer has arrived, and the balance of sweet and sour keeps people coming back for another slice.
History of National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day
Rhubarb has been used for thousands of years, first as a medicine in ancient China. It arrived in Europe through trade routes and became popular as a food in Britain in the 1700s and 1800s, when sugar became more affordable.
Rhubarb came to North America with European settlers. Because its tart stalks were so often baked into pies, it earned the nickname 'pie plant'. Pairing it with strawberries, which ripen around the same time, added natural sweetness and color.
Botanically, rhubarb is a vegetable. However, in 1947, a U.S. customs court in New York ruled that rhubarb should be classified as a fruit for tariff purposes, because it is mainly eaten as one in the United States. Who created National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day is not documented.
Why National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day Matters
Strawberry rhubarb pie celebrates seasonal eating, using fresh produce at its peak. Many home gardeners grow rhubarb because it returns year after year with little care.
It also shows how cooks balance flavors. Tart rhubarb needs sweetness, and strawberries provide it naturally.
Rhubarb comes with an important safety lesson: only the stalks are eaten. The leaves contain oxalic acid and should never be eaten, which is a useful fact for anyone growing or cooking it.
Strawberry rhubarb pie also carries a strong sense of tradition. Many families have recipes passed down from grandparents who grew rhubarb in their backyards, and the pie often appears at early summer gatherings, church suppers and county fairs. Baking one is a way to keep those memories alive.
How to Celebrate National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day
- Bake a pie: make a classic double-crust or lattice-top pie.
- Try a crumble: make an easy strawberry rhubarb crisp.
- Make jam: cook down strawberries and rhubarb with sugar.
- Visit a farmers market: buy fresh rhubarb in season.
- Grow rhubarb: plant a crown in your garden for years of harvests.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, a strawberry rhubarb crisp is an easy dessert to share at a team lunch. In classrooms, students can debate whether rhubarb is a fruit or a vegetable, learn about plant parts, or practice fractions by measuring pie ingredients. At home, families can bake a pie together; children can wash strawberries and help with the lattice top, while adults handle chopping and the hot oven. Remind everyone to discard rhubarb leaves.
Fun Facts About National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day
- Rhubarb is nicknamed the 'pie plant'.
- A 1947 U.S. customs court ruled rhubarb a fruit for tariff purposes.
- Rhubarb leaves are toxic and should not be eaten.
National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day FAQs
When is National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day?
National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day is June 9.
Is rhubarb a fruit or a vegetable?
Botanically a vegetable, but a 1947 U.S. ruling classified it as a fruit for tariffs.
Can you eat rhubarb leaves?
No; the leaves are toxic. Eat only the stalks.
Why add strawberries to rhubarb pie?
They add sweetness and color to balance the tart rhubarb.