Archaeology of Fregetables (Fruit & Veg)

WHAT IS A STRAWBERRY? Ironically this weed of the fruit kingdom is not technically a berry.  But avocados are, go figure.  The current strawberry varietal most popular today was bred in the 1700s in France.  This garden version is the hybrid product of a North American and Chilean strawberry.  It can grow up to 2 […]

WHAT IS A BELL PEPPER? This fruit, also called capsicum, is a member of the nightshade family. They come in a rainbow of colors including red, yellow, orange and even chocolate brown.  In general with fruits and vegetables, green is a sign of youth.  And with many bell pepper varietals (not all), as it ages […]

WHAT IS A BUTTERNUT SQUASH? Also known as a butternut pumpkin or gramma, this tan squash grows on a vine.  Technically a fruit, as it ripens the skin turns orange in color and the butternut can weigh up to 5 pounds.   A Native American original, the name squash is from the Massachusetts’ Narragansett word […]

WHAT IS A ROMA TOMATO? This plum shaped fruit, like all tomatoes, is a member of the berry family.  Named after Italy’s capital, this egg shaped ambassador is grown in throughout the world.  Roma’s are often used in the production of tomato paste and canned tomatoes.  Compared to their cousins Roma’s have a lower seed […]

WHAT IS HARICOT VERT? These French green beans are more slender then the classic ones sold in the States.  Averaging around 4 inches length, they are shorter and straighter then traditional green beans.  But while they are smaller in size, haricot vert are more tender and flavorful (and expensive) as well.  The fiber or string […]

WHAT IS A KALAMANSI? This citrus fruit is also called a calamansi, calamondin or Philippine lime.  It is thought to be the Asian offspring of a mandarin orange and a kumquat.  They are small, usually only growing to 1 to 2 inches in diamter (25 to 45 mm).  Initially green, the fruit turns a yellow […]

WHAT IS A DRIED TOMATO? The art of removing water from a tomato dates back to the dawn of time.  Lowering the moisture content of foods is a great way to extend their shelf life.  While cherry tomatoes are the most popular, any varietal can be used.  In general they are either sold in slices […]

WHAT IS A PINEAPPLE? This tropical fruit is actually a mass of berry flowers that have fused together around the central stalk.  That is why the outer skin is segmented.  It takes 3 years for a pineapple to fully mature.  European explorers named them due to having an appearance similar to their native pine cones […]

WHAT IS AN APRICOT? This stone fruit was born in China and then traveled the world with various colonizing powers.  Alexander the Great introduced it to the Greeks.  Settlers from England brought this plant with them when colonizing the East Coast of the States.  On the West Coast it was introduced in the early 1700s […]

WHAT IS A GREEN APPLE? While Granny Smiths are always green apples, not all green apples are always Grannies.  There are several other varieties like Crispins and Pippins that also have emerald skins.  However most of the time, what you’re seeing in your local store are Granny Smith apples.  Other types of apples come in colors ranging […]

WHAT IS A BANANA? This tropical fruit is technically a berry.  However some people consider bananas to be an herb.  That is because these seeds are the product of a plant, not a tree.  But as plants go this one can grow up to 50 feet (15 meters) in height.  There are over a 1,000 […]

WHAT IS A CHERRY? They are small, round stone fruits that range in color from yellow to red to black. Available in both a sweet and sour variety, in order for this tree to flower it needs a minimum of 800 hours of “winter” (temperatures under 45 Farenheit / 7 Celsius).  And these trees can […]

WHAT IS A RED ONION? Onion bulbs in general are basically the underground base of the plant stem.  As daylight hours lengthen (past 6), the plant stops making leaves and starts devoting resources to the bulb which swells.   These red violet vegetables in particular are the mildest and sweetest of the onion family.  This […]

WHAT IS AN EGGPLANT? Even though most people call it a vegetable, eggplants are actually a berry fruit.  These dark purple oblongs, like their nightshade cousin the tomato, grow on the vine.  With a thick skin and pale, sponge-like flesh, eggplants look ominous but are actually quite healthy.  The first plants, in their quest for global […]

WHAT IS A WHITE ONION? The most innocent looking of the Allium cepa family, these baseball size bulbs have thinner skins and are more fragile then their pungent cousins.  Vidalias in particular are one of the more popular varieties.  Whites in general are considered to be “sweet” due to their higher sugar content.  And thinly […]

WHAT IS ICEBERG LETTUCE? Perhaps the least respected of the lettuce family, this steakhouse salad staple is one of the less perishable leafy greens.  A member of the daisy family, they can grow up to 1 foot in diameter in about 3 months.  Also known as crisphead lettuce, it has a crunchy mouthfeel unique among […]

WHAT IS ROMAINE LETTUCE? This member of the lettuce family grows in a taller, thinner style versus the tubby ball shapes of iceberg or cabbage.  It is a much more heat tolerant plant allowing it easily spread to different climates.  Originally an Italian delicacy, Romaine was introduced to Western Europe via its namesake Rome.  However […]

WHAT IS A HONEYDEW? This fruit, also known as a honey, musk or White Antibe melon, is a descendant of the gourd family.   It’s oval in shape, grows up to about half a foot (20 cm) in length and can weigh up to 6 pounds (2.7 kg).   While originally from West Africa, Christopher Columbus introduced […]

WHAT IS A ZUCCHINI? This green squash, while technically a fruit, is treated as a savory vegetable.  The name comes from either the Italian word “zucchino” (undeveloped marrow) or an abbreviation of the word for squash.  It’s been cultivated in Central America and Mexico for over 7,000 years.  This means that eating zucchini pre-dates the […]

WHAT IS A CARROT? This root vegetable is a taper that comes in a variety of colors (red, white, blue, purple), but is most often orange.  Carrots take 3 to 4 months to reach their full size.  They grow best when planted next to companion plants that are fragrant like onions and leeks.  Popular in […]