Archaeology of Fregetables (Fruit & Veg)

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 […]

WHAT IS BROCCOLI? This infamous member of the cabbage family is a giant bundle of flowers similar to cauliflower in appearance.  Popular in Italy for over 2,000 years, the name comes from the word “broccolo” or “flowering crest.”  When first imported into England in the 1700s it was initially called Italian asparagus.  In general broccoli […]

WHAT IS AN IDAHO POTATO? This tuber is not just an escapee from the Mid-West, it’s also a brilliant marketing campaign.  Basically the Idaho potato is a trademarked Russet potato that’s only grown in Idaho.  While this state grows over 2 dozen other types of potatoes, none of them are named “Idaho.”  Think of Idaho […]

WHAT IS A SWEET POTATO? This tuber favors warmer, tropical climates.  It has been a Central American favorite for over 5,000 years!  While they might be named after potatoes and have similar nutritional benefits, sweet potatoes are not from the same vegetable family.  The main difference between the two is that sweet potatoes have 6 […]

WHAT IS SPINACH? It is an edible, flowering vegetable originally from Asia (most likely Persia).  From there via China it made its way West to Italy and then North America.   Today there are two basic types – Savoy (curly) and Flat (smooth) leaf spinach.  The latter is easier to clean and more popular in […]

WHAT IS A PEACH? This stone fruit has a fuzzy skin and ranges from red to yellow in color.  Originally the peach was cultivated in northwest China (which currently produces over half of the world’s supply).   From there the trees spread to Iran and then the Roman empire where they were called Persian apples.  Today […]

WHAT IS A YAM? So if you look this word up in Google’s online dictionary, it says “a plant that yields a yam.” But if you think you’re already familiar with this edible tuber, think again.  Retail stores often sell sweet potatoes mis-labeled as yams.  The authentic yam is not the same.  It has a […]

WHAT IS ASPARAGUS? These slender, phallic shaped spears are both healthy and delicious.  Originally popular in ancient Greece,  the wild version back thin was darker, thinner and more bitter.  It is a perennial (like the Terminator it comes back year after year) that prefers less acidic soil.  The three most popular types of asparagus consumed […]

WHAT IS A CHERRY TOMATO? A member of the berry family, these mini spheres come in red, green, black and yellow.  Originally cultivated by the Aztecs in the 700s during their unique take on health care (“You don’t feel well?  Here, lie down on this stone couch.  No, no, don’t worry about the blood.  And […]

WHAT IS A LIME? It is a hybrid citrus with a green skin usually 1 to 2 inches (several centimeters).  Born in southern Asia, Arabian traders are thought to have introduced this fruit introduced to Europe around 1,000 A.D.  The trees can grow up to 16 feet in height   WHY ARE LIMES GOOD FOR […]

WHAT IS A BEET? These dark red, circular roots have a thick, brown skin on the outside that provides excellent dirt camouflage.  Cut this tuber in half and you have growth rings like in the trunk of a tree.  These concentric layers of vascular tissue are indicative of the beet’s quality.  More rings means the […]

WHAT IS A PLUM TOMATO? This popular Italian fruit is a member of the berry family.  Red in color, it has a similar oval shape as the stone fruit it’s named after.  Plum tomatoes have less seeds then many other tomato varieties, resulting in more flesh per ounce.  Tomato afficianados refer to this as being […]

WHAT IS A LEMON? It is a hybrid fruit from a flowering species of evergreen trees.  Originally thought to be a blend of oranges and citron from northern India, they were introduced to southern Italy during the Roman Empire.  However this citrus fruit didn’t catch on in popularity for over a 1,000 years in the […]

WHAT IS A GRANNY SMITH APPLE? While this seems like a red blooded American apple, it was actually invented in New South Wales, Australia!  Ms. Maria Ann Smith cultivated it on the side while giving birth to 16 children.  One day she threw out a box of Tasmanian French crab apples that had gone bad.  […]

WHAT IS SWISS CHARD? This Mediterranean vegetable might not look like a beet, but it’s related to both beets and spinach.  It goes by many names including Silverbeet, Seakale, and even Strawberry Spinach.  The vibrant stems and leaves can be eaten.  But while Swiss chard comes in different colors, they all taste the same.  Growing […]