Archaeology of Fregetables (Fruit & Veg)

WHAT IS A BLUEBERRY? These blue, black and purple edible fruits are from prostate shrubs that grow up to 13 feet (4 meters) in height.  While they are native to North America, the blueberry didn’t become popular until the 1900s.  Today North America produces over half of all the blueberries in the world.   WHY […]

WHAT IS AN AVOCADO? This member of the berry family is actually a fruit!  It comes in a variety of shapes (pear to round) and colors (green to black).  They can weigh anywhere from a few ounces (few hundred grams) to several pounds (over a kilo).    The avocado’s nickname is the alligator pear due to […]

WHAT IS A COCONUT? These tropical palm tree seeds look like tiny brown balling balls.  They have a white, fleshy interior and coconut juice center.  While it might sound like nature’s version of a bonbon, cracking open these shells is not easy.  The three indentations that naturally form on the shell led Spanish explorers to […]

WHAT IS A YELLOW ONION? These pale golden bulbs are among the most popular in the Allium family.  Usually 2 to 3 inches in diameter, 90% of all the onions grown in the States are yellow onions.  However humans all over the world have been munching on them since before recorded history.  If a recipe […]

WHAT IS CORN? It is perhaps one of the most controversial topics in food as well as a vegetable.  Michael Pollan in the Omnivore’s Dilemma called Americans “processed corn walking.”  While large government subsidies (under every administration liberal or conservative) essentially subsidize applications like high fructose corn syrup or animal feed, corn is not broccoli […]

WHAT IS A CUCUMBER? This member of the gourd family originally came over from India.  There are many varieties but the classic version is a long, oblong shape with green skin.  While many people think of them as a vegetable technically they’re a fruit.  Different varieties are used for pickling, slicing or seedless.  Unfortunately the […]