Foods of the Week
The origin of the Blueberry
July 29, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
Blueberries originally grew wild in North America, and in many places they still do. By 1910 there were at least two varieties being cultivated for market. Breeding and selection have made these berries popular, but wild fruit is also marketed. Blueberries are available from early May through August, and the peak month is July. Canada…The origin of the Blueberry
Read more...The origin of the Pineapple
July 22, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
Pineapples were cultivated in the West Indies long before Columbus visited there. But after his voyage to the island of Guadeloupe, it was recorded in Spain that Columbus had “discovered” the fruit. The pineapple is native to tropical America and was known to the Indians as na-na, meaning fragrance, and to the Spanish explorers as…The origin of the Pineapple
Read more...The origin of the Cucumber
July 15, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
The cucumber is said to be native to India, although plant explorers have never been able to discover a wild prototype. Cucumbers have been cultivated for thousands of years, and records indicate that they were used as food in ancient Egypt, and were a popular vegetable with the Greeks and Romans. The cucumber is one…The origin of the Cucumber
Read more...The origins of Lettuce
June 24, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
Lettuce is one of the oldest vegetables and probably originated in India or Central Asia. According to the writings or Herodotus, lettuce was served to the Persian kings as far back as the sixth century BC. It was a popular Roman food at about the beginning of the Christian era, and in the first century…The origins of Lettuce
Read more...The origins of the Pea
May 27, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
Evidence shows that the pea has been around since prehistoric times. Although the pea is of uncertain origin, it is probably native to Central Europe or Central Asia. It is also probable that peas were brought from Greece or Italy by the Aryans 2,000 years before Christ. The green pea is a natural soluble mixture…The origins of the Pea
Read more...The Origins of Kale
May 20, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
Kale, and collard, its close relative, are the oldest known members of the cabbage family. Wild cabbage, which strongly resembles kale in its appearance, is still found growing along the European coasts and in North Africa. Kale is native either to the eastern Mediterranean region or to Asia Minor. It is known that man has…The Origins of Kale
Read more...The origins and value of Okra
May 6, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
Okra is native to tropical Africa, where it has been cultivated for many centuries. It is now widely grown in warm regions. For many years it has held an important place among the garden vegetables of the southern states. The young and tender seed pods of okra are used to give a pleasant flavor and…The origins and value of Okra
Read more...The origins of the Banana
April 29, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
Bananas were cultivated in India 4,000 years ago. In 1482, the Portuguese found the banana on the Guinea coast and carried it with them to the Canary Islands. Spanish priests are credited with having introduced this fruit to tropical America when they arrived as missionaries in the sixteenth century. Now, the banana can be found…The origins of the Banana
Read more...The origins and nutrients of Rhubarb
April 22, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
Rhubarb is a species of plant in the family Polygonaceae. They are herbaceous perennials growing from short, thick rhizomes. They have large leaves that are somewhat triangular, with long fleshy petioles. They have small flowers grouped in large compound leafy greenish-white to rose-red inflorescence. Most commonly, rhubarb's leaf stalks are cooked with sugar and used…The origins and nutrients of Rhubarb
Read more...The History and nutrients of a Turnip
April 8, 2019 - Category: Foods of the Week
The turnip, which belongs to the mustard family, is reported to have come from Russia, Siberia, and the Scandinavian peninsula. It has been used since ancient times. Columella wrote in A.D. 42 that two varieties of turnips were grown in what is now known as France. Pliny refers to five varieties, and stated that the…The History and nutrients of a Turnip
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