Fruit Facts

Posts Tagged ‘simple fruits’

Located in Philips Park in Clayton, the orchard boasts 26 trees offering twelve different varieties of apple as well as pears, plums and cherries. Situated on the allotment site, the community facility also has bushes and plants including rhubarb, grapes, strawberries , raspberries and a variety of other berries.

The orchard is in an enclosed site, and opening times will vary depending on the time of year. These will be displayed on a notice board outside the space together with details of any planned activities and events taking place on the site.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Be ready to pay out more at the grocery store for your fruits and vegetables this fall.

A perfect gale has gathered in the Northwest to create higher costs for produce and higher prices for all of us.

Our booming economy is partially to blame for the higher prices you’ll pay out for apples, corn and other fresh produce this year.

Perhaps the largest element of that “perfect storm” is short of workers to pick our crops — a condition that might change the face of Washington produce forever.

Popularity: 1% [?]

NEW YORK – The U.S. government has recently bumped up its recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption, and a recent study suggests it’s extremely likely Americans aren’t keeping up.

The United States Department of Agriculture had long suggested that everybody to get at least five servings of fruits and veggies daily, but adjusted that requirement to 2 to 6-1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables daily in its new MyPyramid food guide, Dr. Patricia Guenther of the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion and colleagues note.

The guidelines state recommended eating by age and sex, and spell out the variety of vegetables people should eat.

To investigate how many people were meeting the new standards — and the old ones — Guenther and her team looked at single-day food eating data for 8,070 people participating in the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Popularity: 2% [?]

NEW DELHI: Mango lovers in the national capital, assists by cool winds and rains to add to their joy, were in for a unique treat on Sunday as they got an chance to savor more than 550 varieties of the “king of fruits” put on show during a two-day festival here.

“The two-day 18th Annual Mango Festival that concluded Sunday at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium drew over 30,000 visitors and provided a package of interaction, education and entertainment to celebrate the mango,” said Suman Sharma, chief manager (events) of Delhi Tourism.

“More than 50 mango growers from across the country, mainly from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Delhi, were given an interactive platform to present the “king of fruits,” Sharma said.

“The visitors, who normally think mango has just five or six varieties, were educated through quizzes and competitions about the huge variety of the fruit grown and innumerable possibilities of using mango in cuisine. They also enjoyed colorful entertainment programmers’ of music and dance.”

Sharma said the festival was intended at providing experience to the domestic mango industry and exporters.

“It is an informal and international platform with a two-fold approach, to promote tourism as well as mango export.”

The varieties of mango on exhibit included Alphonso, Totapari, Mallika, Rataul, Himsagar, Amrapali, Mumbai Green, Kesar, Fazli and Banganpalli. There were also mangoes with camouflaging looks of other fruits like banana, guava and watermelon, but having the inherent taste of a mango.

Popularity: 4% [?]

According to an article published in the International Journal of Cancer, lofty intake of fruits and vegetables might drastically decrease the risk of rising non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that begins in the cells of the lymph system that carries the spleen, thymus, tonsils, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and also circulating immune cells. Lymphocytes are the chief cells in the lymph system and live in two forms: B- and T-cells. Each of these cells serves a precise function in aiding the body fight infection.

In NHL an extreme amount of atypical (cancerous) lymphocytes build up in the lymph system. These lymphocytes could crowd and hold back the formation and function of other immune and blood cells.

1 Individuals who consumed the maximum amounts of fruits, vegetables, and/or eggs had a 50% reduced risk of developing NHL contrast to those who ate the fewest amounts of these foods.
2 Individuals who consumed the maximum amounts of cheese, pasta, or rice had a considerably increased risk of developing NHL compared to those who ate the lowest amounts of these foods.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Many fruits have a high level of water. This water content would make the fruit very hot when grilling. If you do not allow the fruit to cool somewhat after removing it from the grill, the fruit might cause serious burns to the mouth.

Here are some tips for grilling fruit:

• Fruits are best grilled when the coals have begun to die out or when placed on the outer limits of the grate, using more of an indirect type of heat.

• If insertion fruit directly on the grill rack cut the fruit into piece that are large sufficient so they do not fall through the grates.

• Fruits could be grilled with skins on. Softer fruits benefit from leaving their skins on, in that it assists preserve their shape and holds them together as they are being grilled.

• Brushing fruit with melted butter or preferred oil during grilling will help to keep the fruit from sticking to the grill grate. Spraying a nonstick cookery spray on the grate before heating grill also keeps foods from sticking.

• To enhance the flavor of the fruit, try combing cut fruits with melted butter and sprinkling with sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar or lemon juice as grilling. Sugar tends to burn so it is best to apply it to the end of cooking time.

Crack open a fresh coconut for an unforeseen great grill taste. Slice the coconut into wedges and lay the pieces white side down on the grill over little coals. Grill until calmly browned. Dip the grilled coconut in melted chocolate and enjoy!

Popularity: 4% [?]

A sign in front of the Lopez Ranch fruit place, famous for its juicy cherries and peaches, reads “Sold Out.”

No one answers the phone at Sharp Ranch off Hoffman Lane, which is classically buzzing with fruit-picking customers this time of year. A programmed telephone message states, “We had a strange year with all the rain and we’re not certain about the cherries yet. Call back in two weeks.”

Memorial Day weekend, naturally the busy U-Pick season opener in Far East Contra Costa County came with a whimper, not a bang. The fruit just isn’t mature yet or is too sparse. For months, farmers have been forecasting a late season this time around.

They blame the schizophrenic winter, with its unusually warm days that deception fruit into blossoming early, only to drown those same blossoms afterward on with too much rain. Also, there weren’t enough “chill hours” throughout the January and February, which are required so fruit could hibernate. And the frosts that did approach came at the wrong times.

It’s too early to know the degree of scratch to the fruit economy, but farmers, being farmers, stay optimistic.

“We’re opening one ranch Saturday, but the other won’t open until June 10,” said Del Chiaro, who owns Seko Ranch and D.C.’s strange Cherries. “Usually Memorial Day Weekend is the big push, but we missed that.

“Hopefully people would know we’re open now.”

He said the good news is the season would still happen; it will just be a little late. Crops are spotty, but the fruit, which did make it through looks good.

“It’s a nice crop, really,” Del Chiaro said. “It’s just a matter of when it would be ready.”

Most U-Pick farms are opening in mid- to late June instead of the usual May — especially those selling peaches and nectarines that are particularly late bloomers this year.

Popularity: 2% [?]

What is it about the summer months that stir up a spirited streak in the otherwise mild-mannered food geek? Sure, the farmers markets run over with heirloom tomatoes and just-picked stone fruit, but there’s amazing about the more obscure produce that unleashes our inner Iron Chef. So read along and dazzle your foodie friends with esoteric information about corn fungus tacos and candied Buddha’s hand.

FRUITS

Buddha’s hand

Strange facts If the 5,000 fingers of Dr. T were crossed with a chiefly bumpy lemon, it would almost certainly look like this semitropical citrus fruit. The mutant variety of the citron is a favorite in Asia, and fable says that it was carried from India to China by monks for whom the alien-looking fruit was a sign of health and happiness. The mad scientists at new Alameda tiki bar Forbidden Island are bringing inner calm to bar goers everywhere with their drink Buddha’s Palm, a riff on the Arnold Palmer that include Hangar One’s citron Buddha’s hand vodka.

Prep tips since the inside of the Buddha’s hand is nearly all pith and has small fruit, it is most prized for its peel, which can be candied or tested. Throw candied zest into approximately any custard-based dessert, from panna cotta to homemade ice cream, for a surprising and agreeable textural and flavor contrast. Chef Mourad Lahlou from Aziza sprinkles Buddha’s hand zest on his slow-cooked taglines’. Lazy cooks could just put the exotic-looking fruit on the counter or hang it in the closet for a natural air freshener. Trust us, everyone would be asking about that new scent you’re wearing!

Fresh finds when shopping for this fragile fruit, take note of vibrant, firm specimens with glossy peels. Also, check every crevice cautiously for signs of mold or softness. Hamada Farms sells Buddha’s hand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, and it’s also obtainable at Rainbow Grocery and Berkeley Bowl.

Popularity: 6% [?]

When it is a matter of beating breast cancer, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found women who eat less fat and more fiber from fruits and vegetables could lower cancer risk at least 9%. A separate study of fruit and vegetable intake in both smokers and even non-smokers by researchers at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center had similar results for lung cancer. Nutrition researcher Debra Kummels said it is likely all of us could benefit from just meeting the recommended minimum nutritional guidelines. “Get your 5 a day if you’re a child, 7 a day if you’re a woman, and 9 a day if you’re a man.” with 9 Servings? That is a lot, so let’s take a second and show you what that really looks like:

A typical salad might give you both of those servings, but that means you’d still need to add at least one orange, a cup of raw broccoli, 20 grapes, a whole artichoke, 1/2 cup of cranberry juice, several large asparagus spears and two handfuls of berries (especially blueberries). “They (blueberries) have the highest anti-oxidants of any fruit,” Debra said.

Antioxidants and photochemical are the natural cancer fighting compounds in these foods that is why it is recommended that you don’t just get 5-9 each day, but also 4 different colors. Dietitians recognize the minimum amount of fruits and vegetables people should get every day could be hard for many people. They say fruit juice is just another way to meet the goals and a large apple could count as two servings.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The aple is a tree and its pomaceous fruit, of the species Malus domestica in the rose family Rosaceae. It is oe of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. It is a small decduous tree reahing 5-12 m tall, with a broad, often densely twiggy crow. The leave are alternately arranged, simple oal with an acute tip and serrted margin, slightly downy below, 5-12 cm long and 3-6 cm broad on a 2-5 cm petiole. The flowers are produced in spring with the leaves, white, usually tinged pink at first, 2.5-3.5 cm diametr, with five petals. The fruit matures in Autumn, and is typically 5-8 cm diameter.

Commercially-popular apple cultivars are soft but crisp. Other desired qualities in modern commercial apple breeding are a colourful skin, absence of russeting, ease of shipping, lengthy storage abiliy, high yields, disease the top of the fruit), and popular flavour.Old cultivars are often oddly shaped, sseted, and have a variety of textures and colours. Many of them have excellent flavour (oten betterthan most moern cultivars), but may have other problems which make them commercially unviable, such as low yield, liability to disease, or poor tolerance for storage or transport. A few old cultivars are still produced on a large scale, but many have been kept alive by home gardeners and farmers that sell directly to local markets. Many unusual and locally important cultivars with their own unique taste and appearance are out there to discover; apple conservation campaigns have sprung up around the world to preserve such local cultivars from exnt to eat fresh, but they give the beverage a rich flavour that dessert apples cannot.

Modern apples are, as a rule, sweeter than older cultivars. Most North Americans and Europeans favour sweet, subacid apples, but tart apples have a strong minority following. Extremely sweet appples vary from one person to another and have changed over time. As an example, the U.S. state of Washington made its reputation for apple growing on Red Delicious. In recent years, many apple connoisseurs have come to regard the Red Delicious as inferior to cultivars such as Fuji and Gala due to its merely mild flavour and insufficiently firm texture.

In this hybrid of an orchard apple with a red-fruited crabapple cultivar, the pulp is of the same colour as the pee.which are same colour as the rest of the fruit.Like most perennial fruits, apples are ordinarilypropagated asexually by grafting. Seedling apples are different from their paents, sometimes radically. Most new pple cultivars originate as seedlings, which either arise by chance or are bred by “pippin”, and “kernel” in the name of an apple cultivar suggest that it originated as a seedling. Apples can also form barent cultivar. Some differ sufficiently from the parent tree to be considered new cultivars.

Apple orchards are established by planting two to four year old trees. Thee small trees are usually purchased from a nursery where they are produced by grafting or budding. First, a rootstock is produced either as a seedling or cloned using tissue culture or layering. This is allowed to grow for a year. Then, a small section of branch called a scion is obtained from a mature apple tree of the desired cultivar. The upper stem and branches of semi-dwarf ootstock that produces a somewhat smaller tree. Dwarfootstocks are generally more susceptible to damage from wind and cold. Full dwarf trees are often supported of posts or trellises and planted in high density orchards which are much simpler to culture and greatly increase productivity per unit of land. Red AppleSome trees are produced with a dwarfing “interstem” between a standard rootstock and the tree, resulting in two graftsin thorchard, it must grow for 3-5 years (semi-dwarf) or 4-10 years (standard trees) before it will bear sizeable amounts of fruit. Good training of limbs and careful nipping of buds growing in the wrong places, are extremely important during this time, to build a good scaffold that will later support a fruit load.

Popularity: 3% [?]