Fruit Fruit Plants seed envelope Some seeds can

Fruit!

Fruit • Plant’s seed envelope – Some seeds can be eaten, some not. • Flavor – Intensifies with age (ripeness) – Not all fruits are sweet • Avocados • Peaches

Fruit type • Determined by seeds

Drupes • One large pit or seed • Grow on trees • Skin can be eaten

Pomes • Core contains the seeds. • Skin can be eaten.

Citrus • Grown on trees • Tough, leathery skin. • Skin can be but is usually not eaten. • Segments that are filled with juicy pellets.

Berries • Small and juicy. • Tiny seeds • Can be on bushes, trees or vines.

Melons • Large • Grown on vines • Hollow – Exception: Watermelon – When ripe-sound hollow

Tropical • Grown in warm, sunny climates. • Some must be pared, some skin can be eaten. • Most grow on trees

Buying and Storing • Canned/Jarred – Whole, sliced or pieces – Juice, syrup (light, heavy, extra heavy) • Light-very nutritious – Least expensive-comparatively • Depends on size, brand, packing liquid

Buying and Storing • Frozen – Sweetened or unsweetened • Unsweetened-very nutritous – Whole or pieces – Usually berries

Buying and Storing • Dried – Most common: raisins, prunes, dates, etc. – Large fruit cost more than small fruit. – Usually sugar added.

Dried • • Plums: Prunes Grapes: Raisins What else? Craisins?

Buying and Storing • Fresh – Also called “produce” – Seasonal • Strawberries: spring • Apples: Fall – Preparation • Wash and eat or peal and eat.

Storing Fresh Fruit • Handle gently • Wash and dry before storing – Except berries • To ripen put in paper bag in a dry, cool place • Debby Meyer Green Bags

What’s in fruit? • • • Vitamin C Vitamin A Low fat-low calorie Fiber Sugars

Interesting fruit foods • Peach mango salsa • Raspberry marinade • What else?

Juice • Bottle: Ready to drink, recyclable • Box: Ready to drink, non recyclable • Concentrate: Mix first – May not have a high percentage • Percentages – 10%, 15%, 25%, 100% – Higher percentage-better for you