What is the Beagle Brigade?
The USDA's "Beagle Brigade" uses Beagles at US airports to sniff out illegal fruits, meats, and plants in travelers' luggage that could carry pests and diseases.
Is there a festival for monkeys?
The city of Lopburi, Thailand, holds an annual Monkey Buffet Festival where the local macaques are served huge piles of fruit and food.
A surprising fact about bananas and strawberries
Bananas are berries, but strawberries aren't.
What mold produces penicillin?
Penicillin comes from Penicillium mold, the same group of molds you might find growing on old bread or fruit.
Do bananas grow on trees?
Bananas don't grow on trees. The banana plant is technically a giant herb, and its "trunk" is made of tightly packed leaf stalks.
What happened to the Gros Michel banana?
The Gros Michel was the world's main export banana until a fungus called Panama disease wiped out plantations in the 1950s, and the Cavendish replaced it.
Are bananas radioactive?
Bananas are very slightly radioactive because they contain potassium-40, and scientists sometimes jokingly use the "banana equivalent dose" to explain tiny radiation exposures.
What is a bunch of bananas called?
A cluster of bananas is called a "hand," and a single banana is called a "finger."
Why do bananas curve?
Bananas curve because they grow upward toward the sunlight after first hanging down, a process called negative geotropism.
Which country grows the most bananas?
India is the world's largest banana producer, though most of its bananas are eaten at home rather than exported.
Where does the term "banana republic" come from?
The term "banana republic" was coined by writer O. Henry in 1904 to describe a politically unstable country whose economy depended on exports like bananas.
Do wild bananas have seeds?
Wild bananas are full of large, hard seeds, unlike the seedless bananas sold in stores.
What is the most popular fresh fruit in the US?
Bananas are the most popular fresh fruit in the US by amount eaten.
Where did apples originate?
Apples originated in the mountains of Kazakhstan, where wild apple trees still grow, and the city of Almaty's name is linked to the word for apple.
How many varieties of apples are there?
There are about 7,500 varieties of apples grown around the world.
Why do apples float?
Apples float in water because about 25% of their volume is air.
Who was Johnny Appleseed?
Johnny Appleseed was a real man named John Chapman who planted apple nurseries across the American frontier. His apples were mostly used to make cider, not for eating.
Why can't you grow the same apple from its seed?
Apple seeds don't grow into the same variety as their parent, so apple growers use grafting to produce trees of the same type.
Are apple seeds poisonous?
Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which can release cyanide when chewed, but you'd need to eat a huge number of crushed seeds to be harmed.
Who developed the Honeycrisp apple?
The Honeycrisp apple was developed by the University of Minnesota and released in 1991.
Is Isaac Newton's apple tree still alive?
The apple tree said to have inspired Isaac Newton's ideas about gravity still grows at his childhood home, Woolsthorpe Manor, in England.
Was the forbidden fruit an apple?
The Bible never says the forbidden fruit was an apple. The idea may come from a Latin pun, because "malum" means both "apple" and "evil."
How long did it take to develop the Cosmic Crisp apple?
The Cosmic Crisp apple took Washington State University about 20 years to develop and was released in 2019.
Is the orange a natural fruit?
The orange is a hybrid of the pomelo and the mandarin.
Was orange the fruit or the color first?
In English, "orange" was the name of the fruit before it became the name of the color.
Which country grows the most oranges?
Brazil is the world's largest producer of oranges.
Where did navel oranges come from?
All navel oranges are clones from a single mutated tree in Brazil, and one of the original parent trees planted in Riverside, California, in 1873 is still alive.
Can a green orange be ripe?
Oranges grown in the tropics often stay green even when ripe, because they need cool nights to turn orange.
What is the most common juicing orange?
The Valencia orange is the variety most commonly used for orange juice.
What makes blood oranges red?
Blood oranges get their red color from anthocyanins, which develop when the fruit grows with cold nights, like in Sicily.
What is citrus greening?
Citrus greening is a bacterial disease spread by insects that has devastated orange groves in Florida.
Why did people get oranges at Christmas?
Oranges became a traditional Christmas stocking gift because they were once a rare winter treat.
What gives orange peel its smell?
Orange peels get their scent from an oil called limonene.
Are grapes dangerous for dogs?
Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure.
What happens when you microwave a grape?
Cutting a grape almost in half and microwaving it can create a glowing ball of plasma.
Where is the world's oldest known winery?
The world's oldest known winery, about 6,100 years old, was found in the Areni-1 cave in Armenia.
Why was Welch's grape juice created?
Welch's grape juice was created in 1869 as a non-alcoholic alternative to wine for church communion.
How many grape varieties are there?
There are about 10,000 grape varieties in the world.
What saved European vineyards from phylloxera?
A tiny insect called phylloxera destroyed many European vineyards in the 1800s, and grape growers saved them by grafting vines onto American rootstocks.
Why do people in Spain eat 12 grapes on New Year's Eve?
In Spain, people eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve, one for each chime of the clock, for good luck.
What are the most expensive grapes?
Ruby Roman grapes from Japan have sold at auction for more than $10,000 a bunch.
Are cotton candy grapes genetically modified?
Cotton candy grapes aren't genetically modified. They were created through traditional crossbreeding.
What are raisins?
Raisins are dried grapes.
How much of a watermelon is water?
Watermelon is about 92% water.
Where did watermelons come from?
A 2021 study found that the watermelon's closest wild relative is the Kordofan melon from Sudan.
Were watermelon seeds found in King Tut's tomb?
Watermelon seeds were found in King Tutankhamun's tomb.
How are square watermelons made?
Square watermelons are grown in boxes in Japan and are mostly used as decorations.
What is the heaviest watermelon ever grown?
The heaviest watermelon on record weighed about 350 pounds and was grown in Tennessee in 2013.
Are seedless watermelons genetically modified?
Seedless watermelons aren't genetically modified. They're made through crossbreeding.
Is a watermelon a berry?
Botanically speaking, a watermelon is a type of berry.
Can you eat watermelon rind?
Watermelon rind is edible.
Will a watermelon grow in your stomach if you swallow the seeds?
Swallowing watermelon seeds won't make a watermelon grow in your stomach.
Which country grows the most watermelons?
China grows the most watermelons in the world.
Which countries have the mango as their national fruit?
The mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Are mangoes related to poison ivy?
Mangoes are related to cashews and poison ivy, and mango skin contains urushiol.
Which country grows the most mangoes?
India grows the most mangoes in the world.
What was China's mango craze?
In 1968, mangoes gifted by Mao Zedong to factory workers became objects of a mango craze in China.
How long can a mango tree live?
Mango trees can live for hundreds of years.
What is the Alphonso mango?
The Alphonso mango from India is called the "king of mangoes."
Why are Miyazaki mangoes so expensive?
Miyazaki mangoes from Japan can sell for very high prices.
Is mango wood used for ukuleles?
Mango wood is used to make furniture and ukuleles.
Do mangoes ripen after being picked?
Mangoes keep ripening after they're picked.
Why are mango leaves hung over doors in India?
In India, strings of mango leaves are hung over doors during festivals.
Are strawberries berries?
Strawberries aren't true berries.
How was the modern strawberry created?
The modern garden strawberry was created in 1700s France by crossing Chilean and Virginian strawberries.
What plant family do strawberries belong to?
Strawberries belong to the rose family.
Where are most US strawberries grown?
California grows about 90% of the strawberries in the US.
Why are strawberries and cream served at Wimbledon?
Strawberries and cream are a classic Wimbledon tradition.
Where is the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World?
Plant City, Florida, calls itself the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.
Why are strawberries on the Dirty Dozen list?
Strawberries often rank high on the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" list.
What is the heaviest strawberry?
The heaviest strawberry on record weighed 289 grams and was grown in Israel in 2021.
Where does the word "strawberry" come from?
The word "strawberry" may come from the straw used to mulch the plants.
Is there a strawberry museum?
Wépion, Belgium, has a strawberry museum.
How long does a pineapple take to grow?
A pineapple takes about 18 to 24 months to grow.
Why does fresh pineapple make your tongue tingle?
Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that digests protein, which is why it makes your tongue tingle and keeps gelatin from setting.
Why is the pineapple a symbol of hospitality?
The pineapple became a symbol of hospitality in colonial America.
Why is it called a pineapple?
The pineapple got its name because it looks like a pine cone.
Is a pineapple one fruit?
A pineapple is a multiple fruit made of many berries fused together.
What is the Dunmore Pineapple?
The Dunmore Pineapple is a building in Scotland topped with a giant stone pineapple.
Did people rent pineapples?
In 18th-century England, people rented pineapples to show off at parties.
Which country exports the most pineapples?
Costa Rica is the world's largest exporter of pineapples.
Can you grow a pineapple from the top?
You can grow a new pineapple plant from the leafy top of a pineapple.
Do pineapples have Fibonacci spirals?
The scales on a pineapple form Fibonacci spirals.
Where are blueberries native?
Blueberries are native to North America.
Who first cultivated blueberries?
Elizabeth White and Frederick Coville first cultivated blueberries in New Jersey in the 1910s.
What makes blueberries blue?
Blueberries get their color from anthocyanins.
What is the state fruit of Maine?
The wild blueberry is the official state fruit of Maine.
What is the powdery coating on blueberries?
The powdery coating on blueberries is a natural wax called "bloom."
Which country exports the most blueberries?
Peru has become the world's largest exporter of blueberries.
How do bumblebees pollinate blueberries?
Bumblebees pollinate blueberries using buzz pollination.
How did Native Americans use blueberries?
Native Americans dried blueberries to preserve them.
Where is the Blueberry Capital of the World?
Hammonton, New Jersey, calls itself the Blueberry Capital of the World.
Which country produces the most wild blueberries?
Canada produces the most wild blueberries.
Is an avocado a berry?
An avocado is a berry with a single seed.
Do avocados ripen on the tree?
Avocados don't ripen on the tree.
Where did Hass avocados come from?
All Hass avocados descend from a single tree planted by Rudolph Hass in La Habra, California, in 1926.
Which country grows the most avocados?
Mexico grows the most avocados in the world.
Where does the word "avocado" come from?
The word "avocado" comes from the Nahuatl word "āhuacatl."
Are avocados toxic to birds?
Avocados contain persin, which is toxic to birds.
Why are avocado pits so big?
Avocado pits are so big because they evolved to be spread by giant prehistoric animals.
What is an "alligator pear"?
"Alligator pear" is an old name for the avocado.
When is guacamole most popular in the US?
Guacamole demand spikes around the Super Bowl.
What kind of fat is in avocados?
Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat.
Is a lemon a hybrid?
The lemon is a hybrid of the bitter orange and the citron.
Who proved citrus could cure scurvy?
James Lind showed in a 1747 experiment that citrus fruit could cure scurvy.
Can a lemon power a battery?
A lemon can power a simple battery.
What is a Meyer lemon?
The Meyer lemon is a cross between a lemon and a mandarin, brought to the US from China by Frank Meyer in 1908.
What is the Menton Lemon Festival?
The Menton Lemon Festival in France features huge sculptures made of lemons and oranges.
Can lemon juice be used as invisible ink?
Lemon juice can be used as invisible ink.
How often do lemon trees produce fruit?
Lemon trees can produce fruit year-round.
Which country grows the most lemons?
India is one of the world's top lemon producers.
How acidic is lemon juice?
Lemon juice has a pH of about 2.
Where does limoncello come from?
Limoncello comes from Italy's Amalfi Coast.
Where is the Cherry Capital of the World?
Traverse City, Michigan, calls itself the Cherry Capital of the World and hosts the National Cherry Festival.
Did George Washington chop down a cherry tree?
The story of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree is a myth invented by biographer Parson Weems.
Who is the Bing cherry named after?
The Bing cherry was developed in Oregon in 1875 and named after Ah Bing, a Chinese orchard foreman.
Who invented the modern maraschino cherry?
Oregon State University professor Ernest Wiegand developed the modern maraschino cherry brining process in 1925.
What is hanami?
Hanami is the Japanese tradition of viewing cherry blossoms.
Which country grows the most sweet cherries?
Turkey grows the most sweet cherries in the world.
Is there a cherry pit spitting contest?
Eau Claire, Michigan, hosts an international cherry pit spitting championship.
Do tart cherries contain melatonin?
Tart cherries contain melatonin.
What plant family do cherries belong to?
Cherries belong to the rose family.
Do cherries ripen after being picked?
Cherries don't ripen after they're picked.
Did the Supreme Court decide whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable?
In 1893, the US Supreme Court ruled in Nix v. Hedden that the tomato should be treated as a vegetable for tax purposes, even though botanists call it a fruit.
Is a cucumber a fruit?
Botanically speaking, a cucumber is a fruit in the gourd family.
Is a pumpkin a fruit?
Botanically speaking, a pumpkin is a fruit, and it's about 90% water.
Why did Britain collect rose hips during WWII?
During WWII, Britain collected wild rose hips to make vitamin C syrup for children when citrus fruit was scarce.