Everyday Foods Before They're Harvested
Dragon Fruit
A bright dragon fruit is another plant that might make you think you're not on Earth anymore. These plants are part of the cactus family, therefore their stems and thorns look like those of cacti. But the fruits that grow on the vine make them stand out. The stalks have deep red or purple ovals hanging from them. These fruits are different because they look like they have little spikes on them, yet the skin is quite soft. The fruit can be dark purple or white after the peel is taken off. There are a lot of small seeds in both types.
Cinnamon
We can't picture our lives without cinnamon. You can utilize the great spice in a lot of foods and drinks. Without cinnamon, banana bread and eggnog wouldn't taste the same. We might all have this spice in our kitchens, but we might not be able to get it in the wild. This is because this spice isn't what we think it is. The tree's bark is where cinnamon originates from. Before the transformation starts, thick bark cuttings are taken off the tree.
Artichokes
You might have strolled by an artichoke on a farm without ever knowing it. This is because the vegetable is covered with a special purple flower that acts as a cap for the veggie underneath. It's interesting that the vibrant purple artichoke bloom may also be eaten, and people often use it to decorate food. These plants are tough and need a lot of room. These plants do best in areas close to the equator because they like hot, humid weather.
Pistachios
If you like these tasty little sweets, you might be startled to learn that most people don't know how to describe them. People often think that pistachios are nuts, however they are actually fruit. Pistachios grow inside the fruit, which is why this is the case. We don't eat the fruit, but we do keep the great pistachio seed! Have you ever thought that these great little treats might be related to peaches and cherries? They are all part of the same family, which is called the drupe family. The tree looks really festive since the fruit of the pistachio plant is colorful.
Quinoa
People who care about their health probably know a lot about this whole grain because it has a lot of health benefits. It's easy to pick the tiny seeds off a shelf, but finding them in the wild can be a different story. These seeds grow on weird bushes, and the stems of the plants are covered in thick clusters of quinoa. The bush seems like a flower with an odd shape, yet there isn't a single flower on it.
Dates
There are other great fruits that grow on palm trees than coconuts. These huge trees also have big bunches of dates growing on them. It's hard to see dates growing since they grow so high up in the tree. It's already hard to see fruit so high up on these trees, which can grow to be more than 70 feet tall. The hue of the young date is very important. They seem more like grapes than dates because they are bright green.