Urban Lumber Blog

Cal Urban Lumber discovers six things you didn't know about fruit.

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As summer is coming to an end and we are getting ready for fall, I was thinking of how much I'm going to miss summer foods. Grilling and side dishes like fruit salads with watermelon and pineapple, yum! That train of thought, I figured that there must be some fun facts I didn't know about fruit, and I was right.

Here are some interesting facts about the fruits we love:                

1. Banana “trees” are actually an herb: In fact, Bananas are actually the berries of the world’s largest herb.  Sweet bananas, the ones we usually think when we are craving a snack, are actually mutant plantains (the cooking variety of bananas)!

2. Pineapples take two years to grow to their full size: It takes two years for a pineapple plant to produce, and each plant typically produces at most two pineapples in its life. After that, the fruit gets smaller and smaller every year. So when the plants are done producing fruit, they are taken out back and shot (that last part is a joke).     

3. Here is something that some of you will say "Duh", but hey, I didn't know it. Peaches and Nectarines are in fact the SAME fruit with the exception of one gene. This gene produces either fuzzy or smooth skin. I figured that they tasted the same; and from now on I’m sticking to nectarines. Fuzzy textures have never been that tasty to me.

4. Almonds are not nuts. They are actually seeds of drupe fruit (think peaches, nectarines, plums etc.) However, instead of a fleshy outer layer like the aforementioned, the almond grows inside of a leathery outer layer making it easy to collect and eat.

 5. Peaches, nectarines, apples, plums, pears and other fruits naturally contain sorbitol. You know, that stuff  bubble- gum-makers keep putting into sugar free gum. The problem with sorbitol is that it is said to play a role in malabsorption in the digestive tract; has been known to worsen symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS); and may be poorly digested by the pancreas.  Not to say that you shouldn’t eat your fruit! These fruits still contain healthful antioxidants and plenty of fiber to keep you feeling good.  However, you may want to monitor your gum chewing. There aren’t many benefits to chewing it, anyway.

6. Kumquats (those things that look like little oranges) are not actually citrus fruits. They are classified in their own genus called Fortunella. These little guys are truly a great snack and can be eaten skin and all! In fact, the skin of the Kumquat is quite sweet, while the inside is sour.  Next time you see them in the store, give ‘em a try!

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