Fruits Classification, nutrients, purchasing, preparing and storing

What are Fruits In botany, a fruit is the ripened ovary— together with seeds—of a flowering plant. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants disseminate seeds.

What are Fruits When discussing fruit as food, the term usually refers to those plant fruits that are sweet and fleshy, examples of which include plums, apples and oranges. However, a great many common vegetables, as well as nuts and grains, are the fruit of that plant species.

What are Fruits Fruits are classified into six categories depending on their physical characteristics: berries, drupes, pomes, hesperidiums, pepos and tropical.

BERRIES small juicy fruits with thin skins and lots of tiny pits – includes strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, cranberries and blackcurrants.

DRUPES Outer skin covering a soft, fleshy fruit with a single, large seed, called a pit or stone. Include cherries, peaches, apricots and plums.

POMES Central, seed containing core, with many seeds and thick layer of fibrous flesh. Include apples, pears.

Hesperidium Thick, bitter outer rind with soft layer of pith. Flesh separates into segments or sections. Includes oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, tangerines etc.

Pepo Large, juicy fruit with thick rinds and many seeds in the center. Include watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, casaba.

TROPICAL FRUITS Grow in warm climates and are often considered exotic. Include pineapples, mangoes, papaya, kiwi, coconut, bananas, dragonfruit

Nutritional Value Two to Four servings each day Citrus fruits provide high amounts of Vitamin C and prevent scurvy (limies) Orange fruits (melons, apricots, peaches) contain large quantities of beta carotene (Vitamin A) Significant source of fiber Contribute phytochemicals (antioxidants)

Available Forms Canned – watch for added sugars and syrups, also pick cans with NO dents or bulges Frozen – can soften and destroy texture of fruit, can be sweetened or unsweetened Dried – Most fruits are available in dried form. Can be packaged or sold loose. Watch for use of sulfur in processing, can cause allergies and mar flavor

Preparing fruit Enzymatic browning – many fruits exposed to air will turn brown (ex: bananas, apples). Using lemon juice or acidulated water will help prevent this. Fruits should be carefully washed before use, especially in foreign countries. Peel or pare fruit to remove as little of flesh as possible, or wash well and eat the skin (extra fiber).

Fruits you may not know cherimoya dragonfruit mangosteen Rambutanlychee Carambola (starfruit)

Grow your own tree – hydroponically! 1. What type of fruit is an avocado? Explain your reasoning behind your answer. 2. Using a knife cut your avocado in half (long ways). Draw and label the parts of your avocado. When your done wait for further instructions.

Grow your own tree – hydroponically! NOW LETS PLANT YOUR TREE! Growing a avocado tree video 1. Thoroughly wash your avocado seed. Do not use soap! 2. Insert three-four toothpicks into the seed about ½ to 1 inch deep. 3. Fill cup with water to where it covers the bottom inch of the seed. 4. label the cup with your group# and class.

Wonder Fruits – Avocados!

NOW LETS EAT IT! How to make Guacamole! 1. remove the skin from your avocado. 2. use a fork to smash the fruit into a smooth dip-like texture. 3. two squirts of lemon juice. 4. add a pinch of garlic. 5. add salt to taste. 6. mix! Add any additional condiments. EAT UP! (at least try it…)