Fun Facts

Fun Fact! Fungi, as organisms, are mostly underground in the form of mycelium. Click here to read more!

Fun fact! Prescribed fires can promote blueberry production because the fires eliminate competing vegetation and remove worn out blueberry bush branches.

Fun fact! Rhubarb leaves are considered toxic to humans because of their high oxalic acid content.

Fun fact! Cordyceps are parasitic fungi that grow on the larva of caterpillar. Click to learn more!

Fun fact! Halloween accounts for nearly $6 billion in confectionary retail sales each year.

Fun fact! Pope Paul II was obsessed with melons during his reign, and the pope’s chef even published a cookbook in 1470 that recommended melons be eat as appetizers.

Fun fact! There are over 1000 types of bananas.

Fun fact! A cup of butternut squash contains more than 100% of the daily value of vitamin A.

Fun fact! Raw apples eaten before and after garlic-rich foods may be an effective remedy for garlic breath.

Fun fact! The earliest known evidence of wine production was found in a cave in Armenia. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Because a small fraction of potassium is radioactive, and bananas are naturally high in potassium, the fruit delivers a very small dose of radiation. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Illinois grows the most pumpkins in the country with 17,600 acres. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Archaeological evidence indicates that lentils have been cultivated as far back as 8,000-10,000 years ago in Southwest Asia.

Fun fact! Cantaloupe does not ripen off the vine unlike other fruits.

Fun fact! When coffee gained popularity in Europe during the 17th century, it replaced beer and wine as the preferred morning beverage.

Hemp seeds are high in protein and are a good source of Vitamin E, several minerals, and essential fatty acids.

The flowers of the dragon fruit plant (Hylocereus undatus), a climbing cactus native to Mexico and Central America, bloom at night, pollinated by moths and bats.

Fun fact! Shallots have more calories than onion but are richer in fiber, vitamin B6, manganese, copper, folate, and vitamin C.

Fun fact! Bell peppers have a higher vitamin C content than citrus fruits. A 100 gram serving of a red bell pepper, for example, will offer more than 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C with 127 mg of vitamin C.

Napolean encouraged the European cultivation of sugar beets as a way to combat a British blockage on imported sugar from the West Indies. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Potato salad was first introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers returning from the New World in the 16th century. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Botany defines berries as fruit stemming from one flower with one ovary, making tomatoes, pomegranates, kiwis, and bananas berries but not strawberries or raspberries.

Fun fact! Besides drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated during heat waves, you can also eat food with water content higher than 80%. Click to learn what fruits and vegetables offer the best hydration.

Fun fact! Icelandic yogurt, called Skyr, is made with skim milk rather than whole milk like Greek yogurt. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Each point on the star anise pod is a carpel containing a single seed. Click to learn more!

Fun fact! Mexican and Italian oregano are not related at all. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Pistachios and other oil-bearing nuts or seeds have the potential to spontaneously combust. Click to read more!

Fun fact! English sailors became known as “Limeys” because of the lime juice rations provided to them by the Royal Navy. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Sweet basil has a sweeter, more peppery flavor, while Thai basil is bolder, with flavor reminiscent of licorice. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Honey can have an incredible shelf life due to its low moisture content and acidic pH. Click to learn more!