Worldwide, 4.6 million tons of cocoa beans are produced. The largest producer of cocoa is Côte d'Ivoire, with 32% of world’s production at 1.3 million tons.

http://www.fao.org/resources/infographics/infographics-details/en/c/277756/

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Fun fact! Worldwide, 4.6 million tons of cocoa beans are produced. The largest producer of cocoa is Côte d'Ivoire, with 32% of world’s production at 1.3 million tons. 

Cocoa production

Goldenseal has an approximate “biodiversity-friendly” score of 17. It greatly contributes to biodiversity because it requires little fertilizer or pesticides, contributes to the protection of wild species, has high value per hectare with relatively low hectarage requirements, can be grown in rotation reducing need for agrichemicals, and its flowers produce food for pollinators.

Source: https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_hyca.pdf

Fun fact! Goldenseal has an approximate “biodiversity-friendly” score of 17. It greatly contributes to biodiversity because it requires little fertilizer or pesticides, contributes to the protection of wild species, has high value per hectare with relatively low hectarage requirements, can be grown in rotation reducing need for agrichemicals, and its flowers produce food for pollinators.

Biodiversity-friendly goldenseal

The well-known variety of watermelon, called Charleston gray, was first bred, and released to the public in 1954 by Charles Fredric Andrus, a horticulturist at the USDA/ Agricultural Research Service Vegetable Breeding Laboratory. The variety was important because it is resistant to several major diseases of watermelon, produces high yields in multiple geographic regions, and handles long-distance shipping well.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2019/charleston-gray-watermelon-sequenced/

Fun fact! The well-known variety of watermelon, called Charleston gray, was first bred, and released to the public in 1954 by Charles Fredric Andrus, a horticulturist at the USDA/ Agricultural Research Service Vegetable Breeding Laboratory. The variety was important because it is resistant to several major diseases of watermelon, produces high yields in multiple geographic regions, and handles long-distance shipping well.

Charleston gray watermelon

During the first World War, the USDA found that sweet potato flour can be used to replace 1/4th of the wheat flour in a loaf of bread to conserve wheat flour.

Fun fact! During the first World War, the USDA found that sweet potato flour can be used to replace 1/4th of the wheat flour in a loaf of bread to conserve wheat flour.

Sweet potato flour

Found in dry open place, tarragon is a fire-adapted species that is top-killed by low-intensity fire but can reestablish quickly from surviving rhizomes.

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_ardr4.pdf

Fun fact! Found in dry open place, tarragon is a fire-adapted species that is top-killed by low-intensity fire but can reestablish quickly from surviving rhizomes.

Tarragon

Photo © iStockphoto.com/keithferrisphoto

Flax is one of the oldest cultivated crops. Primarily grown for use in linens, there are burial chambers dating back to about 3000 BC that depict flax cultivation and contained clothing made from flax fibers

https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/grains-oilseeds/flax-profile

Fun fact! Flax is one of the oldest cultivated crops. Primarily grown for use in linens, there are burial chambers dating back to about 3000 BC that depict flax cultivation and contained clothing made from flax fibers

Flax is one of the oldest cultivated crops

Celery is a member of the parsley family.

https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/celery

Fun fact! Celery is a member of the parsley family.

Celery

Aside from the fruit, other edible parts of blackberry brambles include the leaves which can be made into a tea and the canes, which when peeled, can be eaten raw or cooked.

Source: https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/fruits/blackberries

Fun fact! Aside from the fruit, other edible parts of blackberry brambles include the leaves which can be made into a tea and the canes, which when peeled, can be eaten raw or cooked.

Blackberry brambles

Some varieties of avocado, such as Hass, tend to only bear well in alternate years. Following a season of low yield, due to factors such as cold, the trees produce more abundantly the next season. Avocado is also a heavy crop that depletes stored carbohydrates, resulting in a reduced yield the following year, establishing an alternate bearing pattern.

Source: https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/fruits/avocados

Fun fact! Some varieties of avocado, such as Hass, tend to only bear well in alternate years. Following a season of low yield, due to factors such as cold, the trees produce more abundantly the next season. Avocado is also a heavy crop that depletes stored carbohydrates, resulting in a reduced yield the following year, establishing an alternate bearing pattern.

Avocado yield

During harvest, pomegranate fruit are clipped off as close to the base as possible, leaving no stem on the fruit. This is because the stem could damage other pomegranates during shipping, ruining their aesthetic value for use in arrangements during the fall and winter seasons.

Source: https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/fruits/pomegranates

Fun fact! During harvest, pomegranate fruit are clipped off as close to the base as possible, leaving no stem on the fruit. This is because the stem could damage other pomegranates during shipping, ruining their aesthetic value for use in arrangements during the fall and winter seasons.

Fun Facts