Proso millet
Fun fact! Farmers often plant proso millet as an emergency cash crop when other crops have failed or unable to be planted because of unfavorable conditions. Click here to learn more.
Maple sap
Fun fact! Maple sap is actually clear and slightly sweet with the consistency of spring water. Click to read more!
Perfume in ancient Greece
Fun fact! Ancient Greeks would use different scents of perfume for each part of their body. Click to read more!
"Clingy" and "free" peaches
Fun fact! There are two types of peaches: clingstone and freestone peaches. Click to read more!
Protection from the evil eye?
Fun fact! Historically, the superstitious would carry around a sachet of anise as protection from the evil eye.
Thyme in the Middle Ages
Fun fact ! In the Middle Ages, the English used thyme in food as an antimicrobial to prevent it from spoiling too fast.
Pear varieties
Fun fact! There are two types of pears: European or French pears that include the Bartlett, Bosc and D’Anjou varieties, and Asian pears that include the Hosui and Nijisseiki varieties. Asian pears have a more apple-like texture.
A long wait for mulberries
Fun fact! It takes about ten years for mulberry trees to produce fruit from the seedling stage.
White agaricus mushrooms
Fun fact! White agaricus mushrooms contain more protein than kidney beans.
Caraway love potion
Fun fact! Caraway was an ingredient in love potions because it was thought to keep lovers from proving fickle.
Persimmon cultivars
Fun fact! Cultivars of persimmon are classified as either astringent or non-astringent. Click to learn more!
Potatoes in North America
Fun fact! Potatoes were first introduced to North America in 1691, and first planted in New Hampshire in 1719. Click to learn more.
Powered by sugarcane
Fun fact! Sugar plants in the U.S. and Brazil burn bagasse, a byproduct of sugar production, to produce electricity in their plants. Click to read more.
Mustard flour
Fun fact! Flour made from yellow mustard is a very good emulsifying agent and stabilizer often used in sauces and prepared meats.
Fig seed oil
Fun fact! Oil from fig seeds has a 30% fatty acid composition that includes oleic, linoleic, linolenic, palmitic, stearic and arachidic fatty acids.
European vs Japanese plums
Fun fact! European varieties of plums are predominantly grown for processing into prunes, while Japanese varieties of plums are grown exclusively for the fresh market.
Jellied cranberry sauce
Fun fact! To make one can of jellied cranberry sauce requires about 200 cranberries.
From grapes to raisins
Fun fact! To make one pound of raisins, it takes about 4-4.5 pounds of green grapes.
Eggplant acreage
Fun fact! New Jersey leads the nation in the acres of eggplant harvested. In 2019, the state harvested 849 acres.
Sweet potato leaves and flowers
Fun fact! The flowers and leaves of sweet potato plants are in fact edible and can be prepared similarly to spinach.
Canning pumpkins
Fun fact! Your typical Halloween pumpkin is not what's used to make your favorite pumpkin pie. Click to learn more!
Where does all the corn go?
Fun fact! Only 3% of U.S. corn production, annually, is used toward human consumption.
Popcorn cereal
Fun fact! Early European settlers in the United States would serve popcorn as a breakfast cereal with milk or cream.
Flax fibers
Fun fact! The paper and pulp industry can use fiber from the stem of flax plants for linen sheets, napkins, tablecloths, clothing, as well as fine papers like parchment paper and cigarette paper.
Sugar consumption
Fun fact! Use of added sugar (from cane and beets) peaked in 1972 at 102 pounds per person for the year. Read more!
Antioxidant power of pecan
Pecans have among the highest antioxidant capacity of common tree nuts, with 17,940 ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) units per 100 grams. Click to learn more!
Sugarbeet harvesting doesn't stop in California
Fun fact! In California, sugarbeets are planted each month except July and August. Click to read more!
Rye origins
Fun fact! Rye is believed to have originated in Southwestern Asia, but in the first millennia rye moved to Northern Europe before spreading to the rest of Europe.
Mustard Pest Control
Fun fact! Mustard can be used as a cover crop to suppress soil born pests. When mustard plants that are still green are incorporated into soil and decomposition starts, glucosinolates are released. It is the breakdown products of these glucosinolates that are thought to have biofumigant properties.
The many colors of raspeberries
Fun fact! In addition to their well-known red color, raspberries are also grown in black (not to be confused with blackberries), purple, and yellow varieties.