Fun Facts

Fun fact! Since 2008, the number of farmers’ markets in the U.S. has increased 76 percent. The most recent data from 2014 shows that there are 8,268 farmers’ markets currently operating in the United States.

Fun fact! In Jewish culture, lentils are an important food to serve during mourning ceremonies because their round shape symbolizes the cycle of life. In Italy and Hungary, lentils are consumed on New Year’s Eve to bring about wealth and prosperity because lentils are shaped like coins.

Fun fact! The United States is the world’s second largest producer of cherries after Turkey.

Fun fact! In the U.S. only 5% of the cranberries produced are sold fresh, while the remaining 95% are processed, mostly for juice and juice blends.

Fun fact! Avocados contain 60% more potassium than bananas, and are also rich in B vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin K, and folate.

Fun fact! About 63% of potatoes are sold to processors who make French fries, chips, dehydrated potatoes, or other potato products. The rest goes to fresh market, are fed to animals, or reused as seed tubers for the next growing season.

Fun fact! On average, eating a cup of cooked dry beans provides 264 micrograms of folate, accounting for 66% of the recommended daily requirement.

Fun fact! Quinoa sees optimal growth at temperatures below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Above that temperature, the pollen goes sterile.

Fun Fact! Carrots are rich in beta carotene, and contain vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium.

Fun fact! One cup of asparagus contains three grams of protein.

Fun Fact! Celery was first cultivated in the Mediterranean region 3,000 years ago. Early plants were primitive and used predominantly for medicinal purposes, such as sedatives. The first culinary usage of celery was as a flavoring, and the earliest record of the use of celery as food comes from France, dating back to 1623.

Fun fact! The Anacardiaceae family of flowering plants, also known as the cashew or sumac family, includes genera such as cashew and mango, but also poison ivy and poison oak.

Fun fact! The Comanche would use pecan to treat ringworm by pulverizing the leaves and rubbing them into the infected part of the ringworm.

Fun fact! Because there are no registered herbicides for buckwheat in the United States, growers must rely on sensible field selection, pre-plant weed control, and a uniform, dense crop canopy to shade out weeds from the late season rain.

Fun fact! Carrots are a member of the Apiaceae family of plants, which includes celery, anise, dill, and cilantro.

Fun fact! Honey collected from bees feeding off buckwheat has been found to contain levels of antioxidants such as vitamin C and E that is 20 times higher than that of other honey tested.

Fun fact! Buckwheat is highly nutritious, with 74% of its protein being available to the human body, making it one of the best sources of plant-based protein. It also contains eight essential amino acids, vitamin E, and nearly the entire vitamin B complex spectrum.

Fun fact! Sunflowers have deep root systems. Therefore, during crop rotation, a fallow period is typically recommended following sunflowers as to replenish depleted soil water reserves.

Fun fact! In a 2-ounce serving, pistachios contain 12 g of protein which is more than a similar-sized serving of halibut, 6 g of fiber which is three times more than a similar-size serving of broccoli, and 570 mg of potassium which is greater than one large banana.

Fun fact! The United States is the second largest consumer of turkey, behind Israel.

Fun fact! While the kernel and oil of macadamia nuts are the main products, macadamia shells have a number of uses as well, such as mulch, fuel (think charcoal), as a planting medium for anthurium cultures, for plastic manufacture, as well as a substitute for sand in sandblasting.

Fun Fact! The pawpaw tree produces the largest edible fruit native to North America.

Fun fact! Because plums and apricots are so genetically similar, they can be hybridized to make pluots (75% plum, 25% apricot), plumcots (50% plum, 50% apricot), and apriums (75% apricot, 25% plum).

Fun fact! Pumpkins are considered to be “giant” when they exceed 25 pounds. However, giant pumpkins can get as big as 1000 pounds.

Fun fact! There are three types of rice: short-grain, medium-grain, and long-grain. Long-grain rice is predominantly used in processed foods such as packaged mixes. Medium-grain rice can be found in breakfast cereals and other processed foods such as casseroles and stir-fry recipes. Short-grain rice is ideal for pudding and other desserts. Short- and medium-grain japonica rice is well known for its use in Japanese and Korean cuisine, including sushi.

Fun fact! Spanish missionaries are credited with introducing the apricot to California, which is now the leading producer of apricots domestically.

Fun fact! The United States grows about 200 unique varieties of apples. The top ten varieties are Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, McIntosh, Rome, Cripps, Pink/Pink Lady and Empire.

Fun fact! Peatlands, which are home to orangutans, tigers, and other endangered species contain about 1/3 of the world’s soil carbon, and regulate water flow, reducing flooding, droughts, and seawater intrusion.