There are so many different types of fruits and vegetables out there, but most grocery stores carry only 1 or 2 varieties of each. There was once tens or hundreds of breeds of every fruit and veggie you can think of. But in the name of efficiency, modern production has streamlined our choices. The biggest losers: the environment, which depends on diversity to thrive, and us eaters, who miss out on all the flavors-sweet, delicate, floral, nutty-that nature designed. Apples however, are a different story. Thanks to entrepreneurial growers and a generous helping of luck, most grocery stores have a full 11 varieties in rotation (can you name them?). And while its nothing compared to the 15,000 breeds that once grew in the US, it illustrates a diversity success story still unfolding, as growers revive heirlooms of yore and high-tech breeders create new strains for every taste.
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 14:40:26 +0000