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See also individual fruit entries.
FRUIT
Strawberries, bananas, grapes, apples and oranges are Americans favorite fruits in that order (2008)
Last year, Americans eat four pounds less fruit than in 1985.
In 2004, Americans consumed 128 pounds of fresh fruit per person.
Produce Marketing Association (pma.com)
Cranberries, Concord Grapes and Blueberries are the only major fruits native to North America.
Favorite fruits of kids ages 5-18 (2007):
strawberries, bananas, apples, cherries, other.
Very few fruits contain fat: avocados, olives and nuts are the only ones with significant amounts.
Avocados are about 22% fat, with the average medium size avocado containing 300 calories and 30 grams of fat.
Avocados are commonly used as vegetables. Botanically they are fruits.
Ten medium size black olives have 50 calories and 4 grams of fat.
One cup of unsweetened shredded coconut has 26 grams fat and 283 calories.
The average one ounce of nuts contains 165 to 200 calories and 14 to 21 grams of fat.
The average banana contains .6 grams fat.
The most valuable fruit crops in the United States are in order, grapes, apples, oranges and strawberries.
Is it a fruit or a vegetable?
There are 2 ways of considering fruits and vegetables:
1) Scientifically, the way botanists classify them.
In the science of botany, fruits are defined as the organ derived from the ovary and surrounding the seeds. Green beans, eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn kernels, and avocados are all botanically classified as fruits, but we call them vegetables.
2) Common usage.
Common usage is just that. If something is commonly used as a fruit, it is called a fruit. If it is commonly used as a vegetable, it is called a vegetable. What we commonly call fruits, usually have a sugar content of 10% or more. (There are exceptions - lemons only have 1% sugar content).
Edible plant parts that are not part of the edible layer that surrounds the seeds, such as roots, stems, and leaves are all commonly called vegetables.
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