Buzz
Agriculture forms the bedrock of human civilization. The moment humanity mastered the ability to cultivate its own food, the nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle came to an end. Freed from the need to pursue migrating herds or dig for sustenance, we began to create culture, language, and music. Below are 10 unusual and fascinating facts about the foods that play such a central role in our lives.
10. Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed was indeed a real person, yet his name is steeped in so much legend that, much like figures such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett, he’s become part of folklore. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, he traveled across the frontier regions of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, planting vast apple orchards across 100,000 square miles—some of which still exist today. Barefoot and clothed in sackcloth, he captivated those he encountered, forming close bonds with Native Americans, children, and animals alike.
That being said, Johnny was far from a saint, and apple farming was a lucrative venture. He seemed to possess an uncanny ability to predict where the next settlement would appear, arriving ahead of time. When the pioneers eventually came, he would sell his apple trees for just a few cents each before moving on. This business savvy led him to die a wealthy man.
Before you picture Johnny’s apples being turned into pies and cobblers, it's worth noting that apples weren’t considered a prized food back then. His orchards were actually planted for making hard cider and applejack. After all, what good was conquering the frontier if you couldn’t unwind with a drink at dinner time?
9. Negative-Calorie Celery
When it comes to dieting, few topics stir up as much debate, questionable advice, and outright dangerous claims as the idea of “negative calorie” foods—those so low in calories that the energy needed to chew and digest them supposedly exceeds the calories they provide. One popular example is celery, which has about six calories per stalk. Despite the fact that it contains so few calories, many reliable sources claim that celery can help with weight loss.
However, the process of digestion is surprisingly efficient and uses up few calories. This makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint; in the days before drive-thrus and Wal-Marts, humans often had to exert considerable effort to find food. If digesting what they managed to gather required additional energy, they could have easily starved. While celery can't replace exercise, you’re welcome to eat as much as you like. It would take over 300 stalks of celery to match the average person’s daily calorie intake.
8. The Extinction of Bananas
Our great-grandparents might have faced the hardships of the Great Depression, and they definitely didn’t have iPads to pass the time, but they enjoyed something we don’t—far better bananas. Before the 1950s, the world’s most popular banana variety was the “Gros Michel.” Sadly, the Gros Michel banana was almost entirely wiped out by a fungus known as Panama Disease.
Today, the banana we know is the Cavendish. Smaller, more delicate, and less flavorful than the Gros Michel, the Cavendish has a natural resistance to Panama Disease. However, just like the Gros Michel before it, the Cavendish is facing a grave threat. A new strain of Panama Disease is spreading, and most experts believe it’s only a matter of time before the Cavendish, which is vulnerable to this strain, will also be wiped out (though the Gros Michel still exists, there aren’t enough to meet global demand).
7. Toxic Potatoes
The familiar potato is a member of the Solanum family, closely related to the toxic nightshade plant. Like nightshade, potatoes produce large quantities of a substance called glycoalkaloids, with one particularly harmful variant known as solanine. This toxin acts as the potato's defense mechanism, preventing it from being consumed, and it is most concentrated in the leaves, stems, and sprouts. Any green coloration on the potato’s skin is a clear sign of solanine. Although most commercially grown potatoes are cultivated to have low levels of this poison, it’s still possible to encounter one with a dangerous amount, and there have been fatalities linked to solanine ingestion. While cooking can reduce its presence, every potato you eat exposes you to at least a small amount of solanine.
6. Grape Plasma
A simple grape can undergo a transformation from solid to gas to plasma with just a quick turn in the microwave. While this might sound intriguing, there are potential dangers in altering the states of matter so drastically, and your microwave might not survive the experiment. There is also a slim, but real, risk of setting your house on fire, so it’s best to avoid attempting this at home.
The process is straightforward. Take a grape and cut it about 90% of the way through, leaving the halves connected by a small piece of skin. Remove the rotating tray from the microwave, place the grape inside, and set the microwave to no more than ten seconds. After a couple of seconds, the moisture inside the grape will turn into gas, and the charge between the two halves will cause the steam to ignite into a brief electric lightshow. Placing a clear glass over the grape will keep the plasma contained a few moments longer.
5. Cannibal Tomato
Fiji’s so-called “cannibal tomato” is actually an eggplant. This plant bears a striking resemblance to a tomato and was used by the indigenous people of Fiji, who have practiced cannibalism for centuries, to create a sauce thought to be the perfect accompaniment to human flesh. As mentioned in a previous list, some modern individuals who have tasted human meat have compared its flavor and texture to that of veal, making it a fitting match for a rich marinara sauce.
4. Designer Melons
The watermelon, which originated in southern Africa, has traveled the world, illustrating the advanced trade routes of ancient civilizations. It was enjoyed by the Egyptians during the time of the pharaohs, reached China by the 10th century, and made its way to Europe by the 13th century.
Extremely versatile, the watermelon naturally caught the attention of Japan's innovative farmers. They figured out how to grow the melons inside glass boxes, shaping them into cubes for convenient refrigerator storage. Other unconventional shapes, such as pyramids, have also been cultivated. Even more remarkable are the extravagant prices commanded by the gourmet “Densuke” watermelons. Grown exclusively on Hokkaido Island, the first few melons harvested each year can fetch thousands of dollars, while the average Densuke melon is priced around $250.
3. The World’s Most Hated Vegetable
Unfortunately, for those of us watching our waistlines, vegetables often receive the most disdain. President George H.W. Bush despised broccoli so much that he famously banned it from the White House. In the UK, surveys have revealed that celery is their least favorite green. However, around the world, one vegetable consistently tops the “most hated” lists: brussels sprouts.
These small cabbages are packed with over a dozen essential vitamins and minerals, but their bitter taste usually turns people away. To be fair, certain cooking techniques can improve their flavor. Experts suggest that smaller sprouts are naturally sweeter. Halving them, boiling briefly, and then shocking them in cold water can reduce the bitterness. Adding an acidic touch, like lemon or red vinegar, can also help mellow out the taste.
2. Spinach, The Iron Vegetable
Spinach has earned a less-than-favorable reputation. Many people, especially kids, wrinkle their noses at the thought of eating it. Enter Elzie Segar, the creator of Popeye, who gave his character superhuman strength from a can of spinach. While we may never know just how much Popeye influenced global spinach consumption, the character’s legacy is so strong that statues of him have been erected in various growing communities. Canner Allens Vegetables even markets a Popeye-branded product.
The tale goes that Segar picked spinach due to a flawed study from the 1800s that mistakenly miscalculated the vegetable's iron content by a misplaced decimal. This myth has since been debunked, with more accurate findings pointing to spinach's high vitamin A content as the real reason Segar made it the source of Popeye's strength. Spinach is undeniably healthy, but the way it's cooked matters—boiling it tends to strip away much of its nutritional value.
1. Purple Carrots
Much like the watermelon, the carrot’s journey across the globe can be traced, although its exact origin remains somewhat unclear. It’s thought that carrots were first cultivated in what is now Afghanistan, later spreading to Europe via Middle Eastern trade routes. However, the ancient carrots were quite different from what we know today—they were often lanky and came in either white or purple varieties. Thanks to the Dutch, the carrot was selectively bred into the familiar orange version we see today. While orange carrots dominate the market, other colorful varieties, including white, yellow, red, purple, and even black, can be found in upscale grocery stores and health food markets, often packaged in “rainbow packs.”
