 |
 Sweet Potato
One of the oldest vegetables known
to man, the sweet potato is native to Central and
South America, where it has been consumed for at
least 10,000 years and cultivated for at least
5,000 years. Despite its name, the sweet potato
is only very distantly related to the common
potato. |
 Cabbage
is a common vegetable native to England and
northwestern France. More than 150 varieties of
cultivated plants have been developed from what
was once a useless wild plant, including Brussels
sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli. |
 Broccoli
is a variety of cabbage with thick clusters of
flower buds that form edible "heads."
It is rich in vitamins A and C. |
 Brussels Sprouts
is a variety of cabbage that sends up a tall,
thick stalk along which the edible sprouts grow
closely together. It is a good source of vitamins
A, B, and C, as well as dietary fiber. |
 Cauliflower
is a variety of cabbage grown for its thickened,
profuse, undeveloped flowers and flower stalks.
It provides large amounts of vitamin C and
sulfur, and smaller amounts of vitamin A and
phosphorus. |
 Pumpkins are members of the cucumber and squash
family. Pumpkins are grown on every continent
except Australia, and all fifty of the United
States. They are believed to have originated in
Central America, with seeds from related plants
found in Mexico dating back over 7000 years. |
 Tomatoes
are the leading crop among those canned in the
United States. Botanically the tomato is a fruit,
since it is the ripened ovary of a plant, but the
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is a vegetable. |
 Herbs
are green plants that do not have any wood in
their stems. Although they have little food
value, they make food tasty and more flavorful.
Some herbs give scents to perfumes, and some are
used for medicines. |
 Rosemary
is an evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean
region. It has been known since ancient times to
have medicinal value, with rosemary tea being
used to calm stomachs and nerves, relieve
headaches, and as a cure for colic. |
 Truffles
are a special variety of edible mushrooms that
grow underground among the roots of various
trees. Because it is not economically feasible to
grow truffles commercially, they must be gathered
in the wild, by hand, and at just the right time. |
