Hi there! I’m Maisy and welcome to… the Fruit & Root Crew!

With my friends, we’re on a mission to uncover some of the stories behind our hero seasonal food – from juicy fruits to veggies with va va voom. 

Now, did you know…

Potatoes were the first vegetable grown in space

In 1995, NASA astronauts grew potatoes in space to see how plants might grow on future space missions. They were testing how we might grow our own food on long journeys to places like Mars.

Tomatoes are actually fruits

Even though we usually treat them like vegetables in cooking, tomatoes grow from the flower of the plant and contain seeds… just like other fruits. So yes, that means your ketchup technically comes from fruit.

Cucumbers are mostly water

About 95% of a cucumber is made up of water, which makes them super refreshing to eat. That’s why they’re perfect for hot days – why not freeze some slices and put them into your water bottle for a cool drink?

Carrots used to be purple

Before the orange variety became popular in the 1600s, most carrots were purple, red, or yellow. The orange kind was actually specially bred in the Netherlands as a tribute to the royal family.

Spinach can help you see

Spinach is full of vitamins like A and C, which are great for keeping your eyes healthy. It’s like natural night-vision fuel on your dinner plate.

Peas were used as money

A long time ago in some ancient cultures, peas were so valuable that people used them like coins. Imagine paying for your sweets with a handful of peas!

Broccoli has more protein than steak! (Sort of)

You might hear that broccoli has more protein than steak, but that’s only true when comparing calorie for calorie – you’d have to eat a mountain of broccoli to match a steak. Still, it’s a great source of plant-based protein.

Pumpkins are fruits, too

Just like cucumbers and tomatoes, pumpkins grow from a flower and have seeds inside, which makes them a fruit – and did you know the largest pumpkin was as big as a small car!

Artichokes are flowers

The tasty part of an artichoke is actually the bud of a flower before it blooms. If you left it alone, it would turn into a big purple thistle.  You probably shouldn’t try to eat the thistle though…

Garlic can help keep mosquitoes away…

Some people believe that eating garlic makes your body less appealing to mosquitoes (and vampires of course!). While scientists are still debating how well it works, it definitely makes you smell stronger!

THE MORRISONS FRUIT & ROOT CREW – EXPLORING OUR SEASONAL FRUIT AND VEG
FIND OUT MORE AT MORRISONS.COM