Fresh Orange

                               Orange

The freshly grated peel of a citrus fruit—also called zest—adds a fragrant and tangy quality to compound butters, cakes, frostings, and some savory dishes. The tool we like best for removing the zest from a lemon, lime, orange, or other citrus fruit is a Microplane grater. It's easy to use, and those razor-sharp teeth give a fluffy, fine result. For bigger shreds, use a citrus zester. For even larger pieces that can be easily removed from a dish or used as a garnish, try a vegetable peeler to slice off thin strips. Be careful to get only the colored part of the peel, since the white pith is very bitter

Fresh Papaya

                                 Papaya

                           Golden Papaya

Varieties available: Golden, Formosa
Native to South of Mexico and neighbor countries nowadays is cultivated in most of the tropical countries and in the USA, where it was introduced first in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and in Virgin Islands.
Papaya is the fruit of the papaya three, from the gender of Carica, more exactly Carica Papaya. In Angola and Mozambique they use the term mamão/ mamoeiro to identify   the rounded fruit, and papaya/ papaiera for the elongated one.
Papayas are oval berries with soft yellow- green skin. Its pulp is deep orange color, sweet and soft. It has its central cavity full of black rough seeds.
Papayas are eaten fresh in salads or juices. It has a high content of papaine, a protheolic enzyme, used in gastrointestinal treatments medicines and the absorption bruises.
Some of papaya’s health benefits:

• Rich in A and C vitamins.
• High contents of papaine, an enzyme that helps digestion.
• Neutralize the stomach acidity level.
• Helps to prevent and to combat constipation

Fresh Mango

                               Mangoes

Mango is one of the most significant trees on the planet.  Mango fruit is important in its native lands and now also eaten worldwide. Mango is also one of the oldest cultivated trees proven by writings from India over 4,000 years old.  Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami boasts the world's largest collection, over 180 mango cultivars
Native to countries such as Malaysia, India and Burma, mangos are very large trees, to 90-100 feet in their homelands. Due to their size, they are also important for shade as well as food. The tree in the photo is an adolescent. This one is much larger growing here in Fort Lauderdale near its local maximum of about 40 feet
Due to tree size, harvesting mango fruit can be difficult.  There are smaller tree varieties such as Graham, Cogshall, Julie, Fairchild, Mallika, Carrie and Glenn.  Prune aggressively for shape and size to keep them smaller
The leaves are green, leathery and large, to 12 inches across. New leaves can be somewhat red or yellow in color. Mango flowers appear in spring to summer, depending on variety, are sweetly fragrant and attractive
About 10 mango varieties are grown in South Florida producing fruit from 3/4 lb. to over 4 lbs. each
This page lists 143 named varieties
Different mango types also produce at different times of the year. Also different colored fruits are seen and likewise around the tropical world, local favorites vary in size, color and taste. Although some people are allergic to the meat, mango is highly favored in Eastern cooking as well as fresh fruit
Pick mangos fully ripe off the tree and eat immediately for maximum taste and sweetness.  You can also be lazy and just pick up fallen fruit but check often as your local critters will get there fast if you don't
Plant mango in full sun in decent (sandy is OK), well-drained soil. Water very regularly (about 2 years of irrigation) until established and be sure to fertilize properly. Be watchful for common pests such as scales and sooty-mold
Weather is a factor in fruit production from year to year.  For example, if it's too humid during the time of fruit setting, fungus can be a problem to fruit and leaves.  Even after fruit is set, anthracnose fungus can attack.  Be prepared to spray with copper fungicide to save your crop
The most recent 2009 recommenfdations from Fairchild Tropical Gardens indicate young trees should be heavily mulched, 6-8 inches starting 8-12 inches away from the trunk.  Foliage should receive nutritional spray in September.  A quality 8-2-10 fertilzer is good for the first few years before fruiting age is reached.  Thereafter, a 0-0-50 formulation is indicated.  Apparanetly sufficient nitrogen is supplied by the decaying mulch, phosperous is not needed but plenty of potassium is required for fruit vigor, quantity and quality
Irrigation in South Florida should stop after two years; rain only.  Pruning when young to promote shape and air flow is important.  Air flow is a deterent to disease and pests.  Eliminating added water also promotes health and fruit quality.  For South Florida, some varieties recommended by Fairchild include:  'Jean Ellen', 'Angie', 'Rosie Gold' and 'Manilita.'

Fresh Apples

                                   Apples 

Not that apples have ever been bad for you, but a scientific study has proven that eating apples on a daily basis (in this case, slices of dried apples) will not only lower LDL, or “bad” cholesterol in post-menopausal women, but also other levels of proteins that might put them at risk. Even better — while apples added 240 calories to their diets, the women who were studied actually lost weight. So, it’s official: that “apple a day” adage is scientific fact.
The study entailed 160 women who ate either dried prunes or dried apples over a course of six months. The women who ate apples ended the study an average of 3.3 pounds lighter and lowered their “bad” cholesterol levels by 23% (their HDL, or “good” cholesterol, rose about 4%). In addition to that:

These women also saw their levels of C-reactive protein (a measure of potentially dangerous inflammation) and lipid hydroperoxide (which can signal higher risk for cardiovascular problems) fall.

The reason behind the study was to see if the effects of pectin and polyphenols, which, respectively, speeds up metabolism in animals and “dials back production of inflammatory molecules” had the same effect in humans. So far, it looks like this is, indeed, the case. So, what’s the next step?

The next step, the researchers said in a statement, is to expand the study to women across the country to test whether the old adage holds up.

 Does this mean that real scientists have become the Mythbusters?

randomized trial of 160 post-menopausal women, it was found that regular
consumption of apples lowered unhealthy LDL cholesterol, raised beneficial HDL
cholesterol and diminished the presence of inflammatory and damaging compounds,
according to Florida State University researchers.
Half the women ate dried apples and half ate prunes. Not only that but the apple eaters also had an average weight loss of 3.3%. This in spite of the fact that apples have 240 calories!
These results are amazing to me!!
So the old adage "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" may be true!!

Fresh Grapes

                                  Grapes

 

Grapes have been cultivated at least since egyptian times: some scholars believe that grapes were grown in ancient Greece, as well as in Rome, both for eating and winemaking purposes. Grape growing has since spread to Europe, North Africa and finally to the United States. Literary sources state that the first cultivated grapes have been grown in California by the Spanish Franciscan Friars, who made wine for Californian Missions.
According to historians, the first California grape grower was William Wolfskill, who grew grapes in the Los Angeles area. Several hundred different grape cultivars were later bred, mixing American and European varieties (some for winemaking, especially the European varietis, and others for eating purposes).

Raisins, currants and sultanas

Raisins

In most of Europe, dried grapes are referred to as "raisins" or the local equivalent. In the UK, three different varieties are recognized, forcing the EU to use the term "Dried vine fruit" in official documents.
A raisin is any dried grape. While raisin is a French loanword, the word in French refers to the fresh fruit; grappe (from which the English grape is derived) refers to the bunch (as in une grappe de raisins).
A currant is a dried Zante Black Corinth grape, the name being a corruption of the French raisin de Corinthe (Corinth grape). Currant has also come to refer to the blackcurrant and redcurrant, two berries unrelated to grapes.
A sultana was originally a raisin made from Sultana grapes of Turkish origin (known as Thompson Seedless in the United States), but the word is now applied to raisins made from either white grapes, or red grapes which are bleached to resemble the traditional sultana.

Health claims

---

Advantages & Disadvantage of Freash Banana

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas.  He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain.  Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system. < BR>Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system

Overweight: and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
Prozac Has The Same Ingredient Found In Bananas! Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit!

Bananas Becoming Extinct

It is one of the world's favorite fruits, but the banana hasn't had sex in years and its days may be numbered. Without scientific help the sterile, seedless fruit could disappear with 10 years, according to a Belgian plant pathologist. Emile Frison, the head of the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain in Monpellier, France, said the fruit lacks the genetic diversity to fight off diseases and pests that are plaguing banana plantations and only biotechnology and genetic manipulation may be able to save it. "Frison sees it as the only hope for the banana," New Scientist said on Wednesday. Without assistance banana production could drop and mark the beginning of the end of the fruit. "We may even see the extinction of the banana as both a lifesaver for hungry and impoverished Africans and as the most popular product on the world's supermarket shelves," the magazine added.

Yes, We Have No Bananas By Irving Cohn & Frank Silver, 1923

There's a fruit store on our street
It's run by a Greek
And he keeps good things to eat But you should hear him speak!
When you ask him anything, he never answers "no"
He just "yes"es you to death, and as he takes your dough He tells you
"Yes, we have no bananas
We have-a no bananas today
We've string beans, and onions
Cabashes, and scallions,
And all sorts of fruit and say
We have an old fashioned tomato
A Long Island potato But yes, we have no bananas
We have no bananas today

"Send me Pete and Nick and Jim; I need help right away"
When he got them in the store, there was fun, you bet
Someone asked for "sparrow grass" and then the whole quartet
All answered "Yes, we have no bananas
We have-a no bananas today
Just try those coconuts
Those wall-nuts and doughnuts
There ain't many nuts like they
We'll sell you two kinds of red herring,
Dark brown, and ball-bearing
But yes, we have no bananas
We have no bananas today"

He,he,he,he, ha, ha, ha whatta you laugh at?
You gotta soup or pie?
Yes, I don’t think we got soup or pie
You gotta coconut pie?
Yes, I don’t think we got coconut pie
Well I’ll have one cup a coffee
We gotta no coffee
Then watta you got?
I got a banana!
Oh you’ve got a banana!

Yes, we gotta no banana, No banana, No banana, I tell you we gotta no banana today
I sella you no banana
Hey, Mary Anna, you gotta.. gotta no banana?
Why this man, he’s no believe-a what I say… no… he no believe me…
Now whatta you wanta mister? You wanna buy twelve for a quarter?
Well, just a one of a look, I'm gonna call for my daughter
Hey, Mary Anna You gotta piana
Yes, a banana, no
Yes, we gotta no bananas today!

The new English "clark" (a.k.a.“clerk”):
Yes, we are very sorry to inform you
That we are entirely out of the fruit in question
The afore-mentioned vegetable Bearing the cognomen "Banana"
We might induce you to accept a substitute less desirable,
But that is not the policy at this internationally famous green grocery
I should say not. No no no no no no no
But may we suggest that you sample our five o'clock tea
Which we feel certain will tempt your pallet?
However we regret that after a diligent search
Of the premises By our entire staff
We can positively affirm without fear of contradiction
That our raspberries are delicious; really delicious
Very delicious But we have no bananas today.