As Professor Jared Diamond explained so well in his book Guns, Germs and Steel, almost every variety of fruit, vegetable, cereal and domestic animal on earth used to be found only in one part of the world before humans traded and cultivated/raised them. For example, oranges and apricots originated from China, bananas from south-east Asia, apples from central Asia, carrots from Afghanistan, spinach from Persia, garlic and onions from the Middle East, while the pumpkin, tomato, avocado, potato and pineapple are all native of the central or southern American continent.
Among fruits of European origin, berries are numerous, like the redcurrant, native of western continental Europe, and the cranberry, from northern Europe.
Others originated in Europe, the Mediterranean and/or western Asia at the same time, like cabbages, leeks, asparagus, olives, grapes, cherries, gooseberries and blackcurrants. Lettuce originated in all Europe as well as the temperate parts of Asia.
Some have a wider origin, like figs, dates pomelos, persimmons, and coconuts, which were found on several continents before human civilisations.
Humans have also created new species through selective breeding and artificial selection. In this thread, I want to concentrate on varieties of fruits and vegetables developed in Europe.
Fruits
1) The (green or yellow) gage (Prunus domestica 'Reine Claude'), was developed in France, where it received the name of 'Reine Claude', in honour to the Queen-consort of King Francis I of France (1494-1547). It was imported to the UK in 1724, by Sir William Gage, from whom it receives its English name.
2) The Mirabelle plum was also developed in France. It is a speciality of the region of Lorraine.
Vegetables
1) Brussels sprouts were first cultivated in Belgium in the 13th century, and maybe earlier.
2) The (Belgian) endive (aka witloof) was accidentally discovered by a Belgian farmer (Jan Lammers) in 1830.
3) The globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), also called "French artichoke", were first cultivated in Southern Europe, possibly as early as the Greeks and Romans. The earliest written evidence is that it was cultivated in Naples in the 15th century, then imported to France by Queen Catherine de' Medici.
4) The broccoli originated in Italy (possibly in Roman times, although there is no clear evidence), and was first mentioned in France in 1560.
5) The red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) is thought to have originated in Germany, where it was first mentioned in the 12th century.
6) The Savoy cabbage (Brassica Oleracea L. var. capitata) probably originated in Italy in the 13th century.
Among fruits of European origin, berries are numerous, like the redcurrant, native of western continental Europe, and the cranberry, from northern Europe.
Others originated in Europe, the Mediterranean and/or western Asia at the same time, like cabbages, leeks, asparagus, olives, grapes, cherries, gooseberries and blackcurrants. Lettuce originated in all Europe as well as the temperate parts of Asia.
Some have a wider origin, like figs, dates pomelos, persimmons, and coconuts, which were found on several continents before human civilisations.
Humans have also created new species through selective breeding and artificial selection. In this thread, I want to concentrate on varieties of fruits and vegetables developed in Europe.
Fruits
1) The (green or yellow) gage (Prunus domestica 'Reine Claude'), was developed in France, where it received the name of 'Reine Claude', in honour to the Queen-consort of King Francis I of France (1494-1547). It was imported to the UK in 1724, by Sir William Gage, from whom it receives its English name.
2) The Mirabelle plum was also developed in France. It is a speciality of the region of Lorraine.
Vegetables
1) Brussels sprouts were first cultivated in Belgium in the 13th century, and maybe earlier.
2) The (Belgian) endive (aka witloof) was accidentally discovered by a Belgian farmer (Jan Lammers) in 1830.
3) The globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), also called "French artichoke", were first cultivated in Southern Europe, possibly as early as the Greeks and Romans. The earliest written evidence is that it was cultivated in Naples in the 15th century, then imported to France by Queen Catherine de' Medici.
4) The broccoli originated in Italy (possibly in Roman times, although there is no clear evidence), and was first mentioned in France in 1560.
5) The red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) is thought to have originated in Germany, where it was first mentioned in the 12th century.
6) The Savoy cabbage (Brassica Oleracea L. var. capitata) probably originated in Italy in the 13th century.
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