Fruits and Vegetables That Are Not Man-Made
Every year, millions of tons of fruits and vegetables are consumed by humans, and the vast majority do not come from a lab. Despite the push for more processed and manufactured food products, there are still hundreds of types of naturally occurring plants that humans have been eating for thousands of years.
Fruits
- Apples– Apples have been cultivated since ancient times, and are native to countries in Asia and parts of Europe.
- Cherries– Cherries have been eaten by humans since as early as 1st century BC, and their sweet flavour has made them a popular treat.
- Grapes– Wild grapes are native to regions of the Northern hemisphere, and humans have cultivated them for many centuries.
- Lemons– Lemons originated in what is now known as Iran and India, and were brought to Europe in the 10th century.
- Strawberries– Where some other fruits were brought around the world, wild strawberries grow naturally in most parts of the world.
Vegetables
- Lettuce– Popular in both salads and sandwiches, lettuce was first cultivated in Ancient Egypt.
- Onions– Onions have been eaten for thousands of years, and are native to Central and South Asia.
- Carrots– Another vegetable that has been part of the human diet since ancient times, carrots were first grown in what is now present day Iran.
- Potatoes– Potato cultivation is thought to have originated in South America over 7,000 years ago, and was then spread to Europe.
- Tomatoes– Native to Central and South America, tomatoes have been cultivated for centuries and are now grown all over the world.
While there are plenty of man-made fruits and vegetables out there, it should still be clear that most of the produce humans consume is not created in a laboratory. From apples to tomatoes, many of these fruits and vegetables have been with us for centuries and are a part of our culinary heritage.
