Fruit comes from the ovary of a flower. Whether it comes from several ovaries or only one is what makes each fruit different. There are four different classes of fruit: simple, accessory, aggregate, and multiple. However, these are not common terms we are used to hearing. So, to make them more user-friendly, we will break them down and call them: citrus fruit, stone fruit, tropical fruit, melons, berries, and others. Some examples of each include:
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Citrus Fruits: Lemons, limes, oranges (naval, mandarin, blood, etc.), tangerines, tangelos, clementines, kumquats, ugli fruit, and grapefruit.
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Stone Fruits: Peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, cherries, and lychee.
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Tropical Fruits: Bananas, mangoes, papaya, coconut, guava, tamarind, passion fruit, and pineapple.
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Melons: Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, casaba, and horned melon.
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Berries: Kiwifruit, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, boysenberries, goji berries, huckleberries, mulberries, currants, loganberries, gooseberries, lingonberries, and acai berries.
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Other: Apples, pears, grapes, and tomatoes.
Besides these different categories, fruit is often more easily recognized by its color. Have you ever been told you should, “eat from the rainbow”? Eating a variety encourages consumption of all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients our body needs to function at its best. It can also help with preventing you from falling into a food rut and getting bored with your diet. Some examples of “eating from the rainbow” include:
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Red/Pink: Watermelon, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, red apple, and red grapes.
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Orange/Yellow: Orange, mango, cantaloupe, lemon, pineapple, peach, yellow apple, and tangerine.
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Green: Green grapes, kiwi, honeydew, and avocado.
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Blue/Purple: Blueberries, blackberries, purple grapes, black grapes, and plums.