50 photos that prove you have no idea how your food is grown

In the hustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the simple question: How is our food grown? For many of us, the journey from farm to table is a mystery. This lack of awareness prompts us to uncover the basics of how the food we eat every day comes into being.

Pineapples

Pexels Cezar Bulat

These fruits originate from eccentric, spiky bushes that emerge from the soil, with the fruit developing at the center of the plant.

If you want to know more (we’ve got more examples!), then keep reading.

Sesame seeds

Sesame seeds are produced by upright and tall sprout plants that emerge from the ground within small pods referred to as “buds.”

Artichokes

Artichokes originate from large, beautiful purple flowers adorned with feathery tops.

Brussel sprouts

Brussels sprouts, part of the Gemmifera group of cabbages, develop on a leafy green plant with a diameter ranging from 2.5 to 4 cm. Arranged in clusters, they bear a resemblance to miniature cabbages.

Capers

Capers emerge from a vine adorned with attractive white flowers, and they consist of the unopened buds of these blossoms.

Pistachio

Pistachios grow in clusters on trees, with significant production typically taking seven to ten years, reaching peak yield around 20 years. After harvesting, pistachios undergo a drying process and are either dry-roasted or processed using machines. They bear a resemblance to mangoes in appearance.

Peanuts

Peanuts resemble charming yellow wildflowers when they sprout from the ground, but uprooting these flowers unveils their roots, revealing the small bulbous nuts.

Kiwi

Kiwis begin as flowers dangling from a vine, growing along trellises. As the flowers transform, they develop into kiwis, hanging down until they reach the stage of readiness for harvesting.

Cashews

Cashews have a unique growth process. They emerge from trees that bear cashew apples, and the nuts grow outside of these apples, creating a distinctive and unconventional appearance.

Almonds

Almonds originate from flowering trees. The small flowers undergo a transformation into pods, and within these pods, almonds develop.

Saffron

Saffron is derived from stunningly beautiful bright purple flowers. The saffron stems emerge from the center of these flowers, which are carefully extracted for the valuable spice.

Cinnamon

Indeed, cinnamon is obtained from the bark of trees. The inner bark of specific cinnamon trees is harvested, dried, and processed to produce the popular spice used in cooking and baking.

Cranberry

Evergreen dwarf shrubs produce cranberries, and the small fruit develops from the flowers of these shrubs.

Cacao

Cacao beans come from the seeds found inside the pods of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). The beans are extracted from the pods and are the primary ingredient used to produce chocolate.

Coffee

Although commonly perceived as beans, coffee actually begins as a cherry. These vibrant fruits, rich in caffeine, play a crucial role in kickstarting our mornings, and in their natural form, they bear little resemblance to the final coffee product.

Banana

Contrary to popular belief, bananas do not grow on trees but on massive herbs that can reach up to 30 feet in height. These herbs produce striking purple flowers that hide substantial clusters of bananas, and as the bananas develop, they always hang with the stem side down.

Quinoa

Quinoa is rapidly gaining popularity as a nutritious alternative to other grains. It thrives on a tall stalk resembling a flower, and after shaking the seeds loose, they are rinsed to eliminate any natural bitterness.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate trees may appear spindly, but their branches become laden with delicious fruit before harvest. It’s important not to overwater them, as excessive moisture can lead to disease; instead, they thrive in drier soil conditions.

Nutmeg

While we often encounter nutmeg in finely ground form in grocery stores for sprinkling on Christmas cookies, in its natural state, nutmeg resembles more of a fruit or flower.

Asparagus

Unlike many vegetables that grow on bushes or trees, asparagus emerges straight up from the ground in individual stalks. It typically takes two to three years for an asparagus plant to mature, after which you can anticipate a daily harvest.

Mango

Mangoes grow on trees in large clusters, and during a significant portion of their growing cycle, they appear dark green. It’s only when they are ready to be harvested that they undergo a transformation to the familiar yellow color.

Starfruit

Starfruit, less familiar in the United States, is available in some grocery stores and grows in clusters on a small bush. Interestingly, you can cultivate this fruit even in a pot.

Dates

Dates, known for their delicious flavor and usefulness in baking, grow on palm trees that can reach impressive heights of up to 75 feet. The sheer tallness of these trees, coupled with the warm climate required for their optimal growth, presents challenges in the harvesting process.

Camellia tea

While it’s no secret that traditional tea comes from tea leaves, herbal teas like camellia are a blend of various herbs and spices. This popular infusion is derived from the leaves of the flowering camellia tree.

Dragonfruit

Dragon fruit, though less familiar, is appreciated for its vibrant pink skin and creamy taste. If you’re unfamiliar with its appearance in stores, you might be surprised to see it on a tree, hanging low amidst peculiar, super-long leaves.

Zucchini

Zucchini, a popular side dish, is commonly seen as thick, waxy vegetables in grocery stores. However, not everyone is aware that they sprout low to the ground as part of a large bush adorned with bright yellow flowers.

Persimmon

While it’s expected that persimmons grow on trees, the reality is different from what many envision. The branches are quite thick, contrary to the assumption that, given their resemblance to tomatoes, one might think they grow on vines.

Cloves

Cloves, commonly known as a small, fragrant spice used in baking or to flavor warm drinks, are, in fact, the dried buds of a flowering tree that are harvested for culinary use.

Lentils

Lentils, known for their protein-rich content and popularity among both vegetarians and meat-eaters, might be unrecognizable if encountered growing in the wild. From a distance, they resemble tall grass filled with tiny pods.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas, not particularly flavorful on their own, transform into delicious hummus when blended with the right spices. Interestingly, they begin their journey looking rather peculiar inside fuzzy green pods.

Broccoli

Children often liken broccoli to trees, yet the edible part of this vegetable is actually a flower. The entire broccoli plant resembles a large shrub, with the familiar vegetable we consume growing in the middle.

Walnuts

Walnuts retain a peculiar appearance even after harvest, but they appear even stranger on the tree. Despite their hard shell, they possess an additional layer on top of that, adding to their distinctive look.

Avocado

You likely are aware that avocados thrive on trees, particularly in regions with favorable growing conditions. Avocado trees can reach impressive heights, up to 30 feet. Consequently, special poles are employed to bring the fruit down.

Blueberries

If you’ve ever experienced the joy of blueberry picking or delved into classics such as “Blueberries for Sal,” you’re aware that this fruit emerges from bushes. However, you might not be familiar with the fact that these bushes can grow up to 12 feet tall or that blueberries initially manifest as petite white flowers.

Arugula

Arugula is often associated with upscale gourmet salads, adding a touch of sophistication. However, it might amaze you to witness its growth, as it closely resembles a typical weed or an ordinary patch of undergrowth. Nevertheless, despite its humble appearance, arugula remains a delightfully flavorful addition to dishes.

Okra

Okra may not be everyone’s top vegetable choice, but you’ve likely encountered it either fresh or pickled at the grocery store. While the recognizable green pods are familiar, you might not be aware that they emerge alongside vibrant yellow flowers during the growing process.

Leeks

If you’ve ever pondered the growth of leeks, the reality might surprise you. Their peculiar appearance resembles trees, almost like lollipops protruding straight into the soil. Certainly not the typical image one would associate with a vegetable.

Black pepper

It’s fascinating to discover that the pepper we commonly sprinkle on our food begins its journey resembling a cluster of tiny grapes. As these “grapes” undergo the drying process, they transform into the black peppercorns that we are more accustomed to seeing.

Wasabi

This peculiar root doesn’t immediately bring to mind the spicy spread commonly associated with sushi. However, this is the starting point long before it undergoes the transformation into the vibrant green paste we know.

Mustard

While mustard is a familiar condiment, typically found in a bottle on a refrigerator shelf, the mustard we enjoy actually originates from the seeds of the mustard flower. These seeds come from a flower as bright yellow as the condiment itself.

Garlic

Garlic is a plant with various edible components, and the part commonly associated with “garlic” – the clove – is actually the root of the plant. Additionally, garlic features beautiful flowers that emit a fragrance just as aromatic as the well-known cloves.

Sweet potato

If you were to stroll past a sweet potato crop, you might not immediately notice them from the surface. The sweet potatoes, naturally, grow beneath the ground. Above the soil, their appearance is akin to brightly-colored bushes.

Celery

We get a glimpse of how celery begins its journey when picking up a bundle at the grocery store, but it turns out that’s only a small part of the entire plant. Celery actually grows in a substantial bush.

Eggplant

While one might assume that eggplant grows on trees, it is actually harvested from low, squat bushes. Despite expectations, its classification as a low-growing fruit has earned eggplant the status of a berry.

Olive

While many of us are aware that olives grow on trees, the appearance of the olive plant may be unfamiliar. Instead of growing in clusters, each olive is attached to an individual branch. As for the tree itself, its appearance can be reminiscent of something straight out of a horror movie.

Paprika

The flavorful spice paprika is not often associated with peppers, but that’s precisely where it originates. These peppers are closely related to bell peppers, and they are dried and ground for consumption, giving us the distinctive spice known as paprika.

Turmeric

Turmeric, renowned for its vibrant yellow pigment and robust flavor, is a spice that you might have consumed without realizing it. This spice begins as a knobby root, bearing a resemblance to ginger.

Papaya

Papaya grows on trees in large clusters, similar to the way bananas do. Initially green, the fruit transforms into a bright pink or yellow as it ripens. Despite the considerable weight of the fruit, the trees themselves are relatively thin.

Cucumber

While some may find this familiar, for others, it’s a surprise to learn that cucumbers grow hanging from vines. Despite their resemblance to root vegetables, one might expect them to grow in the ground.

Cardamom

Cardamom, a fragrant spice commonly used in baking and sometimes referred to as the Queen of the Spices, grows on a tree in clusters of small green berries before it is harvested.

Sichuan pepper

Sichuan or Szechuan derives its distinctive flavor from a petite, vibrant peppercorn resembling a berry. It’s advised not to consume these berries on their own, as the unexpected spiciness might catch you off guard if you were to taste one directly.

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Article Sources:

Eat This Not That!

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