Lemmie hear something interesting, odd, or just cool. Also, tell me how you know that nugget of what may be little known facts. Keep it rated PG, please. Short and simple is great- or a bit longer with a story is always satisfying as well. The fact must be something you already knew... no asking uncle google for help... be honest fellow wordsmiths! Start your post with 'Did you know...' and then free type that knowledgeable little crumble. If I did not know your little known fact, I may drop ya a buck or two. :D I will go first to set the bar. Did you know... cashews are not actually a nut? They grow on a tree and produce fruit that sort of resembles a colored pepper (or capsaicin if you are not in the US) and on the fruit grows what people THINK is a nut, but it isn't. A quick google search can take you to a fantastic photo. I learned this from trying to tell my Gram why cashews cost more than peanuts and why there was never 'heavy cashew' in the mixed nuts she was so fond of. :)

What is in your pantry?

Did you know that several of the foods we use every day are the product of selective breeding, and did not exist the way we know them as few as one hundred years ago? Take carrots, watermelons, and bananas for example.

When you think of a carrot, you may think of an animated bunny, or the rumors that they help with eyesight, but what do you truly know about them? Well, one hundred years ago the iconic orange carrot available in your local supermarket did not exist. Orange carrots are the result of selective breeding with the intent of producing a uniform product. Carrots were originally white or purple and often had more than one root.

Watermelons originated in Africa. They were named, and prized, for their high water content. They contain an enzyme which fortifies your body against heat stroke, and they used to taste horrible! The juicy and sweet watermelon flavor you have come to love is also the result of selective breeding.

Bananas are also a genetic variant of a recent ancestor plant. The strain that was commonly available sixty years ago went extinct, it was also the banana that was the basis for the artificial flavoring. Artificial banana flavoring still tastes like a banana, just not one you can buy today!

What food is next?