Fruit and vegetables: Regional and from far away

Your favourite food on trees

Do you throw an apple, banana, or another type of fruit in your lunch box every day? Then you might have wondered where the fruit actually comes from. What grows underground, what grows on trees, and what fruits and vegetables can be found in Switzerland and in which season? All these questions are answered here at little FOOBY.

Fruits that grow and ripen well in Switzerland often come directly from the region. This applies, for example, to many varieties of apple and pears and also to plums, which also grow on fruit trees in this country. Apples and pears come in many different varieties - some are slightly sour, others particularly sweet. Since everyone has different taste sensations, simply try out a few different varieties to find out which you prefer.

If you eat fruit, you should pay particular attention to what’s inside of it. The seeds are often poisonous, so you should only eat the flesh on the outside. Ask your parents which fruit you can eat until you have learned which parts are edible.

Many types of fruit need a much warmer climate than what Switzerland can offer in order to grow properly. These include bananas, for example. They are usually grown in South American countries - on very tall trees in large perennials. They are typically harvested from the tree when they are still green and don’t have much flavour yet. By the time they arrive at the supermarket, they have ripened and have their typical bright yellow colour.

Kiwis also like it warmer and are more likely to be found in the Mediterranean or in China. So by the time they end up in your lunch box, they’ve had a long journey behind them. You can find everything about the green, hairy fruit in our infographic about kiwis.

How and where do vegetables grow?

In general, vegetables are the parts of plants that are edible. Therefore, carrots, beetroot, and radishes are the roots of the respective plant and grow underground. The stem grows from the root and is also edible in some plants, e.g. asparagus and celery. The flowers grow from the stem, which can develop into the fruits of a plant. Depending on their starch and sugar content, these are then either called fruits or vegetables.

Vegetables from the ground

The leaves of some plants are also edible, especially those on various types of lettuce - for example, iceberg lettuce, lamb’s lettuce, rocket, and lollo. While iceberg lettuce leaves form a round head, the curly-leaved lollo is rosette-shaped, as too are the leaves of lamb’s lettuce and rocket. On the other hand, some lettuces come in smaller shapes called hearts. Once the perfect lettuce has been found, the only thing missing is the salad dressing. Enlist your child’s help and let them decide how the salad should taste in the end.

little FOOBY tip:

Always prepare the salad dressing in a bowl beforehand, so that the salad doesn’t end up too vinegary by mistake.

Although many types of fruit are found on trees, vegetables are mainly found in beds. Cucumbers and courgettes, for example, grow in fields, but you can also grow them in your own vegetable garden without any problems. Tomatoes, although a fruit, also grow in vegetable beds. Whether large beef tomatoes, medium-sized stake tomatoes, bush tomatoes, or small cocktail tomatoes - they all cope well with our climate. However, in the cold months of the year, these small, round fruits have to be imported from the south.

Storing vegetables

Broccoli, red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, peas, carrots and so on are often used as the fresh component in many hot meals. Just like typical salad ingredients, you can find these vegetables, which are usually enjoyed cooked, in almost every supermarket. They’re either fresh from the vegetable stand or are found in the freezers as frozen goods. This means you can eat your favourite vegetables all year round without them having to be in season. Another advantage of frozen vegetables is that they retain their nutrients longer than if they were simply stored in the refrigerator for a lengthy time.

Berries on the bush

Raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries – these small, sweet and sour delicacies usually grow on bushes and often end up in cakes, desserts, or smoothies. But beware: some of them can be spiky!

In summer, these berry bushes can be found brimming with fruit. The same applies to cherries, which grow on trees. Strawberries, raspberries, currants, blackberries, gooseberries or blueberries thrive best in warm temperatures. Typical harvest time is therefore summer or late summer. If you don’t have your own garden, you can grow berries in small quantities on your balcony. Strawberries in particular grow and thrive wonderfully on balconies.

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