Who doesn’t love to take a stroll down the produce aisle at the grocery store or visit a produce farm? When you think about it, the term produce is everywhere and we come across it every day. But what does it mean, exactly? Is it synonymous with vegetables or does it include fruits as well? Keep reading to discover the answer.
Does “Produce” Refer to Fruits or Vegetables?
The simple answer is that the term “produce” refers to both fruits and vegetables.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines produce as “agricultural products and especially fresh fruits and vegetables as distinguished from grain and other staple crops.” So, a non-comprehensive list of produce items would include all the following:
- Apple
- Banana
- Orange
- Grapes
- Watermelon
- Strawberry
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Kiwi
- Blueberry
- Raspberry
- Lemon
- Lime
- Peach
- Pear
- Plum
- Cherry
- Avocado
- Tomato
- Cucumber
- Bell Pepper
- Carrot
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Potato
- Sweet Potato
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Cabbage
- Eggplant
- Zucchini
- Corn
- Pumpkin
- Butternut Squash
- Radish
- Asparagus
- And more!
Fruits vs Vegetables: What Is the Difference?
Now let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of produce. What marks the difference between fruits and vegetables, the two main categories of produce? Here’s what you need to know:
Fruits:
- Develop from the ovary of a flowering plant after fertilization.
- Typically have seeds, although some fruits are seedless.
- Generally have a sweet or tart taste.
- Often consumed raw or used in desserts, smoothies, or jams.
- Examples include apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries, and grapes.
Vegetables:
- Derived from various parts of plants such as leaves, stems, roots, or even flowers.
- Typically don’t have seeds, although some types of vegetables do.
- Exhibit a wide range of flavors including bitter, savory, or mild.
- Commonly cooked or used in savory dishes, salads, soups, or stir-fries.
- Examples include carrots, broccoli, spinach, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes.
To put it simply, if a produce item grows from a flower and has seeds, then you can be confident that you are dealing with a fruit.
Interestingly, there are some fruits and vegetables that fall into a gray area between the two categories. Such items include cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocado, which are actually fruits but grouped together with vegetables due to their preparation and use.
If you find this confusing, don’t worry: All these fruits masquerading as vegetables fall into the “produce” category as well!
Wrapping It Up
So, to summarize, the term “produce” refers to both fruits and vegetables. The classification is more dependent on how the item is grown and harvested, rather than on taste or culinary use.
It is quite an extensive category that encompasses all fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Knowing this can help us make informed food choices and lead a healthier life.
CRJ Produce Inc: Wholesale Produce All Year Round
No matter the season, at CRJ Produce, we offer all the produce you need, all year round.
Contact us today by email at info@crjproduceinc.com or fill out the form on this website to get in touch with our team. We look forward to hearing from you!
