[Krislee]

Is there a list or web site somewhere that has all the veggies and fruits available in the US? I am looking to try new stuff and want to compile a list of what I haven't tried.

Thanks for any and all info. provided.

[Kelly_S]

Because most fruit is a season produce you might just want to keep checking your local product markets and areas in the grocery stores.

I'll see if I can find a list of fruit for you though.

[Kelly_S]

Try these links:

http://www.fruitarian.com/ag/Exotic_fruits.htm

http://www.fruitarian.com/ag/Varieties_of_fruits.htm

[REC]

Go to lots of different stores because they all carry different items. If I find them, I try them... I have two books on unusual fruits and veggies. They're probably out of print, but I'm sure other books have replaced them. They tell you how to choose well and cook.

In season unusual fruits are mangos (champaign and manilla) and gold kiwi (AWSOME. so much better than green kiwi.) Ugli fruit is out, too. Figs, different varieties of grapes and cherries.

Unusual veggies you can get now: kale (curled, lacinata, and Red Russian), kohlrabi, okra (great, as long as you don't overcook it), chard, salsify (mild and tender), burdock.

In the fall, try pomegranite and pomelo (citrus fruit, sometimes spelled pumelo).

Don't forget mushrooms: oyster (my fav), mitake (also called hen of the woods), others.

[Krislee]

for replying. The info and lists were very helpful. I went even further and found a site for veggies off of yahoo too.

Rec - what are oyster mushrooms? I have never even heard of them. I put shiitake on my list to try - what are mitake? Do either of these have a season?

Thanks again!

[MILLIEB]

I've heard mitake called "chicken of the forest" - must be the yellow color.

Krislee - Although mushrooms do have seasons in the wild, most mushrooms that you get in grocery stores (probably all?!) are grown by mushroom growers under controlled conditions and don't really have a season -

[patch30]

Krislee

What's the URL for the veggie site off Yahoo???

thanks
Patch

[Krislee]

I went to Yahoo and typed in vegetables.list and these sites were very helpful...


http://freepages.garden.rootsweb.com...n/1veglist.htm

http://www.powen.freeserve.co.uk/Per.../listofveg.htm

Hope this helps!

[REC]

Oyster mushrooms are my favorite delicate mushroom that adds loads of flavor. They come in many colors, but most usual is a white or a white-grey color. The fresh ones have their caps down. The older they get, the caps start curling up. I love them steamed with kale. This mushroom must be cooked.

Mitake, also called hen in the woods (or, I guess, chicken of the forest) is a brown mushroom that you get more in a clump than individual mushrooms. In chinese medicine, it has medicinal qualities. When you get these, break them into sizable clumps, as they'll shrink with cooking. Adds lots of flavor. I'll guess it gets its name from looking like a cock's comb.

Last summer, I went to Phillip's mushroom museum in Chadds Ford, PA. Very interesting. Most of the packaged mushrooms here (I'm near Chadds Ford) and I believe in the US, come from Philips. Perhaps they have a web page, but I don't know it.

www.fungi.com is the web page for fungi perfecti, a place where you can mail order mushroom kits. Loads of info in their catalogue. I wouldn't recommend growing your own, though, unless you can put them out of your house--the spores get in the air and make breathing rough. I tried this for a few months in an apt, but went back to prepackaged mushrooms.