Eggplant

Eggplants are native to southern India and Sri Lanka, where they were first grown as bitter fruit. Now, however, after years of cultivation and crosses, farmers have succeeded in improving the flavour of the crop. Asia produces some 78% of the world’s total eggplants, while Turkey churns out more of the crop than all of Europe combined.

Ever wonder why they are called eggplants, though? The name was first applied to a white-skinned variety of the fruit, and it’s been carried on to the crop’s descendants, whether purple or not.

Did you know…

 The eggplant-fruit-and-shoot borer (EFSB) can often decimate an eggplant harvest. To protect eggplant from EFSB, scientists are now working on Bt eggplant, which will be released very soon.