January FFVP Educational Slides These slides are for displaying as students enjoy their FFVP snacks during the month of December! Find discussion ideas and answers to questions in the “Notes” below each slide. If a mix of veggies is served for snack, you’ll find more than one slide for that day. Red is our theme color of the month! You’ll notice a red fruit or vegetable on Tuesday each week. Please note that the FFVP menu may change! More information available at: Please contact Andrea Northup at with any questions or comments about the FFVP

A clementine is a type of citrus fruit that grows on trees. Like tangerines, they can only be harvested in late fall and winter, and only grow in warm climates. Clementines, as well as Tangerines and Satsumas, are all varieties of a mandarin orange. Provide thiamin and vitamin B6 which helps the body break down food for energy and brainpower Excellent source of vitamins A and C The Clementine was an accidental hybrid of a mandarin tree and was discovered in Algeria in the early 1900’s. Orange fruits contain lots of healthy vitamins and bio- flavonoids. What other orange fruits can you name? Clementines are seedless mandarin oranges. In order to “plant” more trees, a branch is grafted onto a root stock to make more Clementine trees!

Bell peppers are vegetables that grow on small, bush-like plants. Fresh Minnesota peppers can be found in the months of July, August and September. Peppers can be put into two groups – sweet or hot peppers Red, orange, or yellow peppers are green peppers left on the plant long enough to ripen and change color! With large amounts of vitamins A, C and E, peppers are wonderfully healthy for your skin and immune system Good source of fiber to aid our digestive system Contain folate to help build new cells Peppers originated in Mexico and Central and South America. Christopher Columbus loaded his ships with many pepper when he returned to Spain. Soon peppers were popular throughout Europe. Peppers have more nutrients once they are fully ripe. Which pepper has more nutrients – a green pepper or a red pepper?

Pineapples are groups of flowers whose fruitlets fuse around a central core. They grow on short- stemmed plants in tropical climates. In the United States, most pineapples are grown in Hawaii. Pineapples got their name because people thought they looked like pine cones In the Caribbean, pineapple crowns outside a home mean friendship and welcome Contain bromelian, an enzyme that may help to reduce joint pain High in manganese to build strong muscles and strong bones Good source of fiber to help with digestion Pineapples originated in Brazil and Uruguay. Native tribes ate them and spread them throughout the continent. Christopher Columbus brought the first pineapples back to Europe. What makes a tropical climate different from our climate in Minnesota? What other plants grow well in tropical climates?

Carrots are vegetables that grow underground as a taproot (the main root of a plant). We grow carrots in Minnesota. They are harvested in the late summer to early fall and can be stored throughout the winter months. Carrots are related to fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow! Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called beta carotene. What other orange vegetables can you list? The first carrots were grown as medicine because they have so many vitamins and minerals Best known for a high beta carotene, content - this helps keep our eyes, skin, bones, and teeth healthy (and makes carrots orange)

Pears are fruits that grow on trees. Pear trees bloom in spring and the fruit is harvested in the fall. Pears can grow in Minnesota, but because of our cold winters, farmers need to plant hardy varieties. Did you know that pears don’t float? Why do you think that is? Pears are on of the few fruits that don’t ripen on a tree – they ripen after they are picked. High in fiber and water to promote a feeling of fullness and a healthy digestive system Good source of vitamin C promotes the healing of cuts, wounds, and bruises Pears started out as wild trees in Asia and southern Europe, and started to be cultivated 5,000 years ago in China. Now there are thousands of pear varieties. Pears are mature, or ready to eat, in the fall. Can you think of other fall fruits? What other fruits do pears remind you of?

Sugar snap peas are a vegetable that is both pod and seed. They are a cross between a garden pea and a snow pea. Minnesotan-grown sugar snap peas are available in June and July. Edible pod peas, such as sugar snaps, have fibers that only go one direction, making them easier for us to chew Excellent source of dietary fiber to keep our intestines running smoothly Terrific protein source to give our muscles strength and our body energy Provide lots of vitamin C to boost our immune system Researchers don’t know for sure where peas were first grown, but they do know that people were eating peas almost 10,000 years ago! Open up a couple pea pods. How many peas do you count in your pods? What is the average number of peas in your pods? If you wanted to eat 30 peas, how many pods would you need?

Strawberries are a fruit that grows on small plants. They are the only fruit with their seeds on the outside of their skin! You can find fresh Minnesota strawberries in June and July. An average strawberry has 200 tiny seeds on it Native Americans used strawberries by pounding them into cornmeal bread, this is the origin of strawberry short cake. Great source of potassium High in magnesium for strong bones Good source of vitamin C for healthy body tissue Wild strawberries grew in Italy as far back as 243 BCE. The strawberries native to the Americas are bigger and sweeter than their European relatives. If a pint of strawberries has 12 berries and you buy 4 pints, how many berries do you have?

Broccoli are clusters of flowers buds (florets) which grow on stems. Each plant produces one head of broccoli. We harvest Minnesota broccoli from June through October. The name broccoli comes from the Latin word brachium, which means branch or arm Broccoli is in the same family of plants as cabbage and cauliflower. Broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients, sometimes called a Super Food! Has as much calcium per ounce as milk Good source of fiber, vitamins C, E, and K Good source of folate and iron to make your immune system and blood cells strong Broccoli has existed for more than 2,000 years and was first cultivated in Italy. In the 1900s Italian immigrants introduced broccoli to the United States when they planted it in their gardens. When we eat broccoli, we are actually eating the small, unopened flowers of the plant. Can you think of any other vegetables we eat that are flowers?

Carrots are vegetables that grow underground as a taproot (the main root of a plant). We grow carrots in Minnesota. They are harvested in the late summer to early fall and can be stored throughout the winter months. Carrots are related to fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow! Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called beta carotene. What other orange vegetables can you list? The first carrots were grown as medicine because they have so many vitamins and minerals Best known for a high beta carotene, content - this helps keep our eyes, skin, bones, and teeth healthy (and makes carrots orange)

A head of cauliflower is actually the immature flowers of the plant. In addition to white cauliflower, it can be purple, green or gold! In Minnesota, cauliflower is harvested from July to November. Because leaves cover the cauliflower buds and block out the sunlight, chlorophyll doesn’t form in the buds and this keeps the cauliflower white. In the picture, the leaves have been cut back. Full of vitamin C, fiber, and folate to keep our immune system and cells strong Contains a substance called indole which scientists think may help prevent certain types of cancer Cauliflower was first grown in Asia around the Mediterranean Sea. The word cauliflower comes from the Latin floris meaning flower and caulis meaning stalk. Find the Mediterranean Sea on a map. What continents touch the Mediterranean Sea? What Asian countries border the Mediterranean Sea?

A tangelo is a type of citrus fruit that grows on trees. Like tangerines, they can only be harvested in late fall and winter, and only grow in warm climates. Minneolas tangelos were specially developed and released for commercial production from Florida in Provide thiamin and vitamin B6 which helps the body break down food for energy and brainpower Excellent source of vitamins A and C The Tangelo is most likely a cross between a Mandarin orange and the pummelo. It likely originated in southeastern Asia over 3,500 years ago. Orange fruits contain lots of healthy vitamins and bio- flavonoids. What other orange fruits can you name? Minneolas tend to be so juicy that you need to lean forward while eating. Tangelos have a distinct shape – almost like a pear, but they have a skin of an orange!

Tomatoes are actually fruits that grow on plants (because they contain seeds) but we call them vegetables. Minnesota farmers grow many tomatoes, which are harvested from July through September. Grape tomatoes are a small variety of tomato. The name tomato has its roots in the Aztec word tomatl The heaviest tomato ever grown was almost 8 pounds! Tomatoes contain the antioxidants lutein, lycopene, and beta carotene, which may help to protect us against heart disease and cancer Good source of vitamin A and vitamin C to keep us healthy Tomatoes are native to Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. As far back as 2,000 years ago Aztecs and Mayas were growing tomatoes. Spanish explorers returned home with tomato seeds and introduced them to Europe. Tomatoes are an important ingredient in many of our favorite foods. Can you name some of the foods that use tomatoes as ingredients?

Grapes are fruits that grow in bunches on vines. Grapes come in many colors – white, green, golden, red, purple, and black. Concord grapes are one of three fruits native to North America. Grapes grow in Minnesota and are ripe in late summer and fall. Grapes are about 80% water! There are grapes growing on every continent except Antarctica Packed with Vitamin C and other nutrients to keep you healthy Good source of fiber to help with digestion Good source of potassium, which can help prevent muscle cramps during exercise and fight infection Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. People were growing grapes over 8,000 years ago! What do you called a dried grape? What other foods can we make using grapes?

Broccoli are clusters of flowers buds (florets) which grow on stems. Each plant produces one head of broccoli. We harvest Minnesota broccoli from June through October. The name broccoli comes from the Latin word brachium, which means branch or arm Broccoli is in the same family of plants as cabbage and cauliflower. Broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients, sometimes called a Super Food! Has as much calcium per ounce as milk Good source of fiber, vitamins C, E, and K Good source of folate and iron to make your immune system and blood cells strong Broccoli has existed for more than 2,000 years and was first cultivated in Italy. In the 1900s Italian immigrants introduced broccoli to the United States when they planted it in their gardens. When we eat broccoli, we are actually eating the small, unopened flowers of the plant. Can you think of any other vegetables we eat that are flowers?

A clementine is a type of citrus fruit that grows on trees. Like tangerines, they can only be harvested in late fall and winter, and only grow in warm climates. Clementines, as well as Tangerines and Satsumas, are all varieties of a mandarin orange. Provide thiamin and vitamin B6 which helps the body break down food for energy and brainpower Excellent source of vitamins A and C The Clementine was an accidental hybrid of a mandarin tree and was discovered in Algeria in the early 1900’s. Orange fruits contain lots of healthy vitamins and bio- flavonoids. What other orange fruits can you name? Clementines are seedless mandarin oranges. In order to “plant” more trees, a branch is grafted onto a root stock to make more Clementine trees!

Jicama (pronounced HEE-ka-mah) that we eat is the root of a long plant that grows along the ground (a vine). Jicama has many different names – yacón, yacuma, arboloco, Mexican potato, Mexican yam bean, and leaf cup. Has lots of good fiber to help us digest our food Good source of vitamin C to boost the immune system Good source of potassium to help nerves and muscles communicate Jicama belongs to the potato family. It has been growing in Mexico and Central America for centuries. Can you match the American vegetable name with the British vegetable name? auberginerutabaga rocketbell pepper capsicumzucchini swedeeggplant beetrootbeet courgettearugula

Watermelons are a fruit that grows on vines running along the ground. Minnesota watermelons are ripe from July to September. Watermelons are 92% water and 8% sugar Watermelons can have seeds or be seedless Watermelons can have red, orange, or yellow flesh inside. Good source of vitamin C to boost your immune system Dark red watermelons have beta carotene that your body turns into vitamin A and lycopene which may help fight some cancers Watermelon is thought to have originated in Africa over 4,000 years ago. African slaves brought watermelon seeds with them to the Americas and planted them in the fields to eat during the hot summer months. Watermelons take about 80 days to grow and ripen. If you wanted to have a ripe watermelon on August 31 st, when would you need to plant the seeds?

The blood orange is a type of orange. Oranges are citrus fruits that grow on thorny trees. Oranges do not grow in Minnesota. A pigment, anthocyanin, gives blood oranges their red color. The fruit needs to be chilled in order to develop the red color. One orange contains over 100% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C Vitamin C helps to boost your immune system and to heal cuts. Anthocyanin is a type of antioxidant and may help to prevent some diseases Oranges originated in Asia. Blood oranges were first grown in Sicily. Columbus brought orange seeds and seedlings to the Americas on his second voyage in What other red fruits can you name? Which ones are your favorites? How do you like to eat them?

Carrots are vegetables that grow underground as a taproot (the main root of a plant). We grow carrots in Minnesota. They are harvested in the late summer to early fall and can be stored throughout the winter months. Carrots are related to fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow! Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called beta carotene. What other orange vegetables can you list? The first carrots were grown as medicine because they have so many vitamins and minerals Best known for a high beta carotene, content - this helps keep our eyes, skin, bones, and teeth healthy (and makes carrots orange)

Bananas are a fruit that grows in bunches called hands. Each banana is called a finger. Although the banana plant looks like a tree, it is actually a giant herb! Bananas have been growing on earth for over 1 million years Types of bananas include dwarf bananas, red bananas, and plantains High in fiber to help your stomach feel full Full of potassium and vitamin C. Potassium helps our bodies balance fluids when we eat salty foods and vitamin C helps our immune system Bananas are from the Malaysian area of Southeast Asia. The banana was officially introduced to the US public at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial exhibition where it was wrapped in foil and sold for 10 cents! Bananas are a tropical fruit and need warm, humid conditions to grow. Brainstorm countries with a tropical climate and then listen to your teacher describe how a banana travels to get to our classroom.