Bananas are native to Southeast Asia. However by 500 BC they were being grown in India. Alexander the Great ate them and his men took them back to the Western World. By 200 AD bananas were grown in China. Bananas were probably taken to Madagascar by the Arabs and spread from there to mainland Africa. In the 16th century the Portuguese took bananas to the New World. The first recorded sale of bananas in England was in 1633 however they were a rare and expensive fruit until the end of the 19th century. Bananas were first sold in the USA in the 1870s.

Beetroot

Beetroot is descended from wild sea beet, which grew around Europe and Asia. However for centuries people ate the leaves of the plant rather than the roots. Eating beetroot only really became popular in the 18th century.

Blackberries

Blackberries grew in Europe, Asia and North and South America. For thousands of years people ate blackberries and since ancient times they were used as a medicine.

Blackcurrant

In the Middle Ages and for centuries afterwards blackcurrants were used as a medicine. During World War II the government encouraged people to grow them as they were a rich source of vitamin C. Most were made into cordial and blackcurrant drinks have remained popular in Britain since then.

Blueberry

Blueberries are native to North America. They were eaten by Native Americans (sometimes with meat). They were also used as a medicine. Europeans learned how to grow blueberries and from the late 19th century they were canned.

Broccoli

It is not known for certain when broccoli was first eaten. The Romans ate a vegetable that may have been broccoli. It was certainly eaten in France and Italy in the 16th century. However broccoli was rare in England until the 18th century. It first became popular in the USA in the 1920s.

Brussel sprout

Brussels sprouts were grown in the area around Brussels in the 13th century. However they were only rarely eaten in England until the 18th century. Brussels sprouts were grown in the USA from the 19th century.

Cabbages

Cabbages are native to southern Europe. They were grown by the Greeks and the Romans and in Europe they have been a popular vegetable ever since. Cabbages were brought to North America in the 16th century.

Carrots

Carrots are native to Asia. The ancient Egyptians grew them. However early carrots were not orange. They were black, yellow, purple or white! Later the Greeks and Romans grew carrots. The Arabs grew carrots and about the 12th century they were introduced into southern Europe. Orange carrots were grown by the 16th century and they first became popular in England during Queen Elizabeth I's reign.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is believed to come from Asia Minor. In Europe they were first eaten in Italy. However in the 16th century the cauliflower spread throughout Europe. Cauliflower was first grown in North America in the late 17th century.

Celery

Celery is native to the Mediterranean. Wild celery was known to the Greeks and Romans. However cultivation of celery only began in Europe in the 17th century.

Cherries

Cherries are native to Asia. They were eaten by the Chinese, the Greeks and the Romans. However in Northern Europe cherries only really became popular in the late Middle Ages. In the 17th century colonists took cherries to North America.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are native to south Asia. They were grown by the Greeks and Romans. Cucumbers were also grown in England in the Middle Ages. The Spaniards introduced cucumbers into the New World in 1494.

Fig

Figs have been grown in the Middle East since prehistoric times. They were mentioned in Sumer (Iraq) as early as 2,500 BC. They were a staple food in Egypt and were later grown by the Greeks and Romans. Figs were probably introduced to China in the 8th century AD. Figs were taken by Spaniards to the Americas in the 16th century. Figs were also introduced to England in the 16th century.

Gooseberry

Gooseberries are native to Europe and Western Asia. They were first mentioned in England in the 16th century when they were grown as a medicine. However in the 19th century they were a popular food. The name gooseberry may simply be goose berry because they were eaten with goose or it may be a corruption of the Dutch word kruisbes, which means cross berry.

Grapefruit

It is not known exactly how grapefruit originated. It is believed to be a hybrid of two other fruits. At any rate grapefruit was first recorded in the West Indies in the mid-18th century.

Grapes

Grapes are native to Asia and they were grown before 4,000 BC. Grapes were, obviously, used to make wine but they were also eaten as a fruit and they were popular with the Greeks and Romans and have been ever since.

Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts are believed to be native to Asia. They were grown by the Chinese and also by the Greeks and the Romans. Hazelnuts were first grown in the USA in the 18th century.

Kiwi fruit

Kiwifruits are native to Southeast Asia. Although grown in China for centuries they were not commercially grown in the West until the 20th century. In the last years of the 20th century kiwi fruit became very popular.

Lemons

Lemons originally came from Southern Asia. They later reached the Middle East and they were known to the Romans although they were rare in the Roman Empire. Later the Arabs introduced lemons to Spain and Sicily. In the 15th century lemons became popular in northern Europe.

Limes

Limes are native to Southern Asia. The Arabs took them to the Mediterranean area and later the Crusaders took them to Europe. Columbus took limes to the West Indies. From 1795 British sailors were given rations of lime juice to prevent scurvy.

Leeks

Leeks are believed to be native to central Asia. They were grown by the Egyptians. The Greeks and Romans also grew leeks and the Romans are believed to have introduced them to Britain. The leek is the symbol of Wales. According to legend Welsh soldiers wore a leek in their caps to distinguish themselves from their Saxon enemies during a battle.

Lentils

Lentils are a very ancient vegetable. They have been eaten since prehistoric times. Lentils are native to Asia and they were eaten the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. They were also eaten in India.

Lettuce

Lettuce is an ancient vegetable. It is native to the Mediterranean area. The Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans ate lettuce. The Spaniards took lettuce to the New World.

Loganberry

Loganberries are hybrids of blackberries and raspberries. They were first grown in 1880 or 1881 by John H. Logan.

Lychees

Lychees are native to China, where they have been grown for centuries. However lychees were unknown in Europe until the 18th century. From the late 19th century lychees were grown in Hawaii, California and Florida and southern Africa.

Mango

Mangos are native to southern Asia. In the 10th century Persian merchants brought them to the Middle East and by the 18th century they were grown in South America and the West Indies.

Melons

The early history of melons in unclear. However melons are probably native to western Asia. They were known in China and they were cultivated by the Arabs. In the Middle Ages they were imported into Europe. In the 16th century melons were taken to the New World by the Spanish.

Olives

Olives are native to the Eastern Mediterranean and people have grown them since prehistoric times. Olives were very important to the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans.

Onions

It is not known for certain where onions come from but it was probably Asia. Onions were one of the first vegetables grown by people. They were eaten by the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. During the Middle Ages onions were one of the staple foods of people in Europe.

Oranges

Oranges are native to China and they were grown in that country as early as 2,500 BC. The Romans imported oranges but after the fall of Rome they were forgotten in Western Europe. When the Arabs conquered Spain in the 8th century they introduced oranges. Later they were introduced into Italy. In the 16th century Spaniards took oranges to the Americas. In the 17th century rich Englishmen began growing oranges.

Parsnip

Parsnips are thought to be native to the Mediterranean region. The Romans grew them and they were a popular vegetable in the Middle Ages. However in England parsnips became less popular once potatoes became common in the 18th century.

Passion fruit

Passion fruits were native to central South America. They were given their name by the Spaniards who were reminded of the passion of Christ. Passion fruits were introduced into England and Australia in the 19th century.

Pawpaw

The pawpaw is native to North America. The Spanish discovered the pawpaw in 1541. However pawpaws did not become popular in Europe until the end of the 20th century.

Peaches

Peaches came from China where they were grown by 800 BC. Later the Persians grew them and the Romans ate them. Peaches were brought to the Americas in the 16th century. They were eaten in England in the 17th century but they were rare and expensive until the 20th century.

Pears

Pears are native to Europe and North Asia. Pears were grown by the Greeks and by the Romans. Pears were grown in England in the Middle Ages and many new varieties were grown in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. As well as being eaten pears were used to make perry.

Peas

Peas are native to Asia and they were one of the earliest vegetables grown by human beings. The Greeks and Romans grew peas and during the Middle Ages peas were an important part of the diet of ordinary people in Europe.

Pineapple

Pineapples originally grew in South America and Christopher Columbus discovered them in 1493. However during the 16th and 17th centuries pineapples were very expensive in Europe as they had to be imported. By the early 18th century pineapples were grown in hothouses in Northern Europe but they were still very costly. In the 19th century pineapples became cheaper. Pineapples were first canned in the late 19th century but canned pineapple first became common in the early 20th century.

Plums

Plums are an ancient fruit. They grew wild in Europe, Asia and North America. Plums were grown by the Ancient Chinese and the Romans and later by the Arabs. The Crusaders brought damsons back from the Middle East to Europe. Today plums are one of the worlds most popular fruits.

Pomegranate

Pomegranates were native to Iran and they have been grown for thousands of years. They were eaten by the Egyptians and also by the Ancient Chinese, the Greeks and the Romans. Pomegranates were known in Europe in the Middle Ages and they were mentioned by Shakespeare. Pomegranates were introduced into the New World in the 16th century. Pomegranate is believed to be a corruption of the old French words pome garnete, which meant seed apple.

Potatoes

Potatoes are native to South America and they were grown by the native people for thousands of years before Europeans discovered them. The Spaniards took potatoes to Europe in the 16th century and they were first introduced to England in 1586. However at first potatoes were regarded as a strange vegetable and they were not commonly grown in Europe until the 18th century. In the 1840s potatoes in Ireland were afflicted by potato blight and the result was a terrible famine as the people had come to rely on potatoes for their staple food.

Pumpkin

Pumpkins are native to central America. The Native Americans used them as a staple food. Pumpkins were adopted as a food by European colonists.

Radish

Radishes are native to Asia. They were grown by the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Radishes were taken to the New World in the 16th century. The word radish comes from the Latin word radix, meaning root.

Raspberries

Raspberries are native to Asia. The Romans grew them and they were also grown in England from the Middle Ages onwards. Raspberries were used as a medicine as well as a food.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is native to China and for thousands of years people believed it was a medicine. Rhubarb reached Europe in the 17th century and by the 18th century it was used as a food as well as medicine. In the 19th century rhubarb became a popular food in North America.

Runner beans

Runner beans are native to central America and were grown there long before they were discovered by Europeans in the 16th century. Runner beans were first grown in England in the 17th century.

Spinach

Spinach is native to Asia. However it was unknown to the Greeks and Romans. It was first grown in Persia. Later it was grown by both the Arabs and the Chinese. The Arabs introduced spinach to southern Europe and by the 14th century it was eaten in England.

Strawberries

Strawberries grew wild in Europe and eastern North America. They were grown by the Romans and were a popular fruit in Europe during the Middle Ages. In the 19th century strawberries became widely cultivated in the USA. Nobody knows why they are called strawberries. They may once have been called strewn berries because the berries are strewn on the plant. Or the name may come from the old word strew, which meant to spread because runners spread from the plant.

Tangerine

Tangerines are native to Southeast Asia. They were introduced into Europe in the early 19th century and they were named Tangerines because they came from the port of Tangier in North Africa. Tangerines were introduced into the USA in the mid-19th century.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are native to South America. The Spaniards came across them in the 16th century. However tomatoes were unknown in England until the end of the 16th century.

Turnips

Turnips are native to northern Europe. They were grown by the Romans and during the Middle Ages turnips were a staple food of poor people in Europe. In the 18th century Charles 'Turnip' Townshend pioneered growing turnips to feed cattle.

Walnuts

Walnuts first grew in Persia. They were grown by the Greeks and later by the Romans and walnuts spread through Europe. Walnuts were well known in England in the 16th century.

To read a history of food click here.

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