Not Your Average Fruit

Fall is in the air!  The nights are chilly, the mornings are crisp.  Orange, red, and yellow foliage is painting the scenery in gorgeous hues that only mother nature can create.  One of the most notable signs of fall is, of course, pumpkins.  Although pumpkins may not be the first thought that comes to your mind when you imagine fruit, they are in fact fruit!  (Botanically speaking, anything that starts from a flower is fruit.)

Native to North America, pumpkins come in many, many different varieties, shapes, and colors.  Although commonly used for decorating or carving, everything from the pumpkin flesh to the seeds, even the flower, is edible.  They are full of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals that can boost your immune system, protect your eyesight, and provide antioxidants to protect against cancer.  They can be roasted, diced, pureed, and mashed into sweet and savory dishes alike–the possibilities are endless!  The Lenape, the indigenous people to southeastern Pennsylvania, would cut their pumpkins into rings, dry them in the sun, and then rehydrate them with water when ready to cook.  We hope you don’t miss the chance to eat this fruit during peak season this fall!