"Julie Bove" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Christopher M." > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Doug Freyburger" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Christopher M. wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I don't
>>>> think that people, hundreds of years ago, would typically add handfuls
>>>> of
>>>> herbs to their dishes.
>>>
>>> The farther back in time you go the less variety of farmed foods were
>>> available. Recently this has been because of transportation. Before
>>> that refrigeration. Going back farther it was preservation and going
>>> centuries back it was fewer species had been domesticated into crops.
>>
>> Not only that, but vegetables and fruits have also gone extinct over the
>> years. During this century, extinction has been a problem facing bananas.
>
> Hmmm... We just bought some today.
>
> What fruits and vegetables are now extinct?

The Gros Michel banana was almost driven to extinction. The song "Yes We
have No Bananas" was written about the Gros Michel banana.

Many other fruits and vegetables have gone extinct over the years. It's
quite common.

I've read that in the USA only 5% of the apple varieties that existed 200
years ago still remain. In the UK, 90% of vegetable varieties have
disappeared over the last century.


W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)