dispersal away from the mother plant. Some
fruits are inedible — they’re designed to catch
the wind, or the fur of a passing animal — but
the fruits that we eat were made by the plant
to be eaten, so that an animal would
intentionally take it and the seeds away. The
fruit has no support, nutrition, or transport
responsibilities to the other organs. It
therefore consists almost entirely of storage
tissue filled with appealing and useful
substances for animals. When ready and ripe,
it’s usually the most flavorful and tenderest
part of the plant.
Texture
The texture of raw fruits and vegetables can
be crisp and juicy, soft and melting, mealy
and dry, or flabby and chewy. These qualities
are a reflection of the way the plant tissues
break apart as we chew. And their breaking
behavior depends on two main factors: the