The term stone fruit includes fruits such as peaches, plums, yellow plums or cherries - also rosaceous, but which form one larger seed encased in pulp.
The category of berries includes berry bushes or plants that bear perennial rather small, roundish and juicy fruits such as currants, blueberries, raspberries or even grapes. Strawberries are actually considered to be a so called aggregate accessory fruit due to their botanical classification, but are usually counted as a berry due to their appearance and taste.
Local vegetables can be broadly classified into six categories: Fruiting vegetables, leafy and stem vegetables, root and tuber vegetables, cabbage vegetables, legumes, and onion vegetables.
Fruiting vegetables include annual plants that form edible fruits above ground, such as cucumbers, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers.
Leaf and stem vegetables include asparagus, spinach, chard, lettuce and celery. As the name suggests, it is not the fruits that are consumed here, but the leaves and stems of the plants. The leaf stalks are usually fleshy thickened.
Root and tuber vegetables include beet, carrots, parsnips, celeriac and radishes. The difference between root vegetables (such as carrots) and tuber vegetables (such as celeriac) is that in root vegetables, the edible part comes from the root. In tuber vegetables, a rhizome or "earth shoot" is formed, and roots then form on the underside of the rhizome.
Cabbage is a collective term for cabbage species from the cruciferous plant family (Brassicaceae) and includes, for example, red cabbage, white cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or kale.
In the case of legumes such as peas and beans, either the seeds are harvested in fresh or dried form, as in the case of peas or broad beans, or the whole pod, is eaten with the then still tender immature seeds, e.g. green beans or sugar snap peas. The special feature of this plant family is its ability to bind nitrogen from the air with the help of nodule bacteria that settle in its roots and make it available to the plant. Legumes are comparatively rich in protein and therefore play an important role in vegetarian/vegan cuisine.
Plants belonging to the onion vegetable group form onion-shaped storage organs. In addition to vegetable onions and shallots, they also include garlic. Leeks are also classified here, although they do not form an actual onion.
Since the groupings follow more practical aspects and do not reflect a botanical-systematic classification, other categorizations are also possible. For example, a distinction is also made between coarse and fine vegetables, whereby the nature of the cell walls (stable or tender) plays a role. Coarse vegetables include white cabbage, red cabbage, beet, celery, onions and broad beans. Typical fine vegetables are vegetable peas, cauliflower, tomatoes, spinach or asparagus.
FAQs
The most popular fruit and vegetables in Germany
- Tomato. The tomato is the most beloved vegetable in Germany. ...
- Root vegetables. On average, every German eats almost 20 pounds of carrots and beetroot. ...
- Onion. It is hated by many, but beloved by the Germans. ...
- Apple. It is the king of fruit in Germany. ...
- Banana. ...
- Grapes.
In Germany no other fruit is consumed as much as the apple. Four out of five Germans (79%) regularly eat apples. Followed closely by bananas (78%) and strawberries (77%). And most Germans (74%) believe that apples aren't just tasty but also healthy.
What is the most popular vegetable in Germany? ›
Tomatoes are by far the most consumed vegetable in Germany
- Tomatoes (31.3 kg)
- Carrots, beetroots (11.5 kg)
- Onions (9.0 kg)
- Cucumbers (7.5 kg)
- Lettuce (5.7 kg)
- White cabbage, red cabbage (4.7 kg)
- Savoy cabbage, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi (2.5 kg)
- Beans (2.2 kg)
Germany's fruit and vegetable imports in 2023 were led by bananas, tomatoes, and cucumbers, as the country imported 1.29, 0.65, and 0.57 million tons of these products, respectively.
What are the top 3 crops in Germany? ›
In areas of high natural fertility, wheat, barley, corn (maize), and sugar beets are the principal crops. The poorer soils of the North German Plain and of the Central German Uplands are traditionally used for growing rye, oats, potatoes, and fodder beets.
What is the king of vegetables in Germany? ›
White Asparagus: Germany's Underground King of Vegetables.
What are the top 3 foods in Germany? ›
These are considered to be national dishes. Of all these regional and national dishes, Germany is most famous for Currywurst, sausages, pretzels and Black Forest Gateau, but as you can see, there is plenty more to German cuisine than just these.
What is the national fruit of Germany? ›
List of national fruits facts for kids
| Country | Common name | Scientific name |
|---|
| France | Pear | Pyrus communis |
| Germany | Apple | Malus domestica |
| Greece | Olive | Olea |
| Haiti | Mango | Mangifera indica |
68 more rowsIn the case of local fruit, the focus is on tree fruit such as apples, pears, plums, prune plums and sweet and sour cherries. Due to both the climate and tradition in many regions, apples cover by far the largest share of fruit tree acreage in Germany with 48 % cultivated area.
What foods are unique to Germany? ›
These German recipes celebrate some of the dishes Germany is most known for: crispy fried schnitzel, robust sausages, chewy pretzels, and all manner of mustard-tinged delights. We've even included a handful of items on the sweeter side, too, like a tangy apricot kuchen and a berry-studded German pancake.
Germany imports Vegetable Products primarily from: Netherlands ($8.79B), Spain ($5.13B), Poland ($2.75B), Italy ($2.73B), and United States ($2.45B). The fastest growing import markets in Vegetable Products for Germany between 2021 and 2022 were Brazil ($1.08B), Australia ($695M), and United States ($631M).
Do bananas grow in Germany? ›
One variety dominates the market
“The bananas on offer in Europe are grown in Central America and the Caribbean, some 8,000 kilometers away from their point-of-sale. The reason for this is that they cannot be grown in Europe, with the exception of Madeira and the Canary Islands.
What is the most eaten fruit in Germany? ›
Apples are the most popular fruit among German consumers.
Does Germany produce enough food to feed itself? ›
In 2022/23, vegetables in Germany showed a self-sufficiency rate of around 36 percent, which means that additional vegetable imports were needed to cover domestic demand.
What fruits and vegetables are native to Germany? ›
Some of the most popular fruits and vegetables in Germany are apples, pears, tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers, and potatoes. Germany is also known for its production of asparagus. Apples are by far the most popular fruit in Germany; in fact, around 21% of all apples consumed in the European Union come from Germany.
What are traditional German vegetables? ›
Among the favorites in German cooking are potatoes, various types of cabbage, carrots, spinach, peas, asparagus, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and various types of salads. Onions are mainly served with meat dishes or as ingredients in many recipes. Sauerkraut is also a favorite throughout Germany.
Is veg food easily available in Germany? ›
In addition to the meat substitutes, German cuisine has quite a lot to offer for vegetarians! For example, the annual asparagus season is all about eating vegetables, there are plenty of typical German dishes without meat, like Sauerkraut or Hefeklöße, and German pastries are not something you want to miss out on!
Do tomatoes grow in Germany? ›
Background: Globally and also in Germany, tomatoes are the number one vegetable. In Germany, only a small part of the demand is produced, although tomatoes are grown in almost every market garden.
