What are some fruits?

Apples, peaches, plums, strawberries and pineapples are types of fruits. Additionally, coconuts, figs, watermelon, cantaloupe and mulberries are fruits. Squash, cucumbers, avocados and tomatoes are also fruits.

A fruit is botanically classified as an edible, seed-bearing portion of a tree or plant that produces flowers. Simple fruits, such as plums and peaches, grow from the ovary of a single flower, whereas aggregate fruits, such as blackberries and raspberries, grow in a clustered manner from multiple ovaries of one flower. Multiple fruits, such as figs and pineapples, grow from a cluster of flowers which join their ovaries together to form a large fruit.

Fruits range in size from very small blueberries to very large pumpkins. Fruits such as melons produce numerous seeds, whereas fruits such as cherries and avocados only produce a single seed. Fruits also vary in the amount of sugar they contain; dates are high-sugar fruits and apples and oranges contain less sugar.

Fruits comprise a large portion of the human diet and can be eaten fresh, cooked or dried. They provide important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins C and A, and help to reduce risk of chronic disease. Fruits also provide nutrients such as folic acid and potassium and are a source of fiber. Additionally, the phytochemicals in fruits are known to provide further health benefits.