Fruits
of the Grocery Produce Aisle



This site is under construction. Twenty-four students from the Fall 2008 Plant Systematics (BIOL 325) are currently making a study of area supermarkets. The instructions for report follow. The report is worth 40 pts and is due Friday Dec. 5 by 4 pm (late reports deducted 10% per 24 hr period late).

Part One: Fruit Diversity Comparison (22 pts).


Make a comparison of one Weis and one other supermarket of your choosing in terms of the diversity of different fruits offered in their produce isle.

Comparison will involve counting the following:
1. Number of different types of fruits (e.g., even though various forms of squash or avocados may be the same species, count each as a separate variety).

2. Number of different plant species represented.

3. Number of different plant genera represented.

4. Number of different plant families represented.

Use the attached spreadsheet to record your data: fruit-diversity.xls
Expand the list as needed for fruits not already listed.

5. Write a one-page report comparing fruit diversity at the two supermarkets/grocery stores. Summarize results as a table and bar graph, attached to the report. Hand in hardcopy, as well as send electronic report and spreadsheet to me via email.

 

Part Two: Fruit Report (18 pts).

Write a three- to five-page report (double-spaced, with 1-inch margins) on one particular fruit you find, but not on any thing from Cucurbita pepo. Include the following elements (and label as such):

1. "Common name(s) in Pennsylvania:" (1 pt)

2. "Species and cultivar scientific name:" (1 pt)

3. "Family common and scientific name:" (1 pt)

4. "Native distribution and origin of the fruit:" (3 pts)

5. "Distribution of its cultivation:" (3 pts)

6. "History of domestication/cultivation:" (3 pts)

7. "Method of eating or other use of fruit:" (2 pts)

8. "Sample recipe:" (1 pt)
Provide one recipe for a value-added product (e.g., apple pie).

9. "Literature Cited:" (3 pts)
Cite your sources in text by author last name and year of publication. Also include a list of these cited sources as "Literature Cited" at end. Use the format of the journal Systematic Botany (in the Herbarium) for these citations and literature cited.

NO MORE THAN 4 WEBSITES CITED. MUST INCLUDE 4 BOOKS OR PRINT SOURCES.