How Well Do You Know Your Produce?

In the produce aisle, we do our best to pick fruits and vegetables that look appetizing, undamaged, and ready to ripen when we’ll want to eat them. However, when it comes to nutrition, looks can be deceiving. Nutrition labels use values set by the USDA, that, in some cases, are based on data from small samples recorded over a decade ago! So what’s written on the label often doesn’t match what’s under the peel, and our ways of visually evaluating produce in the store don’t always tell the whole story.
At TeakOrigin, we’re taking on a massive challenge: accurately measuring produce’s true quality and value using analytical chemistry, optical spectroscopy and machine learning. With our data, we’ve created the TeakOrigin Guide, a free resource designed to share the unique, inner qualities of food with consumers.
As a fun way to illustrate our point, we’ve put together this quiz using our own data and samples gathered by our team. Some pairs are practically identical while others are worlds apart. So please go ahead and see how you fare trying to pick the most nutritious piece of produce from the sample pairs below – the answers may surprise you.
Honeycrisp Apple
The honeycrisp apple gets its signature refreshing taste from a combination of sugars (fructose and glucose) and tart malic acid. In addition to fiber, honeycrisp apples are a good source of antioxidants such as vitamin C. However, the amount of vitamin C found in this tasty apple can vary quite a bit.
For your first question, which of these two honeycrisps has the highest level of vitamin C?
Banana
It’s easy to see why bananas are so popular: they’re delicious, nutritious, and convenient – a fruit that comes in its own compostable wrapper! Bananas are also rich in potassium, a mineral that keeps your heart healthy and blood pressure low.
Can you identify which of these two bananas contains a higher level of potassium?
Spinach
You’ve probably heard that spinach has high levels of iron and magnesium, but did you know this leafy green is packed with vitamin C, too? It also contains an “anti-nutrient” known as oxalic acid that can prevent the absorption of certain nutrients, like calcium. Ever noticed your teeth feeling gritty after eating spinach? That’s the result of oxalic acid reacting with the calcium in your saliva!
Now, can you tell which of these two spinach samples has the highest level of vitamin C and oxalic acid?
Strawberries
Eye-catching red strawberries are a treat, sweetened by natural sugars like fructose with plenty of antioxidants like vitamin C.
Which of these two strawberries contains the most fructose and vitamin C?
Tomato
Tomatoes are delicious and versatile, and their signature red color comes from lycopene, an antioxidant believed to have wide-reaching health benefits.
Given that, which of these two tomatoes is richest in lycopene?
Avocado
Botanically speaking, the tree-grown avocado fruit is considered a berry, and it’s a good source of what many consider to be healthy fats.
Which of these two avocados do you think has the highest total oil content?
So, how did you do? Share your results on social media and see if your friends know their fruits and vegetables better than you, and check out the TeakOrigin Guide for more nutrition science about the grocery stores we shop at and the produce we buy.