Snackster Sam Blog
Our recipes and activities are always Snackster Sam approved and kid approved.
 What am I?I’m one of the oldest foods around. There is evidence that I have been cultivated (farmed) for 8,000 years! There are wild plants of me around the world, but many of the varieties you eat came from the ancient farming that started in what’s now the country of Georgia. My flavor is sweet, and I’m fun to eat.  How it GrowsI grow on vines in clusters, and I like a lot of sun. After my flowers are pollinated by the wind and insects, my fruit starts to grow. My vines and fruit need to be pruned (or cut back) to grow healthier fruit. Farmers have developed varieties that can grow in colder temperatures, so you can find me across the world.  After I'm PickedIn the late summer or early fall, it’s time to harvest (or pick) me. Farmers will cut whole clusters with scissors. I’m delicate, so I need to be handled carefully. After I’m picked, I need to be stored in a refrigerator. Then I can be eaten raw, made into juice, wine, jam or jelly, or dried and made into raisins! Oh, my leaves can be eaten too.  Did you Guess... GrapesEspañol: uva There are 8,000 different kinds of grapes, and they are used for different things. Hey, Snacksters! Watch the video to learn more about grapes with the Snackster Sam correspondent! This week, her sister who eats grapes every day joins! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
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 What am I?I’m used a lot in Mexican food, like salsa verde. The Aztecs grew me 2,800 years ago! However, scientists recently found fossils of my plant in Argentina - so I’m really old! Today, I’m still most popular in Central America (like Mexico). I’m usually green, but I can also be purple or yellow.  Where I growMy plant can pollinate without bees, but I need a friend. So when I’m planted, I grow in pairs. I like to stretch out my stems and leaves, so my plant needs a lot of space in a garden. I grow best in warm climates. Once my flower is pollinated, I start to grow my fruit which is protected in a husk. The husk wraps around the part you eat.  After I'm pickedWhen my fruit fills the husk, I’m ready to pick. Then I can be stored in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Instead of eating raw, I’m usually cooked and added to salsa, soups, and stews. When you’re ready to cook me, just peel off the husk and wash off my stickiness.  Did you guess... TomatilloEspañol: Tomatillo Tomatillo is also called Mexican Husk Tomato. Tomatillo in Spanish means "little tomato." Have you tried tomatillo? Watch the video to learn more. Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
 What am I?I'm tropical! I have a strong smell that is similar to a lemon but more sweet. There are 150 different kinds of me, and I come in many colors like green, yellow, and red. I'm full of seeds, I can have 100-500 seeds inside! Birds eat me and distribute the seeds so more of my plant grows.  Where I growI grow on shrubs and small trees in tropical regions that live for 40 years. I am native to Central and South America. Today I'm grown in other continents like India and Australia. If the weather is good, my plant can produce crops two times per year.  After I'm pickedThe color and smell let farmers know I'm ready to pick. Farmers handpick me. I can ripen after I'm picked. You can eat me fresh or make me into juice, jam, or smoothies.  Did you guess... GuavaEspañol: guayaba Guava is a tropical fruit that you should definitely try! Watch the video to see the Snackster Sam correspondent test her senses on guava! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
 What am I?I'm in an estimated 18,000 products worldwide. I'm used in a variety of sweet and baked foods, and even in perfumes. However, even though I'm known for my scent and flavor, when I'm a fresh bean I have no aroma (or scent).  Where I growI grow on a plant in the orchid family, a popular flower. I used to be only pollinated with a certain bee, but I can also be pollinated with a stick! This helped make me more available across the world. As a fruit, I can grow up to 8 inches in 6 weeks, but it takes nine months for me to mature and to be harvested (picked). I'm most commonly grown on the island of Madagascar.  After I'm pickedOnce I'm harvested, I'm blanched (put in boiling water for a short time) and then set out in the sun to dry for about 10 days. That's when my aroma comes out. Once I'm fully cured, which takes about 4 months, I'm ready to add to your favorite treats - even ice cream!  Did you guess... VanillaEspañol: vainilla Vanilla is anything but boring! Watch the video to learn more about vanilla. Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
 What am I?I'm one of the world's favorite spices. I'm in some of the most popular desserts. I bet you didn't know that I am the bark of a tree. In ancient history, I was an expensive gift given to important rulers, like kings, queens, and pharaohs.  Where I growI grow on a tree. I am native to Sri Lanka, a small country next to India. My tree grows berries, which you can also eat. To make the spice, only the bark and leaves are used. Farmers plant and grow the tree for two years, then cut the stems at the ground. The next year, many new shoots (like branches) grow.  After I'm pickedAfter I'm cut down, farmers have to work quickly while the wood is fresh. The outer bark is scraped off then the trees are hit to loosen the inner bark. The bark is then cut and dried where it curls into rolls. After its dry, it's cut into smaller sections or ground into powder.  Did you guess... CinnamonEspañol: canela Isn't that amazing that cinnamon is bark from a tree? Watch the video to see how cinnamon is grown and harvested! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
 What am I?I’m an ancient stone fruit. My color can be yellow, green, red, and dark purple. Sometimes I’m shaped like an egg and other times I’m shaped like a ball. Needless to say, I come in more varieties than you probably knew. Each part of the world grows different varieties.  Where I growI grow on every continent except Antarctica! That means I’m the second most cultivated (planted and grown) fruit in the world. I grow on trees in areas with mild temperature. My tree blossoms in the spring, is pollinated, and then the fruit starts to grow!  After I'm pickedI’m ready to pick off the tree when I smell sweet and my color is right. I can be dried (then I’m called a prune), cooked, pickled, made into juice or jam, or eaten fresh!  Did you guess... PlumsEspañol: ciruela That's right! Plums are sweet stone fruits. Stone means it has a pit inside, so be careful when you eat it. Did you know apricots and plums can be combined to make a new fruit? Go to the next slide to learn more! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
 What am IIn the spring, my bush grows white or pink bell-shaped flowers. I am a popular berry and maybe even one of the first finger foods you ate! Over a summer weekend, especially over the 4th of July, you can find me in summer desserts.  Where I growIt makes sense that I'm a big part of USA holidays, because I'm native to North America. Not long ago, you didn't find me at the grocery store, you had to pick me in the wild. I grow on a bush in highly acidic soil in cool climates, not ideal conditions for most farmers. In the early summer, my berries grow and start as lime green, turning red, and finally are ready to pick when it is dark blue.  After I'm pickedI am very delicate, so I am handpicked. After you purchase or pick me, you should only wash me right before you're going to eat me. This is because the protective coating, called "bloom", is removed. I can be eaten raw. You can also dry them to add to baked goods or trail mixes. When frozen, I can be added to baked goods or mixed in a smoothie. It can even be made into a jam!  Did you guess... BlueberryEspañol: Arándanos Enjoy some blueberries this weekend! Did you know that American Indians called blueberries Star Berries because of its five-pointed star shape at the end of the berry? Also, blueberries are one of the only foods that are truly blue! DID YOU KNOW
Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store.
 What am I?I have a mystery flavor - sometimes I can taste like a blackberry, cherry, or even a grape. I am a fruit of the honeysuckle plant, which is where I get my name. I look like a long blueberry, and can grow an inch or more.  Where I growI grow on a bush on the ground. My bush grows up to 8 feet tall and can live for 50 years or more. I like cold temperatures. I grow in regions where the winter temperature is very cold. I can withstand temperatures down to 55 degrees BELOW zero (-55 degrees F). I’m native to Russia and am also grown in Japan and North America.  After I'm pickedI’m the first fruit of spring, blooming even before strawberries. When I’m ripe, farmers will shake my bush and any ripe fruit falls off. Then I can be enjoyed fresh or made into jam!  Did you guess... Honey BerryEspañol: baya de miel Did you guess honeyberry? Haven't heard of it? Either had Snackster Sam! Watch the video to learn more about how honey berries grow! Thank you to the farmers at HoneyBerryUSA.com for sharing these with Snackster Sam! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store.
 What am I?I'm the ultimate summer fruit. Besides my bright color, I have a delightful fragrance (smell). I am native to North America. Today I’m grown in every single U.S. state and Canadian province. I am the only fruit that has seeds on the outside. I have over 200 seeds on my fruit. Interestingly, if you get me from a grocery store, I wasn’t grown from a single seed.  Where I growI grow on the ground, and my plant is a perennial, which means if you plant one, it will come back next year and the following and so on. Once my plant grows fruit, it will continue to do so for about five years. My flower needs bees to pollinate it for my fruit to grow. Farmers often have bee hives to ensure the flowers are pollinated.  After I'm PickedMy fruit ripens at different times on a single plant. Because of this and my delicate flesh, farmers hand pick the fruit when I’m perfectly ripe. After I’m picked, I should be used right away. I can be eaten fresh or made into jam, frozen, or baked.  Did you guess... StrawberryEspañol: fresa Did you guess Strawberry? Strawberry can be eaten fresh or made into a lot of foods! Watch the video to learn more. Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store.
 What am I?I am technically a fruit, but you find me in the vegetable section at the grocery store. I am a type of summer squash. I can be green, yellow, or white. The variety you get today comes from Italy. You can eat my flesh, skin, seeds, and even my flower!  Where I growI grow on a bush-like vine. I grow in warm climates. I need lots of sun to grow. My plant has boy and girl flowers. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers, and then my fruit grows.  I grow fast! Within 1 to 2 months, I'm ready to pick. Keep me on the plant and I will keep growing! The largest of me was over 8 feet long! That's huge! But you wouldn't want to eat me, I'm best when I have the most flavor when I'm small! Once I'm picked, I can be made into anything, from bread to chocolate cake! After I'm picked Did you guess... ZucchiniEspañol: calabacin Did you guess Zucchini? Zucchini can be eaten fresh or made into a lot of foods! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store
 What am I?I'm fuzzy and sweet. I'm also finicky, which means I like things a certain way. My tree needs a mild winter - not too warm and not too cold. I like the perfect amount of sun, and if my tree is not pruned (cut back), I won't grow sweet fruit. I am native to Asia, but my desired fruit was transported across the world by Spanish explorers.  Where I growI grow on trees. Unlike many fruit trees, I don't live very long. My tree lives between 8-25 years. In the spring, my bright pink flowers bloom. The wind pollinates the flowers, and then my fruit can grow. Except, if all the flowers turned into fruit, my tree wouldn't be able to support them! So farmers hand-pick flowers off my branches.  After I'm pickedFarmers hand pick me when my skin has no yellow or green. Once I'm picked, set me on the counter, or if I need to soften, put me in a brown paper bag. If I'm put in the fridge, I will dry out and lose flavor. My fuzzy skin protects me and locks in moisture, which makes me more juicy. That's why you should only wash me right before you're ready to eat my fruit. I can also be baked, canned, and even grilled!  Did you guess... PeachEspañol: durazno Peaches are sweet and juicy stone fruits. Stone fruits have a pit in the middle. Did you know a nectarine is just a peach without fuzz? Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store
 After I'm pickedI'm picked once my rhizome has hard skin on it. Then I'm boiled to kill any harmful bacteria. Then I am dried in the sun or in air dryers. Last, I'm tossed into a drum where I am skin is polished. I'm often added to recipes in a dried, ground form. I'm a spice with a lot to offer!  Did you guess... TurmericEspañol: cúrcuma Turmeric is a bright gold spice with a bitter flavor. It goes well with cinnamon, ginger, orange, and more. Hey, Snacksters! Watch the video to learn more about turmeric.
Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store  What am I?My oldest trees on in Lebanon and are 6,000 years old. My trees never quit producing fruit. Even if my tree is damaged, it can come back to life. But it's not just my tree that's exciting, it's the fruit on it and what that fruit juice becomes! You've been told my fruit makes oil, but it's really juice! Keep reading to learn more.  Where I growI grow on trees and am native to the Mediterranean. There are over 700 varieties of me, and each one offers a different flavor. My fruit starts green and turns purple when it's ripe. When it's ripe, it produces more juice but less flavor. My tree is ready to beat and shake when I have fruit that's green AND fruit that's starting to turn purple.  After I'm PickedAt harvest, timing is everything. If the weather is too hot, I can mature too quickly. If the weather is cold, I might have to be picked before I'm mature in case of a frost. Once I'm picked off the tree, I need to be made into juice right away. Farmers today try to get me from the tree to the mill in just 3 hours! Did You Guess?Español: aceituna Olive oil is full of flavor. Try this condiment that has been enjoyed by people for over 6,500 years! Let's try it!How Olive Oil is MadeFeed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
 What am I?Do you prefer sweet or sour? I can be either! I'm known for my beautiful flowering trees and delicious fruit. I am native to Asia. Now I'm grown all over the world. I like cold winters and warm (not too hot) summers.  Where I growI grow on trees. The tree takes about 4 years before it grows fruit. Most fruit trees live for 20 years, but there are 3 trees in Japan that are over 1,000 years old! Before other fruit trees, my tree blossoms. It's a sign that Spring is here! The flowers are so beautiful, most of the trees in Japan are grown for the flowers only and they don't grow fruit! I need pollinators (like honey bees) in order to grow fruit. When the flower dies, my fruit start to grow.  After I'm pickedIn June and July, it's time to pick! I do not ripen when I'm off the tree, so I need to be picked at the right time. The average tree has 7,000 fruits on it! Today, farmers use a tree shaker to shake off my fruit in just 7 seconds. The fruit should be attached to my stem so it stays fresh longer. My sweet varieties are eaten raw, juiced, or canned and the sour kind is often dried and used for baking. There is a seed inside, so take a bite and spit out the seed!  Did you guess... Cherry!Español: cereza Do you like cherries? Cherry trees are also used to make furniture. Watch the video to learn more. Remember, most cherry trees that come from Japan do not grow cherry fruit. Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
 What am I?I grow in the tropics where every part of my tree is used, even to build roofs on houses! I have many layers, and I am a strong fruit with a hard shell. Parts of the fruit and shell are used for oil, drinking water, and food.  Where I growI grow on trees in warm, tropical climates like the Philippines. My fruit is soaked in water for months until the seedling is ready to plant. Once I start growing, it takes 5-6 years until I grow fruit. After my tree is 15 years old, it will grow more fruit until it's about 80 years old! All year round I grow more fruit.  After I'm pickedI'm not actually picked. If I'm fully mature, I fall from the tree. Although I can be picked before I fall because, depending on how I'll be used, I'm always ripe! When I'm ready to be used, you need a large sharp knife to cut open my husk and hard shell.  Did you guess... CoconutEspañol: coco Did you CRACK the code? Have you had a fresh coconut? There are a lot of ways to try coconut like, coconut water, dried coconut, coconut milk, and coconut oil! Hey, Snacksters! Watch the video to learn how coconuts grow! Try it!Did you know you can eat a coconut after its sprouted? Watch the video below to learn more about how to eat mature, sprouted coconut. Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
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