Thursday, December 4, 2008

Fruits for Winter: Best Weller's Pick December-January

Our Best Weller staff recommendation for December-January is Adam Leith Gollner's Fruit Hunters. As part of our Best Weller's program, we offer the book at 20% off, so get yours now while supplies last. Weller's own John Clukey reviews the book for your pleasure:

Cloudberries, mangosteens, lychees, coco-de-mer, loquats, rambutans, breadfruits, peanut butter fruits, blackberry-jam fruits! This book made me hungry. After a trip to Brazil where he tasted exotic fruits at a roadside stand, Adam Leith Gollner became obsessed with fruits. He tells of his travels to taste exotic fruits of the world, from durians that smell so strongly his neighbors suspect a gas leak, to miracle fruits which make all sour foods taste sweet, to oranges that taste like chicken noodle soup.

Gollner seeks out and describes lesser known varieties of common fruits, such as kishu mandarin oranges, Coe’s Golden Drop plums, and Taliaferro apples. He covers the politics of fruit importation, and the USDA’s justifiable fear of exotic infections and infestations taking a toll on American agriculture. He also talks about how fruits are bred to withstand three week journeys
from harvest to the grocers, usually selected for durability and looks over flavor, and how
consumer awareness of other varieties is bringing better selection.

A hit for fans of narrow histories with great details about the discovery and enjoyment of fruit.

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