Apples are one of the most popular fruits. They were purchased by 80 percent of consumers in 2006, according to The Packer’s Fresh Trends. apples are a healthy, fun snack for both adults and children.

Over the years, avocados have gotten a bad rap as a high-fat food. However, avocados contain "good" fat and while they contain more fat than most fruits, they can still be part of a healthy diet. Avocados are most popular as an ingredient in guacamole, but they make a great addition to salads and sandwiches, as well.

Blackberries are a healthy addition to any diet. They are full of cancer-fighting anti-oxidants. Blackberries are grown commercially mainly on the West Coast of the United States. They are available for a limited time in the summer.

Cantaloupe is a favorite in fruit salads and as a breakfast complement. Children tend to like its orange color and sweet taste. High in vitamins A and C, the cantaloupe is a healthy addition to any diet.

Clementines are a tasty treat that is only available for a short season. Popular around the holidays, this small, sweet citrus fruit offers a nutritious addition to any holiday celebration.

Cranberries evoke feelings of the holidays for many people. Their short season peaks around Thanksgiving and Christmas, making them in plentiful supply for the holidays.

Grapefruit consumption has dropped since the 1980s. It is often attributed to research that suggests grapefruit and grapefruit juice can either intensify or eliminate the effect of certain prescription drugs. Another factor thought to influence grapefruit consumption is that grapefruit is not convenient enough for today’s busy families. Florida is the United States’ main source of fresh grapefruit, with about 80% of the market share, but there is considerable production in Texas, California and Arizona and imports are available from Canada and Mexico. The U.S. is the largest producer of grapefruit.

Guava is a versatile fruit that is cultivated in tropical areas all over the world. It is excellent when added to salads or as flavoring in desserts.

Known as one of the best sources of vitamin C, folic acid and calcium, kiwifruit are one of the least popular fruits. Despite their outward appearance, kiwifruit are easy to prepare and can be less messy than, say, an orange.

Lemons are a member of the citrus family but are rarely consumed alone like their counterparts, oranges and grapefruit. Because lemons have a high acid content, they’re often unpalatable for most people to eat alone. So the saying always goes: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade…". Lemons are mostly used as cooking ingredients, as a garnish or used for their juice in drinks. Lemon production in the United States is concentrated in California and Arizona.

The terms mandarin and tangerine have often been used interchangeably. The mandarin/tangerine citrus family is quite diverse, but only the common mandarins have any significant presence in the United States.

The U.S. is a leading consumer of melons, with a per-capita consumption hovering around 25 pounds over the past 15 years. The steady consumption is attributed to increased health awareness and marketing, year-round availability and improved varieties, such as seedless melons. Melons thrive in long, warm and frost-free seasons, making the southern part of the U.S. ideal for growing them. The key melon season runs from April through December with crops coming from California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia and Florida.

Because of the amount of vitamin C contained in oranges, they are a perfect food for pregnant women to consume. Oranges also have hefty doses of potassium, calcium, vitamin D and folate, which are vital nutrients during pregnancy.

Passion fruit is the small, round edible fruit of the passion flower. Passion fruit is red, gold or brownish-purple on the outside with a yellowish pulp that has small, black, edible seeds.

The Northwest has unique agricultural conditions and accounts for 98% of the U.S. pear production — consisting of Oregon, Washington and California. Washington's fresh pear production is the largest in the United States. Pears have a long storage life and ripen best after they are harvested. Pears are one of the few fruits that do not ripen successfully on the tree.

Pineapple is a tasty tropical fruit that can be served by itself or in cooked or baked dishes. It is most often associated with Hawaii, but it is not native to the islands.

Most consumers are unfamiliar with pomegranates and even fewer know that only the juice and seeds are edible. However, they are gaining popularity in foodservice due to their sweet-tart flavor, the multitude of uses and the fact that they are high in antioxidants. The fruit is nearly round with a crown at the base. Pomegranates have a tough, leathery skin with membranous walls and spongy tissue holding fleshy, juicy pulp. The seeds embody more than half of the fruit’s weight.

Raisins are dried grapes that taste like candied fruit due to their high percentage of natural sugar.

Approximately 95% of shoppers purchase strawberries each year. Strawberries are grown mostly in California, Florida and Oregon. Over the past 20 years, strawberries experienced one of the largest jumps in consumption of all fruits and vegetables. They are the fifth most-consumed fruit in the United States, behind bananas, apples, oranges and grapes. The United States produces close to 30% of the world’s supply of strawberries each year, and most of those are consumed domestically. Most U.S. exports head to Canada, and supplies are imported from Mexico to supplement domestic supplies.

The terms mandarin and tangerine have often been used interchangeably. The mandarin/tangerine citrus family is quite diverse, but tangerines are a specific type of mandarin.