Food
When you think of a bean what do you imagine?
Something long and green?
When you think of a tomato what do you think of?
Something round and red?
When you think of corn what do you think of?
Something long and yellow?
You’re right! But……..
Did you know there are thousands of different varieties of some of our
favourite foods?
Take a look at some of the amazing varieties of common crops we eat
every day.
Beans
Tomatoes
Corn
Watermelons
Peppers
Lettuces
Radishes
Potatoes
Carrots
Cauliflowers
Apples
All of these different varieties have different “traits”
Another way of saying this is they all have different SUPER POWERS!
�Survives cold �weather
0
�Grows well even in hot, �dry weather
�Very high in vitamins
Is not killed by disease
Why don’t we see all of this variety at the grocery store?
Most varieties of fruits and vegetables you see at the store are there because they are easy to:
1. Grow and pick �using farm machines
2. Transport long distances without
being damaged
3. Grow in large amounts so the grocery store can buy a lot at once
If we don’t save and grow the seeds from these varieties, we will lose them forever.
What about all of those other amazing varieties?
That means they would become extinct, like…. �the dinosaurs!
If you want to save these�amazing varieties…
Start with amazing seeds!
Everybody can protect food biodiversity.
Here’s how.
Get seeds from local farmers or seed companies
Ask for rare and endangered varieties in your region
Grow some of your own food
Plant your seeds, enjoy the food, and save the new seeds to keep on growing!
Visit your local Farmer’s Market
Taste a new variety of fruit or vegetable
Challenge yourself and your school
Grow as many different varieties as possible!