Ground Cherries

Description

Ground cherries are small, edible fruits native to the Americas that grow inside a dry, papery husk resembling a lantern. They are not related to true cherries but are part of the nightshade family, making them distant botanical cousins of tomatoes, tomatillos, and peppers. Ground cherries are a very nutritious fruit, filled with Vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, potassium, and many other nutrients. Each ground cherry fruit is covered in a thin, papery sheath. The fruits measure one-half to three-quarters of an inch across, and their taste is a subtly sweet mixture of tomato and pineapple. Their flavor is best when the fruits are fully ripe. You’ll know they’re ripe when you peel back the papery sheath and the fruit beneath it is a soft orange color.

Note to remove the thin paper covering, which is nature’s protective over for the delicious fruit within, before eating.

Key nutritional highlights per 100g include:

• Vitamins: High in Vitamin A and Niacin; contains moderate Vitamin C, Thiamin (B1), and Riboflavin (B2).
• Minerals: Significant source of Iron and Phosphorus; contains trace Calcium and Potassium.
• Macronutrients: Low in fat and calories, with the majority of energy derived from carbohydrates.
• Other: Contains beta-carotene, bioflavonoids, and pectin.

For a standard serving of 1 cup (140g), the fruit provides approximately 74 calories, 15.7 grams of carbohydrates, and 2.7 grams of protein.

$5.00 / pint

$10.00 / quart