Higgs Boson wrote:
Here's an interesting article about origin of many seeds we grow in
So. Calif:
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Wildflowers of Israel

by Leslie Berliant, Contributing Writer

Lupinus Mountain Blue. Below: Ammi Visnaga. Photos courtesy SeedCount

Enter any Trader Joe’s grocery store in Southern California and you
are likely to find vibrant sunflowers with golden orange leaves and a
dark center among the bouquets and potted plants. What many customers
might not realize is that the sunflower being sold is called Jerusalem
Gold, which is grown in Santa Barbara from a seed native to Israel.


Is it native to Israel? I mean in the sense that its first know cultivation
was in Israel from wild stock. I don't know.

Many of the cucumbers, bell peppers, basil and tomatoes grown in
Southern California also come from Israeli seeds. Even some vegetables
and herbs imported from places like Mexico come from seeds that
originate in Israel.


This is misleading as it allows one to think that these plants originated in
Israel. Now Iraelis may be responsible for some fine cultivars (such as the
Ha Ogen (sp?) melon) but tomatoes and peppers originated in the New World.

David