Where do pomegranates grow and how do they get to us?
Pomegranates grow on small shrub-like trees and are native to the Middle East, but they will grow anywhere temperate and sunny. Because of their new popularity, they are being shipped in from all over the world, including California and China. Pomegranates from the southern Mediterranean and Middle East are usually conveyed by sea or road. From further afield, it is often air-freighted, at horrendous cost in terms of fossil fuels. When are they in season? The southern Mediterranean season for pomegranates begins in July/August but, because of its thick skin, the fruit keeps well and will be available through early winter. They are in the shops all year round, but, if you care about food miles, be circumspect about how many you consume between now and July. What’s so good about them? The fruit has exceptionally high levels of polyphenols – antioxidants that prevent free radical damage by limiting the build-up of plaque in arteries. Eating pomegranates can lower blood pressure and, accor
