Israel's Sweet Invention: The Banana-Flavored Cucumber

The year 2017 is already shaping up to be exciting in the field of agronomy: Israeli researchers have developed a sweet cucumber rich in dietary fiber and vitamin C, with a hint of banana taste (!).

This new development is considered an exotic fruit in culinary terms, even though it slightly resembles a cucumber. Farmers now hope its unique taste and appearance will capture the interest of the younger generation, many of whom aren't particularly keen on eating vegetables, including cucumbers.

The new fruit, named 'Kiwano,' will be showcased at a major agricultural exhibition set to take place in Hatzeva this February. The farmers hope to market it overseas as well. "After extensive research, we've acclimated the 'Kiwano' cucumber in agricultural research greenhouses, striving to produce a unique sweet fruit that is rich in dietary fiber, healthy, and delicious," explains Rivka Oppenbach, head of the Vegetable Department at Central Arava R&D. According to her, every 100 grams of 'Kiwano' cucumber contains 40% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C as well as dietary fiber.