How much fruit do you eat on a daily basis? What fruits do you eat? Have you ever wondered where in the world they come from? I never thought so much about these questions until I came to live in the Dominican Republic. I also never thought about how hard it might be to find or afford other kinds of fruits on a tropical island with fertile soil. In the United States, I had a grocery store within five minutes walking-distance from my house. I could always count on seeing a wide range of local and imported fruits. However, here in the Dominican Republic, that kind of availability seems to only exist in big cities.
In the more rural area of Don Juan, where I live, fruit stands are few and far between compared to colmados. Colmados are Dominican corner stores and are usually limited to non-perishable items. The fruit in those stands are seasonal, meaning they are only available at certain times of the year.
Avocados and mangos can be sold abundantly in certain times of the year, especially from fruit trucks that pass through the neighborhood twice a week. The oranges are very sweet and make your hands sticky, no matter how you eat them. Apples are expensive. If you are lucky, you might get access to other fruits because of a tree in the neighborhood or a neighbor who is kind enough to share. I have tried limoncillo, caimito and guavas this way.
