3337 MALAYSIA - A roadside hut selling durians and rambutans

Named in some regions as the king of fruits, the durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio. There are 9 recognised Durio species which produce edible fruit, with over 300 named varieties in Indonesia, 100 in Thailand and 100 in Malaysia. It is distinctive for its large size, strong odour, and thorn-covered rind. The fruit can grow as large as 30 cm long and 15 cm in diameter, and it typically weighs one to three kg. Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.

2767 FRANCE (Saint Martin) - A coconut tree

The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family) and the only species of the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit. The term is derived from the 16th-century Portuguese and Spanish word coco meaning "head" or "skull", from the three indentations on the coconut shell that resemble facial features. It is a large palm, growing up to 30m tall, with pinnate leaves 4-6m long, and pinnae 60-90cm long. On fertile soil, it can yield up to 75 fruits per year, but more often yields less than 30.

2172 BENIN - Fruit market

The economy of Benin is dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. About half the population is engaged in agriculture, and traditional systems of internal trade still function to move food from one area to another. Historically, women have played an important role in trade, and many women attempt to engage in commerce in addition to household or wage-earning labor.

1919-1922 FRANCE (Saint Martin) - Market Day in Marigot

1919 Saint Martin - Market Day in Marigot (1)

Marigot, the capital of Saint Martin, with its gingerbread houses and sidewalk bistros, is charming in any day of the week, but if you really want to catch the spirit of the place, you must visit it on Wednesday or on Saturday, when are market days. Marigot market is best described as a melting pot of colours, smells and lively hustle and bustle.

1920 Saint Martin - Market Day in Marigot (2)

Opposite the traditional restaurants, a stone statue, erected by Martin Lynn and donated by an American, commemorates black female market sellers. In 2006, as part of a series of events for black history week, a fresco, again commemorating female market sellers, was painted by an artist from Saint Martin on a wall opposite the market.

1921 Saint Martin - Fruits at Marigot Market

One portion of the market is dominated by permanent vendor stalls, housed under a mass of open Creole huts along the water front. Here can be found fruit and vegetables, spices, local meats and fresh fish caught that day. Here, visitors can sample the full range of flavoured rums, subtle blends of rum, fruits and spices, Shrub (orange peel crushed into rum), or Mauby (a tree bark-based beverage grown).

1922 Saint Martin - Spices at Marigot Market

Temporary tent-style stalls forms another section of the market. These are the type that spring forth like mushrooms on major market days (Wednesday and Saturday) to join their permanent cousins, to grow the market to more than double its original size. Here people browsed through clothing, jewelry, and various crafts.

1513 JAMAICA - Ackee and Breadfruit

The ackee (Blighia sapida) is native to tropical West Africa, was imported to Jamaica (probably on a slave ship) before 1778, and since then it has become a major feature of various Caribbean cuisines. The scientific name honours Captain William Bligh who took the fruit from Jamaica to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England in 1793. The fruit is pear-shaped. When it ripens, it turns from green to a bright red to yellow-orange, and splits open to reveal three large, shiny black seeds, each partly surrounded by soft, creamy or spongy, white to yellow flesh - the aril. Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica, and ackee and saltfish is the national dish. Ackee pods should be allowed to ripen on the tree before picking. Prior to cooking, the ackee arils are cleaned and washed. The arils are then boiled for approximately 5 minutes and the water discarded. The dried seeds, fruit, bark, and leaves are used medicinally.

0723 CAMBODIA (Phnom Penh) - A fruit market

It is said that South East Asia’s markets are some of the most interesting of the world, and the Cambodia's ones aren't exceptions. Obviously that in such a traditional market (psah) the fruit and vegetables section isn't the most attractive from the point of view of smell, but has without doubt the most colorful stalls. Needless to say that Cambodia, as a tropical country, has a wealth of fresh fruits on daily offer. Moreover, fruits in this country are so popular, that they have their own royal court: the durian is considered the king, the mangosteen the queen, sapodilla the prince, and the milk fruit the princess.