TROPICAL FRUIT STAMPS
MINT SHEET of 20
SCOTT 4253 thru 4257

Depicting five mouth-watering tropical fruits in eye-catching color, the stamps were illustrated by Sergio Baradat of Miami Beach, FL, who described them as “luscious.” Baradat’s first project for the Postal Service was the Mambo stamp in the Let’s Dance/Bailemos issuance in 2005.
The five tropical fruits are: guava, kiwi, papaya, pomegranate and star fruit.

One of the most common fruits in the world, the GUAVA grows on a variety of tropical shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family. Easily identified by its distinctive fragrance, the guava’s sweet pulp is used in drinks, desserts and other foods. Native to southern Mexico and Central America, the guava long ago spread throughout the tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, and Africa. It is also found on many Pacific Islands where it is considered an invasive plant.

KIWI, a small oval-shaped, fuzzy-skinned fruit, is brown with juicy, bright-green flesh that is both sweet and acidic. It grows on a hardy and fast-growing vine that requires a long growing season—240 frost-free days. Native to eastern Asia, the first kiwi seeds were brought out of China and taken to New Zealand where the plant became a popular backyard vine. Today, kiwi is grown commercially in New Zealand, California, South Africa, Italy, and Chile.

The PAPAYA, a large fruit sometimes weighing several pounds, has sweet, but slightly acidic, flesh with a texture similar to that of an overripe cantaloupe. Generally eaten raw, it is also used for juice and in chutneys and desserts. The papaya, believed to be native to southern Mexico and neighboring Central America, is grown commercially worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions and frequently in greenhouses to protect it from sudden drops in temperature. The word pomegranate refers not only to the round, softball-sized fruit but to the small tree that produces the fruit, as well. Although its native range extends from the Middle East to the Himalayas, this tree has been cultivated and naturalized over the Mediterranean region of Asia, Africa, and Europe since ancient times. Today pomegranates are grown commercially throughout much of the world, including the United States. The pulp of the pomegranate is dark red and juicy, its flavor sweet and tart.

The STAR FRUIT is a unique and flavorful fruit that has a mild but slightly sweet flavor. Often eaten out of hand, when sliced, it has a star shape. The origin of this fruit is not known, but it is likely that it is native to Malaysia, Indonesia and southern China. Always domesticated, star fruit has been grown in the American tropics for more than 150 years. Today commercial production occurs in Hawaii and other tropical regions.

ADD THIS NICE SHEET TO YOUR COLLECTION!