Fruit and Veg: The Love for These Things Goes Way Beyond Diet

The vegan food craze is becoming more widespread each year, with increasing numbers of people deciding to improve their health while also helping to save the planet. There are now more than 75 million vegans in the world and, as people become more environmentally conscious, this number should shoot up. The fact that fruit and vegetables have been omnipresent in fashion and popular culture over the years has helped spread the love for organic goods, and this trend seems set to continue.

In Fashion 
 

One of the main things that the vegan community is trying to work towards is a move away from animal exploitation when it comes to clothing and fashion. Influencers can have a big part to play in this if they wear things that promote vegetarianism and veganism.

Vegetarian fashion can be traced back all the way to the 1960s, with Audrey Hepburn’s iconic cherry pattern swing dress. Nowadays, fashion houses are constantly releasing vintage clothing lines which aim to replicate these original pieces. An example of this is the Dolce & Gabbana Spring line from 2012. The world-famous designer came out with a number of floral dresses which featured various vegetables including eggplants, tomatoes, and butternut squash.

In Entertainment

The great thing about fruit and veg is the fact that it is instantly recognisable, and comes in a wide variety of colours. This makes it an ideal inclusion for bright and vibrant games. When Charles Fey invented the first-ever slot machine, the Liberty Bell, he opted for fruit symbols on the reels because they were distinctive and it was easy for players to see when they got a match. Many modern slot games still stick to this theme because it can bring about feelings of nostalgia in players. Extra Stars and Flaming Heart, for example, are two modern online slots which still use fruit symbols on the reels.

The mobile gaming industry is another place where fruit and veg can be found in abundance. One of the most popular addictive gaming apps ever created is Fruit Ninja from Halfbrick. The game was released for iPhone in 2010, and it exceeded three million downloads in its first year. Because of this widespread success, versions of the fruit-slicing arcade game were released for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

In Pop Art

Fruit and veg have been ever-present in art over the years, but the paintings created go way beyond simple still life drawings of fruit bowls. The late Andy Warhol is one of the most famous expressionists to have had an interest in fruit, and his 1967 piece, Andy Warhol’s Banana, has become one of the most famous paintings in pop art history. The Velvet Underground used the image on their 1967 album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, which helped add to its credibility and notoriety.

A more recent pop artist to work with fruit is the hyperrealist, Dennis Wojtkiewicz. The American is known for producing large scale images of sliced fruit and flowers. He uses oil paint and pastel, which creates an almost photographic effect.

Veganism may still be a niche lifestyle choice, but it must be said that fruit and veg have permeated mainstream culture in a more significant way than meat has. Perhaps it is down to the bright and distinctive nature of the natural food that has made it such a common source of inspiration for everyone from artists to game developers.