The Odd Wonders of Heirloom Species (Smithsonian)

Heirloom crops do not look like ordinary vegetables

Lemon cucumbers, orange eggplants, white tomatoes, green corn, curly-haired (and sweet-natured) pigs, spaghetti-like noodle beans — all are heirlooms, protected by growers who want to protect the diversity of farm plants and animals from the monocultures preferred by our agricultural system. See pictures of some interesting heirloom crops.