The world is an interesting place, this a a veggie grown in Mexico
and other parts of Latin America, make of it what you will… For those
who want more info, here’s
wiki:
The chayote (Sechium edule), also known as christophene or
christophine, chuchu, cho-cho, mirliton or merleton (Creole/Cajun),
pear squash, vegetable pear, chouchoute, choko, is an edible plant
belonging to the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, along with melons,
cucumbers and squash.
Chayote is originally native to Mexico, but has been introduced as a
crop worldwide. The main growing regions are Costa Rica and Veracruz,
Mexico. Costa Rican chayotes are predominantly exported to the European
Union, whereas Veracruz is the main exporter of chayotes to the United
States.
The word chayote is a Spanish derivative of the Nahuatl word chayohtli
(pronounced [t͡ʃaˈjoʔtɬi]). Chayote was one of the many foods introduced
to Europe by early explorers, who brought back a wide assortment of
botanical samples. The Age of Conquest also spread the plant south from
Mexico, ultimately causing it to be integrated into the cuisine of many
other Latin American nations.
