Don't let dragon fruit scare you

One of the oddest looking exotic fruit grown here in the Fallbrook area is dragon fruit. Despite its scaly appearance, the plant that produces it is in the cacti family. The succulent grows as vines with large flowers that bloom at night and result in grapefruit size fruit that is sweet and juicy.

Originally from Mexico, the fruit is sometimes called pitaya or pitahaya depending on where it comes from. They all have the same green and dark pink skin but with varying colors of flesh from white to pale pink to bright pink to dark pink, almost red.

The variety that come from Vietnam has white fle...