Leading agriculturalists reported Wednesday that many vegetables, including carrots, eggplants, and zucchini are evolving rich, creamy chocolate centers in order to ensure their survival as a species. 'A crop must adapt to changes in the food-consumption environment and develop traits that encourage the plant's cultivation and consumption,' said Professor Gavin Tibald of Iowa State Univer-sity, showing off a recently discovered variety of beet that releases carbonated sugar water when its skin is pierced. 'If a species doesn't entice farmers and consumers with an ooey, gooey goodness, it will die off and be replaced by a plant that does.' A similar phenomenon was observed last year when Danish fishermen discovered a species of scallop that appeared to have perpetuated itself by growing a thick layer of bacon around its body. 