Tony Randall, age 10, of Sioux City, Iowa, for his question:

WHAT ARE TRUFFLES?

A truffle is the name of a type of fungus that grows underground and that is used for food. Truffles may vary from a quarter of an inch to four inches in diameter and resemble an acorn, a potato or a walnut. They have a delicious taste and are served as a condiment.

Truffles grow in clusters from three to 12 inches below the ground. The spores are borne within the tuberlike fungus. They are believed to help tree roots take in chemicals from the soil.

You'll find truffles growing wild in France, England and other European countries. Specially trained dogs and pigs hunt for truffles. A pig can smell a truffle from a distance of 20 feet and will run quickly to the spot and dig it out.