What type of chart should be used to visualize the quantity sold of various types of fruit for the last fiscal quarter?

A bar chart or column chart is the most effective choice for visualizing the quantity sold of various types of fruit over a specific time period, such as the last fiscal quarter. These types of charts are particularly useful for comparing discrete categories, like different types of fruit. Each bar represents a different type of fruit, and the height (or length, in the case of a horizontal bar chart) represents the quantity sold. This clear and intuitive format allows viewers to easily compare the sales figures across categories at a glance.

Furthermore, when dealing with categorical data like types of fruit, bar and column charts effectively communicate the differences in quantity between the categories. In contrast, line charts are best suited for showing trends over time, scatter plots are ideal for displaying relationships between two continuous variables, and area charts are used for showing cumulative totals over time. Thus, bar or column charts align perfectly with the objective of comparing sales quantities among distinct types of fruit.