Category: Featured Produce
Fennel
Fennel, also known as sweet fennel or finocchio, originated in the Mediterranean and is popular in Italian and Scandinavian cooking. Closely related to parsley, carrots, dill and coriander, this aromatic vegetable is the swollen, immature stem of a large, feathery bush. The young stems of the plant overlap at the base to form a bulb with white-to-pale-green ribbed layers. Although the stalks are similar to celery both in their appearance and in their crunchy texture, all parts of the plant (bulb, stalks, and fronds) have a pleasantly sweet anise, or licorice-like flavor, and are edible. (more…)
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts as they are now known were grown possibly as early as the 13th century in what is now Belgium. During the 16th century, they enjoyed a popularity in the southern Netherlands that eventually spread throughout the cooler parts of Northern Europe. They are a cool weather crop that, rather than being damaged by a frost, actually gets a little sweeter and improves in taste. (more…)
Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is a winter squash belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family of field pumpkins. It has a sweet, nutty taste similar to that of a pumpkin. It has tan-yellow skin and orange fleshy pulp with a compartment of seeds in the bottom. When ripe, it turns increasingly deep orange, and becomes sweeter and richer. (more…)
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is neither a root nor a leafy vegetable but a swollen stem (a member of the cabbage family) that grows perched on top of the ground. This versatile veggie is underutilized in the U.S. but is common in Central Europe and Asia. Some claim it tastes a little like a turnip, others like a cabbage. Not surprising since it was bred from a combination of the German “kohl” (cabbage) and “rabi” (turnip). It is an excellent source of potassium and vitamin C and also includes some calcium and vitamin A. The taste and texture is similar to that of a broccoli stem, accented by radish, but is much sweeter and milder. (more…)
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are native to Central and South America and are one of the oldest vegetables known to man. They have been consumed since prehistoric times as evidenced by sweet potato relics dating back 10,000 years that have been discovered in Peruvian caves. (more…)
Sweet Dumpling Squash
When you need a smaller alternative to a big winter squash, sweet dumpling squash is the answer. About the size of an extra large apple, this single-serving squash usually weighs under one pound apiece and is shaped like a miniature pumpkin due to the scalloped lobes that form the rind. The skin is often white with mottled yellow, orange, and/or green markings. Inside, the flesh is smooth, tender, and sweet, with a bright orange color. Like all winter squash, it’s a great source of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and fiber. (more…)
Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is an oblong yellow colored winter squash that is named for the spaghetti like nature of its flesh. When raw, the flesh is hard and generally orange or yellow in color. When cooked, it comes apart in ribbons, giving it the appearance of spaghetti. (more…)
Potatoes
You may have noticed that the potatoes we get have had different hues of flesh. Potatoes actually come in a rainbow of colors, from yellow “Yukon Gold” to “Purple Peruvian”.
Potatoes technically are not roots. They are the swollen stems of rhizomes that we call tubers. The “eyes” of the potato are actually growth points. While potatoes have gotten a bad rap as carbohydrates, they are actually quite good for you. A single medium sized potato contains about 3.6 grams of protein, 3.6 grams of dietary fiber, 36 grams of carbohydrates, and between 33-50% of RDA of Vitamin C. (more…)
Arugula
If you ever see a salad green referred to as “rocket,” it’s simply another name for arugula, or roquette in French. Yet another brassicaceae along with kale and cauliflower, its delightfully pungent leaves have been cultivated in the Mediterranean since time was recorded. As such, arugula is a perennial favorite in Italian cooking. (more…)