The French explorer Samuel de Champlain (1567– 1635) found the Sunchoke growing in Indian gardens along the Saint Lawrence seaway and carried specimens of it back to France in 1603. By the late 18th century it became a popular vegetable in both Europe and America, though it yielded to the larger potato during the first…
Tender sunflower sprouts are the largest of the sprouted seeds. They have succulent white stalks three to five inches long that sport two soft green leaves. A living food, they are easy to digest and packed with fiber, protein, enzymes and essential fatty acids, making them a favorite of the whole foods crowd. Don’t be…
TREVISO (Radicchio di Treviso) is a red-leaf chicory that is easily distinguished from the rest of the radicchios. Its narrow, elongated leaves with thick, white midribs do not form a solid head. Its taste is very strong and more bitter than that of other radicchio varieties. Thanks to its especially bitter taste, treviso is usually…
Veggie Sweet Peppers look very similar to Red Fresno Chiles but they are sweet, not hot, and they come in red, yellow and orange colors. Great for garnish and perfect for stuffing and baking. They add great color and sweet flavor to any plate presentation.
Although WATERCRESS is indigenous to Europe, today it is found throughout the world. This hervbaceous aquatic plant sends out shoots which creep along the bottom of ponds and springs. Its hollow stems grow up over the water’s surface and bear dark green, highly nutritious leaves. It is wonderful in salads or as a seasoning herb…
Edgar Jaime grows a wonderful ORGANIC WATERCRESS with small leaves and tons of peppery flavor. Sometimes during the production cycle, little white flowers appear. We consider them a bonus because the flowers are lovely and flavorful, and the flavor and texture of the leaves do not suffer. We prefer Edgar’s ORGANIC WATERCRESS to commercially grown…
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Organically grown on California’ s Central Coast, WHITE BEETS have all the rich, earthy flavor of Red Beets but don’ t bleed color all over everything. On initial inspection, some diners may think they are Turnips, but the WHITE BEET’ s smooth texture and distinctive flavor will announce their lineage! While these BEETS are pure…
We were walking the Farmer’s Market with one of our favorite chefs, when we were presented WILD MUSTARD FLOWERS. Their bright yellow color is very attractive, but the chef wasn’t convinced until he tasted them. Hot and spicy, like a cross between Coleman’s Mustard and Wasabi, these wild blossoms are very assertive. An immediate fan,…
One of the most popular bean varieties, especially in Italy, is the Romano bean. These are Yellow Romano Beans, and they are members of the snap pole bean family. They are meaty, tender, flat, have stringless pods, and a unique flavor. Combine yellow Romano, French, Dragon Tongue, fresh Cannellini and Cranberry beans for a gourmand’…
The bean saga continues. YELLOW WAX BEANS are available throughout the year, but they are abundant during the summer. A bright yellow member of the botanical species phaseolus vulgaris, the yellow wax bean can range in size from four to six inches long. Their beautiful color holds up perfectly to cooking, and their flavor is…
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One of the oldest Chinese vegetables, Bok Choy has been cultivated in China since the fifth century A.D. and in the West since the mid-eighteenth century. Despite its ancient lineage, there still is some confusion about what exactly Bok Choy is. The name Bok Choy simply means ‘ white vegetable’ in Cantonese. There are four…
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Hydroponically grown in Southern California greenhouses, our BABY CELERY is harvested while the ribs are about the size of large spaghetti. These little celery noodles are topped with bright green leaves and are wonderful served as you would traditional noodles.
In the movie Big, Tom Hanks helped BABY CORN growers put their product in the limelight by nibbling on an ear of baby corn at a cocktail party. Cute, but not the best use for this specialty item. The entire ear of baby corn is edible and, as a result, adaptable to many uses. Grill…
Dandelions are cultivated all over America, Europe, and Asia, but chiefly in France. We are used to seeing the leaves of the mature plant packed in bunches of 12. One of our favorite family farms harvests Baby Dandelion Salad, washed and packed in 3 pound cartons, just like Spring Mix. The flavor is spicy, and…
Fava beans are one of Spring’ s greatest gifts. BABY FAVA BEANS are even better! Young, small and tender, BABY FAVAS are lighter green but sweeter than their fully grown counterparts! If you like Favas, you’ ll love BABY FAVA BEANS. Try a Saute of BABY FAVA BEANS with Onions, Fennel, Pancetta and Dill. Or…
Baby Fennel is more delicious in the fall than any other time of year. With its soft anise flavor, Fennel is sweet, refreshing, and delectable. Because a bulb is a well-defined shape, Fennel can assume a strong role on the plate, especially when cooked in halves. It’s delicious braised, baked, steamed, sautéed, or grilled. Baby…
The beautiful jewel-tone of Baby Gold Beets is a welcome addition to any plate. Their flavor is indistinguishable from that of baby red beets, but their color is what sets them apart. In order to limit the bleeding of color from beets, cut the beet tops off 1 to 1 1/2 inches from their base,…