Farm Happenings at Heritage Family Gardens
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Nearly Summer and Strawberry Spinach

Posted on June 8th, 2023 by Stacey Taggart

Our last week of spring shares! We thank you so much for joining us for this unusual spring!  Several things went very well - we think every other week is much better in many ways - but because of the late winter, we didn't get broccoli, cauliflower, or a number of other crops in... But we thank you for joining us in the journey anyway! Having your support means everything to us!!  Our summer shares start next week.

For our spring finale, we're excited to showcase a new crop!  It's called strawberry spinach.  Native to the moist mountain valleys of North America, and popular in Europe dating back to the 1600s, market gardeners (like us!) have brought attention to this unique crop in recent years making it a new up-and-coming-green in the local food world.  The plant is fascinating - the arrow shaped leaves remind us that it is a relative of spinach and the flavor and nutritional profile are reminiscent of spinach as well. But the most intriguing quality is its small bright red berries! Very similar to raspberries or strawberries!! Young under ripe berries are mild and nutty in flavor and great for salads or savory applications, and when fully ripe they are a deep crimson with a juicy sweet flavor reminiscent of a mix between watermelon and berries. Try this unique, tasty, and nutritious delicacy this week, making a salad from the greens and using the berries as a salad topping, or use the fully ripe berries as a dessert topping. Let us know what you think!