Stories

Place: U.S.

Uses: Fresh eating, or quickly steamed, sauteed, or stir-fried

Fun Fact: The term “mangetout” (French for “eat it all”) can be applied to sugar snap peas and snow peas alike.

Where Did the Snap Pea Come From?

Hailed as the greatest new vegetable on the market, Sugar Snap peas took the vegetable world by storm in the spring of 1979.

They truly w

bePlace: China

Uses: Eaten out of hand as a snack, in granola, atop cereal and in baked goods or in teas and soups

Fun fact: Ningxia Province, which produces a large share of China’s goji berries for export, holds a goji berry festival each August to celebrate the annual harvest.

The goji berry has enjoyed much fanfare as a medicinal wonder. For a few thousand years these small red berries have been the center of many tall tales of healing and extreme longevity. Despite the trumped-up h

Place: The Mediterranean

Uses: Salads, stir fries, soups, sandwiches, pesto and sauces

Fun Fact: Arugula is also often called rocket; both names derive from the original Latin name of the plant, “eruca.” As he was developing his botanical taxonomy, Carl Linneaus followed, naming arugula Eruca sativa.

Arugula: Origin and History

In the world of plants, few have such a long and noble history as

The terms goji berry and wolfberry are often used interchangeably. Is there a difference?

Well, sort of. Both names can be used to refer to the fruit of Lycium chinense and Lycium barbarum, two closely related species of boxthorn, in the Solanaceae family. While the two plants are very similar, the fruit of L. barbarum is sweeter, less astringent and higher in betaine, an important nutrient believed to support liver and kidney health. Additionally, the fruit of L. barbarum is meatier in texture, while L. chinense is more fibrous. (Please note that only the mature fruit of either species should be eaten.)

Place: USA

Use: Condiments, jams and sauces

Fun Fact: A sweet datil pepper variant is also available for those who love the pepper’s fruity flavor but not the heat.

What Is a Datil Pepper?

These sweet peppers are a culinary symbol of America's oldest city.

These f

Place: China

Uses: Pickles, fresh eating, stir fries, soups and more

Fun Fact: Chinese fruit radishes such as the Shawo are a traditional part of wintertime tea parties in Beijing.

Winter radishes have an ancient — and spicy — history, and we are thrilled to see that these bulbous root crops are regaining popularity in modern gardens.

Place: North America

Uses: Teas, tinctures and ornamental use

Fun fact: The yellow-petaled Echinacea paradoxa grows wild in some parts of the Ozarks, where our Missouri farm is located.

Echinacea: Origin and History

A favorite among gardeners and herbalists, the lovely echinacea

Place: Brazil and Paraguay

Uses: As a sweetener

Fun Fact: Stevia is sweeter than sugar up to 300 times!

Stevia: Origin and History

Stevia is an herb renowned the world over for its sweet leaf and delicate flavor, slightly reminiscent of a mild

Place: India

Uses: Stir fried, soups, stews, curries

Fun fact: The immature flower shoots are delicious and reminiscent of Asian baby corn.

Most gardeners love to grow spinach, but sadly, it falters when the weather begins to get pleasantly warm. Fortunately, there’s a crop that yields similar (but more gelatinous) leaves all summer long. I

Place: Turkey, Syria, the Caucasus

Uses: Garden ornamental, cut flower arranging

Fun fact: Bells of Ireland is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is related to catmint, salvia, thyme and lavender