It’s artichoke season & we’re excited to have some in our boxes to share this week.  Here’s some fun facts about the artichoke.

• It’s actually an unbloomed flower, from the sunflower family.

• All of the artichokes grown in the United States come from California.  Castroville is the home to the artichoke festival, and calls itself the artichoke center of the world.

• They’re one of the oldest vegetables known to man, with records of its use dating all the way back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

• It has the highest antioxidants of any vegetable.

• Though they’re not poisonous, if you’re allergic to marigolds, daisies, and the like, you may be allergic to artichokes.

• March 16th is National Artichoke Hearts Day.

Tip:   One of the tastiest & most fun ways to enjoy artichokes is to boil them with water, a lot of olive oil, and salt until they become tender.  Be sure to chop off the top half as that part of the leaves aren’t for eating.  Then peel, leaf by leaf as you eat, scraping the edible flesh off with your teeth, until you get to the heart (when you get to the prickly parts, just remove them & the heart is right under them).  Try it with the kids & they just might eat all their veggies!