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The New Gourmet Greens: Weeds

Experts tout health benefits; consumers pay top dollar

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted May 27, 2009 11:30 AM CDT
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(Newser) – One man’s weeds are another man’s delicacy. The bane of American gardeners has a new home on gourmet dinner plates, the Wall Street Journal reports. “These are as good a yuppie green as you can get,” said one buyer who paid $9 a pound for dandelion greens, a very common weed. As avant-garde chefs lead the way, wild greens have become “trendy items,” said one farm owner.

Weed cuisine taps into the organic and local food movement, because weeds require no pesticides and little water. Some farmers have seen annual sales increase by as much as 25%, while supermarkets experienced a 9% increase—a growth rate more than twice as high as that of vegetables overall. And health food lovers appreciate the benefits to the immune system these “wonder foods” provide, a dietitian says.

Weeds such as dandelion greens, shown above, were popular during World War II and are just now coming back into vogue.
"Weeds" such as dandelion greens, shown above, were popular during World War II and are just now coming back into vogue.   (Getty Images)
More and more gourmands--not goats--are eating weeds nowadays.
More and more gourmands--not goats--are eating weeds nowadays.   (AP Photo/Bill Wolf)
Weeds are easy to grow because they're so hardy, as gardeners everywhere will tell you.
Weeds are easy to grow because they're so hardy, as gardeners everywhere will tell you.   (AP Photo/Jackie Johnston)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
inky
May 27, 2009 7:28 AM CDT
Wild mustard greens cooked with bacon. A lot of people who grew up like I did in California grew up with the stuff -- for free growing along every hillside and road ditch
kokuaguy
May 27, 2009 6:19 AM CDT
Great grandma was right! Chalk one up for the church lady.

Wild plants make good eats
New Bedford Standard-Times

 
locally grown movement • organic • gourmet • weed • Jay-ZTV

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