savor
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL THAT
KOHLRABI?
By Peter Viele
It’s easy to get into a grocery and cooking groove when you only shop for your standby, favorite
meals. You grab what you want and cook the same eight or nine meals in various forms from week
to week to appease your family’s appetites.
But doesn’t that seem a bit monotonous? What if there were something
more adventurous, something that challenged your cooking skills and
introduced nutrient-dense, locally grown produce into your family’s diet?
Community Supported Agriculture boxes are full of wonderful
surprises each week that will stock your refrigerator and pantry with
incredible produce grown on nearby farms and summon your inner
Iron Chef. Subscribing to a program is a great way to get engaged with
the local farming community and support a cause that fosters healthy
cooking and eating while exciting the family at dinner time.
Leafy greens typically do well in the Lower Cape Fear. Collards,
kale, Swiss chard, cabbages and more typically will be staples in
most programs. Kohlrabi, radicchio, turnips, carrots, potatoes, radishes,
OUT OF THE
B
O
X
daikon, and a host of herbs can also be found in abundance in many local boxes.
Seasonally, there is much more variety found in the spring and summer as this area’s growing
season is somewhat limited. However, with freshly picked fruits like blueberries, strawberries,
peaches and even apples from the western part of North Carolina, there’s plenty to get excited about.
When joining a program, it’s important to realize it’s not just fresh veggies for your house-hold.
It’s also an investment in local agriculture, which helps ensure farmers stay in business,
can offer a wider range of varieties, and supply local restaurants. It also keeps locally grown
produce affordable for less fortunate families in farming communities.
So instead of buying the same old bag of salad mix from the chain grocery store, think about
making an impact with where you buy produce and create some nutritious out-of-the-box meals.
Now, let’s tackle that intimidating-looking kohlrabi.
78
WBM february 2021
“With a slightly milder,
sweeter taste than
broccoli stems, one cup
of kohlrabi packs a
punch of 140% of
recommended daily
vitamin C and is an
excellent source of B6
and other minerals.”
COOKING
B.C. MOUSHOMI