Radish

By: Amelia Attwood, RD, LD

Spring forward and incorporate vibrant and healthy meals into your dinner menu. Enjoy all things spring such as radishes, asparagus, and leafy greens. Maybe even try each of these seasonal foods together in our Spring Panzanella.  Enjoy these foods from our region while they last, as fresh spring produce is meant to be savored. While radishes are in peak season in spring, as weather transitions to summer and temperatures rise the last of the radish and salad greens harvested in hot weather will be spicier.

Radishes are part of the Brassica plant family, meaning they have a distinct and strong flavor much like their broccoli or cauliflower, their brassica relatives. These pungent vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals including potassium, calcium, folate, vitamin c, and fiber. Dietary intake of potassium is essential for healthy muscles including our hearts. Calcium helps maintain strong bones and teeth. Dietary folate is most often consumed through fresh produce because of its essential function(s) in our health maintenance. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps strengthen the immune system and aids in iron absorption. Radishes are packed with beneficial vitamins, minerals, and fiber without the added calories.

The producers of the radishes featured at school this month are known as Featherstone Farm located in Rushford, MN. Featherstone Farm is on a mission to produce and distribute high quality, certified organic fresh vegetables, in a way that reflects values of personal, financial, and environmental sustainability.  The Featherstone Farm was founded by Jack Hedin and Jenni McHugh, and it draws its name from the Featherstone Township homestead (80 miles upriver). This is where Jack's great grandfather farmed and planted trees in the 19th century. The modern day farm produces around 70 varieties of farm fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution to local co-ops, restaurants, grocers, and year round Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes. Another returning producer of radishes featured at school this month is Driftless Organics located in Soldier Grove, Wisconsin. They are a 100-acre farm in the ridge and valley fields of Southwest Wisconsin. They sell fruits, vegetables, and sunflower oil across the Midwest through farmer’s markets and grocers.