Asparagus 101

Did you know the following information about asparagus?!!?

Asparagus is a member of the lily family.
In ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10 inches in a 24-hour period!
A well cared for asparagus planting will generally produce for about 15 years without being replanted.
Asparagus is a nutrient-dense food, which is high in Folic acid, and is a great source of potassium, fiber, vitamins B6, A, C, and thiamin.
And asparagus has no fat, contains no cholesterol, and is low in sodium.

At the your local farmers market or grocery store, look for firm, fresh, spears with closed, compact tips, and uniform diameter, so that the spears will cook in the same amount of time. The larger the diameter of spears, the better the quality.

Looking to add some folic acid to your diet, here are some delicious asparagus recipes:

http://www.asparagus.org/maab/recipes/Asparagus05Brochure.pdf.

http://www.asparagus.org/