Market Look-For’s

• Even coloring. Dark spots are indicative of age or disease.
• Bright glossy leaves. Wrinkled leaves indicate loss of moisture due to age or improper storage.
• The darker the color of the stalk and leaf the richer and earthier the flavor will be.

Storage

• In a plastic bag in a the fridge

Notes

• Chard and beets have the same heredity. Over time chard was grown to emphasize the leaf; beets, the root. And so they have evolved to show different features best.
• Chard, beets and spinach are the only members of the goosefoot family and so share certain characteristics.
• Chard can be used in place of beet greens or adult spinach in most cases and vice versa.
• Chard cooks more quickly than kale or other hardy greens. Consider tossing with a warm sauce to wilt or sautéing quickly to maintain the ingerity of the leaf texture.
• The stems share a similar texture to celery. Slice them and use them by sautéing before adding the greens. They also make a nice pickle. Just don’t send them to the landfill.