Sunchokes

Anyone who has visited the farm in the summertime may have sighted some bright yellow flowers that look like small sunflowers. We grow these flowers, not just for aesthetic value, but also for their edible roots. These flowers belong to the Jerusalem Artichoke and Yacon plants.
These plants are members of the sunchoke family that originates in south and central America, and their flowers look like sunflowers because they are, in fact, related to them! The Jerusalem Artichokes have edible rhizomes that look like a ginger but eat more like a potato (with a bit of a nutty texture). They are famous for being a resilient drought-tolerant crop that grows well in harsh conditions. Yacon are commonly known as “Peruvian Ground Apples” and grow a large sweet potato like tuber, that can be eaten cooked or raw.
Yacon and Jerusalem artichokes are two of the crops that we are hoping to expand on over the next year, planting them throughout our western food forest. While next year we hope to have a big harvest, we wanted to share this year’s small harvest with you!
Enjoy
Cal Champagne
Green Connect Farm Manager

Fun fact: Jerusalem artichokes and yacons are not closely related to the artichoke and are much closer to sunflowers! This is a picture of a happy artichoke at the farm during summer.

In your box: 20210616 in box

What’s that in my box: Although Jerusalem artichokes look more like a ginger root than an artichoke, they are creamy and earthy in flavour. Very beneficial for your health, these tubers are rich in iron to give you energy, along with potassium and vitamin B1, which support your muscles and nerves. Yacon is a good source of calcium and vitamin c. it has a creamy white-yellow colour and a uniquely refreshing taste that’s similar to apple, watermelon, and celery combined. Unlike a sweet potato, Yacon is often eaten raw and contains no starch. Both are great when roasted, mashed, or pureed, and will make a great substitute to mash, roasted, fresh in a salad, or added to soup. For more information on how to store & cook any of our vegetables, visit: https://draxe.com/ and type in the veggie you’re looking for.

You can find all of our recipes here!