Produce Briefs...
Mache
Mache has been cultivated in France since the 17th century, and in France it is known as doucette. It is also known as "lamb's lettuce" because its leaves resemble the size and shape of a lamb's tongue.
Iceberg Lettuce
It is the only lettuce type that does not occur in red form as well as green. Iceberg is the given name to dozens of cultivars of lettuce, all of which are adapted to specific planting regions and time periods.
Seasons/Availability
Available year round, the peak season for Jewel yams is fall and winter.
Current Facts
The Jewel yam is, in fact, not a yam. It is a sweet potato that lost its identity to an American labeling system that forced the naming of yellow-orange fleshed sweet potatoes to include yam in their identification. Thus, the Jewel yam is a sweet potato and a member of the Convolvulaceae family along with other herbaceous perennial vines, trees and shrubs. It is the storage organ of the plant, storing nutrients and carbohydrates which sustain its above ground shoots, vines, foliage and flowers.
Description/Taste
Jewel yams are ovate and cylindric in shape, tapering at the ends. They have a rough semi thick skin with a rose hued pale orange color. The flesh is brilliant orange, moist and starchy. The flesh's vibrant color increases when cooked. Its flavor is sweet and its starchy textures allows it to absorb accompanying ingredients' flavors.
Nutritional Value
The Jewel yam is a high source for beta carotene and yields a substantial amount of carbohydrates per single "yam".
Geography/History
True yams are native to Asia and Africa and are one of the most important food crops in tropical and subtropical regions. There are about 200 varieties of yams, none of which are grown in mainland United States. Sweet potatoes are native to the New World, specifically Peru and Ecuador. The Jewel variety is one of the most common sweet potatoes cultivated for American markets. Along with the Beauregard sweet potato, these two varieties account for about ninety percent of the sweet potatoes produced in the United States.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Saffron | San Diego CA | 619-574-7737 |
| La Villa | San Diego CA | 619 255 5221 |
| Burger Lounge Gaslamp | San Diego CA | 619-955-5727 |
| Vi At La Jolla Village | San Diego CA | 858-646-7700 |
| Prepkitchen La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-875-7737 |
| Wynola Flats Produce | Julian CA | 760-765-2979 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Jewel Yams. One
is easiest, three is harder.Recently Spotted
Someone spotted Jewel Yams using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Whole Foods Market Near Lake Grove, New York, United States About 44 days ago |
