NATIONAL SPINACH DAY; March 26

NATIONAL SPINACH DAY TIMELINE

647 A.D.Persian Vegetable

Spinach is introduced to ancient China and India by Nepalis as a ‘Persian Vegetable.’

1533The Queen Demands More Spinach

Queen consort of France Catherine de’ Medici likes spinach so much that she orders it for her every meal.

1614New Uses

Spinach begins to be used as stuffing for tortellini.

1960The Face of Spinach

The cartoon series “Popeye the Sailor” airs on television, encouraging kids to eat more spinach for super strength.

Spinach details:

spinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant (rarely biennial), which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to triangular-based, very variable in size from about 2–30 cm long and 1–15 cm broad, with larger leaves at the base of the plant and small leaves higher on the flowering stem. The flowers are inconspicuous, yellow-green, 3–4 mm diameter, maturing into a small, hard, dry, lumpy fruit cluster 5–10 mm across containing several seeds.

Types of spinach:

Savoy:  This dark green spinach has curly leaves, and producers usually sell it in fresh bunches. Flat or Smooth Leaf:  You know this spinach by its broad, smooth leaves. It’s mainly grown for canned and frozen spinach, soups, baby food, and processed foods. Semi-savoy: Its crinkly leaves have more texture than other spinach. Producers sell this hybrid variety fresh and processed.

Five Fun Spinach Facts:

1. This leafy green is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and vitamin B6. It’s a very good source of protein, phosphorus, vitamin E, zinc, dietary fiber, and copper. Plus, it’s a good source of selenium, niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
2. In the 1930’s U.S. spinach growers credited Popeye with a 33% increase in domestic spinach consumption – a welcome boost to an industry during the depression era.
3. ‘Birds Eye’ was the first company to advertise frozen spinach. It did so in “Life” magazine in 1949.
4. California is today the US’s #1 grower/supplier of spinach, accounting for almost three quareters (3/4) of national production. Other spinach-growing states include Arizona, New Jersey, Texas, Colorado, Maryland and Arkansas.
5. Spinach leaves are a mild diuretic and mild laxative.

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