It's barely March, and we're already celebrating the bounty our local, Alberta producers have to offer. Dawn and Kate's set-up at Sunrise Gardens includes a hot house and cold frames to lengthen their growing season to produce a variety of green shoots and sprouts year-round. This week - we're excited to announce the addition of their garlic shoots to our online market! <a href="/media/original_images/IMG_0501.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5854" src="/media/original_images/IMG_0501.jpg" alt="IMG_0501" width="640" height="480" /></a> <strong>What are garlic shoots all about?</strong> "Garlic shoots are the first leaves that emerge from a germinated garlic clove. They have a mild garlic flavour and are used like chives and green onions. They are wonderful sliced thinly and added to herb butters, stir-fries, salad, mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs. The shoots can be pureed with yogurt, vinegar and oil to make a delicious “green goddess” dressing or marinade. Garlic shoots can be stirred into a rice bowl, soup or fried rice to add fresh garlic flavour. Mix garlic shoots with sour cream and add to tacos or pyrogies, and try including garlic shoots in wraps or burritos. Recent scientific research identified that the nutrients and antioxidant capacity of garlic shoots is higher than in the garlic clove. Garlic shoots are a good source of Vitamin C, about one-third the amount of an orange, and contain comparable amounts as parsnip, turnip and soybean sprouts. The amount of chlorophyll in garlic shoots is comparable with parsley, celery and spinach. Garlic shoots are also a good source of fiber with amounts comparable to potato, celery, pumpkin and beet. Another recent scientific study provided evidence that compounds in garlic shoots protect against damage to brain cells implicated in degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease." - <em>Kate, Sunrise Gardens</em> Be sure to give these healthy, flavourful shoots a try in your next box - they add so much to any dish! <a href="/media/original_images/IMG_0493.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5853" src="/media/original_images/IMG_0493.jpg" alt="IMG_0493" width="640" height="480" /></a>