A Visual Guide to Leafy Greens!
June 19th, 2013With so many varieties of leafy greens coming from our local farmers each week, it can be difficult to figure out which is which. After all, they are all green and leafy!
Though these greens may appear similar at a glance, they are actually quite unique. We want to help you celebrate these unique greens in all their delicious, nutritious glory, so we’ve put together this quick visual guide to help you identify the common greens in your produce box.
Quick Leafy Green Terminology:
• Spine: the large stem that runs through the center of the greens
• Rib: small stems that come off of the spines and run through the leaves
Kale
Curly Kale: Light green spines and ribs with rough, curly leaves.
Red (Russian Red) Kale: Purple spines and ribs with flat, green leaves that protrude like fingers.
Lacinato or Dinosaur Kale: Off-white spines and ribs with slender, bumpy leaves.
Click here for kale storage tips and recipes!
Collard Greens
Light green spines and ribs with large, broad leaves.
Click here for collard greens storage tips and recipes!
Chard
Green Chard: Light green spines with small tender ribs and large paddle-shaped leaves.
Red Chard: Red spines and tender red ribs with dark green paddle-shaped leaves.
Rainbow Chard: Multicolored spines and ribs with dark green paddle-shaped leaves.
Click here for chard storage tips and recipes!
Arugula
Long, slender spines with quill-like leaves, usually packed in small bunches.
Click here for arugula storage tips and recipes!
We hope this guide will help you differentiate between the many greens that we get from our farm partners throughout the year.
Don’t forget – if you’re ever stumped, you can always snap a picture and send it to our leafy green experts at service@bostonorganics.com, and we’ll help you out!


















This week brings lots o’ local greens from Atlas Farm, plus fresh mint, zucchini, Vidalia onions, bunched beets, and more. Delicious plums, peaches, and pears are continuing to come in, while pluots are just on the horizon. Also in this week’s newsletter are details about the upcoming GMO labeling hearing in Massachusetts as well as our 4th of July delivery schedule. 







