TinyVeggies™ Fennel
Estimated Inventory, 50 ct : 0
This item was last sold on : 12/01/23
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Description/Taste
Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root is comprised of slender, semi-thin bulbs attached to elongated stalks, adorned with feather-like fronds. The pale green to white bulbs are smooth and firm, averaging one centimeter in diameter and 10 to 12 centimeters in length. The narrow stalks are also green and have an aqueous, crisp consistency, while the dark green fronds form at the top of the branched stalks. The fronds are light and frilly, similar in appearance to dill. Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root emits an aromatic and fresh anise-like fragrance and contains herbaceous and subtly sweet licorice flavors combined with faint spice, vegetal, and citrus nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root are available year-round.
Current Facts
Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root are part of a proprietary line of specialty micro-vegetables grown by Fresh Origins farm in northern San Diego, California. The tiny bulbs are harvested when they are less than a centimeter in diameter, maintaining a tender yet crunchy texture with a sweet anise flavor. Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root is the immature version of a flowering herbaceous perennial botanically classified as Foeniculum vulgare, and belonging to the Apiaceae family. Fennel is closely related to celery, carrots, parsnips, and parsley. Fresh Origins developed their Tiny Veggies™ as an accompaniment to their microgreens line. Currently the company grows over 20 different vegetables in their Tiny Veggies™ line with an emphasis on visually appealing and flavorful varieties. Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root can be consumed fully, including the leaves and stems, and can be enjoyed both raw and cooked. Tiny Veggies™ are favored by chefs as an elevated crudité, garnish, and side dish.
Nutritional Value
Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root is a good source of folate to produce red blood cells, vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, boost collagen production, and reduce inflammation, and potassium to balance fluid levels in the body. The young bulbs and stalks also provide some vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, fiber to stimulate the digestive tract, and lower amounts of magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and copper.
Applications
Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root are fully edible and were designed to be enjoyed raw or cooked. Their small size makes them the perfect garnish for tray passed hors d’oeurves. The bulbs can be tossed into salads, blanched and floated atop pureed soups, folded into chilled grain dishes, or rolled into fresh spring rolls or wraps. Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root bring dimension to a crudité platter, with a sweet and anise flavor that pairs well with a variety of dipping sauces. The micro-vegetables can also be roasted, blanched, or sauteed and served as a side dish with roasted mushrooms, grilled steak, or seared fish. Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root can be caramelized and used as a garnish for cakes, cupcakes, breads, and other pastries and desserts Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root pair well with a variety of vegetables including leafy greens such as arugula, spinach, and endive, root vegetables like beets, turnips, and parsnips, mushrooms, garlic, and brassicas including mustard greens, kale, kohlrabi, and broccoli. The micro-vegetable also pairs well with poultry, lamb, and steak, as well as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and sunchokes. Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root should be refrigerated for best quality and will keep up to 7 days when stored in an air-tight container.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Fennel was an important medicinal and ceremonial plant in Ancient Greece, weaving itself into Greek history and mythology. One such myth, the story of Prometheus, tells the tale of how humans received the gift of fire. Prometheus and his brother were tasked by Zeus with creating beings to populate Earth. While his brother created animals, Prometheus sculpted man in the image of the gods and goddesses of Olympus. Athena was impressed by these sculptures and breathed life into them. Upon seeing them, Zeus decided humans would only be good for worshiping and giving sacrifices to the gods. Worried that his creations would suffer from hunger and the cold, Prometheus tricked Zeus into taking the worst parts of the bull the humans sacrificed for him, leaving behind the meat and hide for the humans. As punishment Zeus forbade humans from ever having fire to cook their meals, light their way, or keep them warm. Scared again for their safety, Prometheus snuck into Mount Olympus and stole an ember from the great forge of the God of blacksmithing, Hephaestus. Prometheus hid the ember inside a hollowed-out stalk of fennel, a plant that was known to smolder but not burn. He delivered the fennel to man, gifting them with eternal fire to keep them fed and warm. Prometheus also taught humans mathematics and architecture to build cities, and astronomy and navigation to sail the sea. These gifts gave rise to civilizations that were not fully subservient to Zeus and the other Gods of Mount Olympus. A vengeful Zeus punished Prometheus, cursing him to hang forever on the side of a cliff with a vulture eating his liver every day for eternity.
Geography/History
Fennel is native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, where it has grown wild since ancient times. The herbaceous plant was slowly cultivated for thousands of years, developing new varieties with improved flavor, texture, and plant size. Tiny Veggies™ Fennel Root is a proprietary version of fennel grown by Fresh Origins Farms in San Marcos, California. Fresh Origins uses the mild, Southern California climate to grow their Tiny Veggies™ year-round. Fresh Origins farm was established in 1995 and has become the culinary industry’s leading producer of microgreens, petite greens, and edible flowers. The farm closely partners with chefs to create innovative varieties with unique flavors, and they also work closely with third party auditing programs to ensure the highest level of food safety at their farm and production areas. Today Tiny Veggies™ Fennel can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States and Canada, including Specialty Produce.