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Produce Briefs...
Ramps
The wild ramp, AKA wild leek, botanical name Allium tricoccum, is a flowering perennial plant that grows in clusters. It is a member of the Allium family along with onions and leeks
Calamondin Limes
The Calamondin lime is a cross between a sour, loose skinned mandarin and a kumquat, therefore technically making it an orangequat.
Salanova® Lettuces
Salanova® lettuce is a full-sized variety developed for the baby lettuce market. Botanically these varieties are scientifically known as Lactuca sativa.
Description/Taste
Baby Bok choy is a young, petite, and tender cabbage, averaging 10-12 centimeters in length, and has a bulb-like base consisting of clustered stems connected to oval, flat leaves. The stems, also known as petioles, are thick, firm, and slightly curved, ranging in color from white to pale green, depending on the variety. The delicate leaves are dark green to light green and are crisp, smooth, and wide. Baby Bok choy is tender and crunchy with a sweet, fresh green flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Baby Bok choy is available year-round, with peak-seasons in the early spring and fall.
Current Facts
Baby Bok choy, botanically classified as Brassica rapa susbp. chinensis, is a small, non-heading cabbage that grows green blades and is a member of the Brassicaceae family along with broccoli, kale, and mustard. Native to China, Baby Bok choy is an early-harvested, compact plant that is more tender and sweeter than its mature counterparts. Bok choy translates from Chinese to mean “white cabbage,” and there are multiple varieties of Baby Bok choy with varying sizes and colors ranging from dark green leaves with white stems to green leaves with pale green stems. Baby Bok choy is also known by many different names due to differing Asian dialects and is mostly found under Pak choy, Spoon Cabbage, Bok choi, and Pak choi. The small cabbages are favored for their mild taste, tender consistency, and high nutritional properties, predominately used in salads, soups, stir-fries, and side dishes.
Nutritional Value
Baby Bok choy is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, and beta-carotene, which are antioxidants that help the body fight against environmental aggressors and is a good source of fiber to stimulate digestion. The greens also contain calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, magnesium, and folate to help support bone strength and fight against inflammation.
Applications
Baby Bok choy is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as stir-frying, braising, grilling, steaming, boiling, and sautéing. The tender nature of the stem and leaves is showcased when chopped and tossed into fresh green salads, or the raw leaves can be mixed into a slaw with carrots and garlic. In cooked applications, Baby Bok choy can be sliced in half and added to soups, quickly cooked in stir-fries with other vegetables, mixed into noodle dishes, or tossed with cooked meats and rice. One advantage of Baby Bok choy is the vegetable’s fast cooking time and small shape. The curved leaves provide a pleasing aesthetic in dishes and do not need to be finely chopped to retain a tender texture. Baby Bok choy pairs well with aromatics such as garlic and ginger, mushrooms, bell pepper, broccoli, carrots, herbs such as basil, cilantro, and mint, sesame seeds, sauces such as soy, hoisin, and oyster, tofu, meats such as poultry, pork, and white fish, noodles, chicken broth, and light-bodied vinegars. The leaves and stems will keep up to three days when loosely stored in a plastic bag and kept in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In traditional Chinese medicine, Bok choy is considered to be a cooling ingredient that can help balance energy in organs such as the kidneys, lungs, stomach, brain, and gall bladder. The cabbage first became well-known when it was mentioned in the acclaimed Compendium of Materia Medica, which is a comprehensive book recording traditional Chinese medicine practices, written by 16th-century Chinese pharmacist Li Shizhen. In the book, Shizhen wrote about the disease-fighting properties of bok choy, and since the book was published, bok choy has become a staple ingredient in Asian cooking. Bok choy is also believed to help improve digestion, detox and lubricate the intestines, and boost metabolism.
Geography/History
Bok choy is native to China, originally from the Yangtze River Delta, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years. In the 14th century, bok choy was transported via trade routes to Korea during the Joseon Dynasty, where it would become a key ingredient in kimchi. It was later introduced to Southeast Asia in the 16th century and Europe in the 19th century. Today Baby Bok choy is still widely cultivated across Asia and Southeast Asia, and it is also grown and sold at farmers markets and specialty grocers in Australia, South Africa, Europe, Canada, South America, the Caribbean, Central America, and the United States.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
| Toast Cafe | San Diego CA | 858-208-9422 |
| The Glen at Scripps Ranch | San Diego CA | 858-444-8500 |
| Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
| Harumama | San Diego CA | 619-269-7122 |
| Harumama Carlsbad | Carlsbad CA | 858-999-4073 |
| Under Belly-Little Italy Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-269-4626 |
| Under Belly-Uptown | San Diego CA | 619-269-4626 |
| Great Maple Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-255-2282 |
| Waters Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 x4 |
| PFC Fitness Camp | Carlsbad CA | 888-488-8936 |
| Glenbrook Health Center | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1000 |
| Viejas Casino Grove Steakhouse | Alpine CA | 800-295-3172 |
| Waverly | Cardiff CA | 619-244-0416 |
| Harvest Kitchen (Corp Lunch) | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
| Bali Hai Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-222-1181 |
| Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
| Azuki Sushi Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-238-4760 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-380-9840 |
| Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
| The Switchboard Restaurant and Bar | Oceanside CA | 760-807-7446 |
| La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-7126 |
| Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern and Grill | Vista CA | 760-509-4424 |
| Blue Ocean La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-999-4073 |
| Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
| Eclipse Chocolate | San Diego CA | 619-831-5170 |
| The Clean & Colorful Kitchen | San Diego CA | 858-775-9005 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 808-868-8639 |
| Kettner Exchange | San Diego CA | |
| C 2 C | San Diego CA | 619-972-9345 |
| International Smoke Del Mar | San Diego CA | 619-331-4528 |
| Bishop School | San Diego CA | 858-459-4021 x212 |
| La Costa Glen South | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1000 |
| Beeside Balcony | Del Mar CA | 858-880-8105 |
| Roots Craft Juice | Oceanside CA | 760-708-8859 |
| Farm Fresh Meals | Vista CA | 760-707-2383 |
| Viewpoint Brewing Co. | Del Mar CA | 858-205-9835 |
| Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
| The Original 40 Brewing | San Diego CA | 619-206-4725 |
| The Bier Garden | Encinitas CA | 760-632-2437 |
| Open Gym-Craft Meals | San Diego CA | 619-799-3675 |
| Chateau La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-459-4451 |
| Pacific Regent La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-597-8008 |
| Truluck's Seafood Steak and Crab House | San Diego CA | 858-453-2583 |
| Miho Gastrotruck | San Diego CA | 619-365-5655 |
| Pacifica Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-0505 |
| Bernardo Heights Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-487-4022 |
| Saiko Sushi-North Park | San Diego CA | 619-886-6656 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Duke's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-1999 |
| Lumi | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| University Club | San Diego CA | 619-234-5200 |
| Now Sushi | San Diego CA | 858-246-6179 |
| Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
| Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Baby Bok Choy. One
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easiest, three is harder.Recently Shared
People have shared Baby Bok Choy using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Sharing 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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Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United StatesAbout 188 days ago, 8/20/20 Sharer's comments : Baby Bok Choy is Back! 
99 Ranch Market
99 Ranch Balboa
Near San Diego, CA, United States99 Ranch Market 5950 Balboa Ave #2712 San Diego CA 92111 1-858-300-8899 https://www.99ranch.com About 356 days ago, 3/05/20 
La Carreta
La Carreta Supermarkets
Near Villa Park, California, United States4637 E Chapman Ave Orange CA 92869 714-771-1595 http://www.lacarretasupermarkets.com About 396 days ago, 1/25/20 
竹圍漁港漁貨直銷中心
Near Bade City, TaiwanAbout 446 days ago, 12/06/19 
Island Pacific Supermarket
Island Pacific Supermarket - Vallejo, CA
Near Vallejo, California, United States2110 Springs Road #24 Vallejo CA 94591 707-552-6730 www.islandpacificmarket.com About 572 days ago, 8/02/19 
Woori Food Market
Woori Market
Near San Francisco, California, United States1528 Filmore Street San Francisco CA 94115 415-673-9887 About 592 days ago, 7/13/19 
Tokyo Central
Tokyo Central
Near South Coast Metro, California, United States2975 Harbor Blvd. Costa Mesa CA 92626 714-751-8433 About 614 days ago, 6/21/19 
Seiwa Market
Seiwa Market
Near South Coast Metro, California, United States3151 Harbor Blvd. Costa Mesa CA 92626 714-852-6980 About 614 days ago, 6/21/19 
Snowgoose Produce
Snow Goose Produce
Near Mount Vernon, Washington, United StatesMt Vernon, WA About 678 days ago, 4/18/19 Sharer's comments : Lovely, just harvested, ready to devour! |
