Featured...
Micro Arugula
Inventory, 4 oz : 8.00
This item was last sold on : 02/02/23
Description/Taste
Micro Arugula is comprised of 1 to 2 small leaves attached to a slender stem, averaging 5 to 7 centimeters in length. The delicate green leaves have a curved, heart-shape with broad, uniform edges, and the surface of the leaves is smooth, pliable, and flat. The leaves are also attached to a narrow pale green stem, contributing to the microgreen’s crisp, succulent, and tender consistency. Micro Arugula is mild compared to the mature herb, containing a subtly sweet, tangy, peppery, and earthy flavor with grassy, vegetal, and nutty nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Micro Arugula is available year-round.
Current Facts
Micro Arugula consists of young, edible seedlings that are a part of a line of specialty microgreens grown by Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California. The crisp greens bear a zesty, peppery flavor and were selectively curated to provide chefs with a unique, edible garnish. Micro Arugula is generally harvested 1 to 2 weeks after sowing, ensuring the greens have a tender consistency. The microgreens are also gathered at the peak of their growth cycle to guarantee optimum flavor and nutritional content. Micro Arugula can be used to elevate in-house dining, complementing ingredients without overpowering the main flavor of the dish, and it can also be incorporated as a takeout garnish. Packing the tiny greens in a takeout meal as a surprise element allows consumers to sprinkle the microgreens over the dish, creating an emotional and sensory dining experience at home. In addition to being featured as a microgreen, Micro Arugula is also offered as a Petite® Green, a slightly larger, more mature version of the microgreen that provides a more robust peppery flavor and texture.
Nutritional Value
Micro Arugula is a good source of vitamin K and calcium, nutrients that contribute to healthy wound healing and overall bone health. The microgreens are also a source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and increase the absorption of iron, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, folate to develop genetic material, and lower amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. It is important to note that the vitamins and minerals are found primarily within the leaves and not in the stems of the microgreens. Growing conditions also significantly impact the nutritional content, and Fresh Origins cultivates their microgreens in a natural setting, an ideal climate for healthy, optimal greens.
Applications
Micro Arugula has a nutty, peppery taste best suited as an edible garnish and is showcased when consumed fresh, primarily in savory dishes. The microgreens should be added at the end of preparations and are recommended to be dressed in lighter sauces and vinaigrettes to avoid wilting. Micro Arugula can be mixed with other lettuces to create a flavorful salad, or it can be used as a bed of greens under roasted meats and seafood. The microgreens can also be floated on soups and stews, used as a garnish over quiche, sprinkled as a topping on pizza, or stirred into pasta. In addition to using the greens whole, Micro Arugula can be blended into pesto, chopped and layered onto sandwiches and burgers, or topped over roasted potatoes and vegetable medleys. Micro Arugula pairs well with cheeses such as burrata, parmesan, feta, chevre, blue cheese, gorgonzola, and mozzarella, nuts such as walnuts, pine nuts, and pecans, fruits including pears, citrus, berries, melons, and avocados, balsamic vinegar, cucumber, tomato, olives, fennel, and meats including turkey, beef, veal, poultry, and fish. Micro Arugula will generally keep 5 to 7 days stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Ancient Greece, arugula was believed to be a natural aphrodisiac and was heavily used in the 1st century CE to increase libido. The peppery greens were thought to block unhealthy contaminants from being absorbed into the body, which helped clarify the mind and soul. Records of using arugula as an aphrodisiac were mentioned through the writings of the Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides and the aromatic herb was primarily eaten fresh in salads. Arugula was also one of the main ingredients used in love potions and was paired with lavender or chicory to increase the potion’s potency. Love potions were the source of many Greek myths and legends, and among some folk medicines practiced in Europe today, the peppery greens are still seen as a libido enhancer.
Geography/History
Arugula is native to the temperate regions of the Mediterranean and has been growing wild for thousands of years. Over time, the peppery herb was spread through Europe, where it was used for its pungent flavor, and eventually, the greens were introduced to the New World through European immigrants. Throughout history, arugula has experienced periods of immense popularity, to seasons of distaste, with the most recent surge taking place in the 1990s among American chefs and consumers. During this surge, Micro Arugula was also developed in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, establishing the herb’s presence as a high-end flavoring. The Micro Arugula featured in the photograph above was developed at Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California, the leading American producer of naturally grown microgreens since the mid-1990s. Fresh Origins uses the mild, Southern California climate year-round to produce robust, healthy, and flavorful microgreens for over twenty years, and the farm closely partners with chefs to create innovative varieties with unique flavorings. Fresh Origins also has the highest level third-party-audited food safety program and is a certified member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which follows science-based food safety practices to promote transparency and honesty in production. Today Micro Arugula can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States, including Specialty Produce, and are also found through partners in Canada.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| The Monsaraz | San Diego CA | 858-760-6228 |
| The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Orens Fine Foods | San Diego CA | 510-910-2298 |
| American Pizza Manufacturing | La Jolla CA | 858-246-6756 |
| Crown Point Catering | San Diego CA | 619-223-1211 |
| Birds Eye (Prep Kitchen) | San Diego CA | 619-780-0974 |
| Salt & Whiskey 2023 | San Diego CA | 619-214-9519 |
| The Guild Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
| Davanti Enoteca India St. | San Diego CA | 619-237-9606 |
| Oak and Elixir | Carlsbad CA | 760-473-1097 |
| Wolfies Carousel | San Diego CA | 909-477-1291 |
| Nectarine Grove | Encinitas CA | 760-944-4525 |
| The Shout House | San Diego CA | 619-231-6700 |
| Harvest Kitchen | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
| Humphery's | San Diego CA | 619-224-3577 |
| Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
| The Guild Bar | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
| Alejandra's Cocina | Carlsbad CA | 858-500-5075 |
| Glenbrook Health Center | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1000 |
| Paradise Point Resort Tidal | San Diego CA | 858-490-6363 |
| Zeca Trading Co. | San Diego CA | 619-410-1576 |
| Sushi Exchange | San Diego CA | 619-961-7218 |
| Sycuan Casino | El Cajon CA | 619-445-6002 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (20/20) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Herb & Sea | Encinitas CA | 858-587-6601 |
| Hilton Harbor Island | San Diego CA | 619-291-6700 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Micro Arugula. One
is easiest, three is harder.Recently Shared
People have shared Micro Arugula 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.
|
Little Italy Mercato
Lath House Gardens Microgreens
Near San Diego, California, United StatesSan Diego, CA About 97 days ago, 10/29/22 
Little Italy Farmers Market
Lath House Gardens Microgreens
Near San Diego, California, United StatesSan Diego, CA About 251 days ago, 5/28/22 
Leucadia Farmer's Market
Solutions Farms
Near Encinitas, California, United StatesVista, CA About 355 days ago, 2/13/22 Sharer's comments : Buy immaculate microgreens and/or heads of lettuce - and support an inspiring local nonprofit fight against family homelessness!! 
Tiverton Farmers Market
Near Tiverton, Rhode Island, United StatesAbout 563 days ago, 7/20/21 Sharer's comments : Love this microgreen in my wraps :) |
