Celery

Celery (Apium graveoleus)

Wild celery was one of the first vegetables to appear in written history. In ancient Greece, celery had a medicinal reputation. In Egypt, its seeds were prized as a spice. In China, Confucius wrote about wild celery around 500 B.C. In America, celery has been cultivated since 1874, when Dutch farmers gave celery samples to train travelers to popularize the vegetable. Celery is a good source of fiber, and is reputed to lower blood pressure.

Storage Tips:

• Refrigerate as soon as possible or celery will go limp. Warp in damp towel or place in a plastic bag and store in the hydrator drawer of the refrigerator. It should keep for up to two weeks. Retain maximum crispness by storing stems upright in a container with an inch of water.

• For long-term storage celery can be frozen. Slice into rounds, then spread out on a cookie sheet and place into freezer. When all is frozen, place into airtight container or zip-lock bag and return to freezer. Celery pieces will be soft when thawed and are best used in soups or stews.