Dandelions: From weeds to cuisine

May 27, 2009 1:07 PM PT

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The Wall Street Journal has an interesting story today headlined ‘It’s Salad Days for Weeds.’ Anne Marie Chaker reports that Coleman Family Farms in Carpinteria has seen a 25% increase in annual sales of its edible weeds. Green Acre Farms in Indiana has seen a 20% jump. Explanations include the growing popularity of organic foods and a return to simple, old-fashioned cooking. Supermarkets, Chaker writes, sold $2 million in dandelion greens in the 12-month period that ended in March, a 9% increase over the previous year. We admit a soft spot for the little dandelion, which could explain why the Home section headlined Emily Green’s feature on the plant, ‘Ode to the Dandelion, Jilted Flower of Spring.’ Apologies in advance to dandelion haters. Green finds there’s much to love about the wickedly clever plant.

-- Craig Nakano

L.A. at Home

Craig Nakano

Craig Nakano is the assistant managing editor for Entertainment and Arts. He joined The Times as an assistant travel editor, later served as home editor and most recently was the fine arts editor, leading a team whose accolades included a Pulitzer Prize and an Online Journalism Award. A California native, he worked at the Desert Sun of Palm Springs and at the San Francisco Chronicle after graduating from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He lives in Long Beach with his husband and son.