Our spinach comes from highly regarded salad growing specialist, who picks their produce each morning to ensure maximum freshness.

Spinach was made famous this century by Popeye the Sailor when eating spinach made his muscles bulge. However, spinach has been around for a lot longer than that. It originated in Asia and was introduced to Europe by Arab traders during the 13th century.

When cooked and chopped, the taste is often confused with silver beet. However, spinach has a milder flavour. Spinach and silver beet can be used in the same recipes, although spinach has become the preferred option, with rising consumption in New Zealand.

What to look for

Choose crisp green leaves with no signs of wilting or blemishes.

How to keep

Store at 2 - 5°C with a relative humidity of 90 - 100%. The optimum storage temperature is 0°C, but because of the risk of the product freezing a slightly higher temperature is recommended. Spinach is ethylene sensitive which means it should be stored separately from ethylene producing products.

CONSUMER STORAGE: Refrigerate in plastic bags. Use promptly.

Nutritional value

Spinach fully deserves its reputation as a health-enhancing vegetable, being rich in both core nutrients and phytochemicals. The major nutrients in spinach are pro vitamin A (in the form of â-carotene), vitamins C, K and folate and the minerals, calcium, iron and potassium. Spinach also provides fibre and has the additional advantage of being low in calories. The phytochemicals of most importance are the carotenoids, â-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin and phenolic compounds.

How to prepare

Spinach should be cooked without added water. The water that clings to the spinach after washing should be enough. It suits quick cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, stir-frying or microwaving. Remove the stems only if you are eating it raw. Otherwise slice and cook with the leaves.

Ways to eat this vegetable

Spinach is very versatile. It can be used in many ways, especially raw in salads – either cold or warm.

When you can get it

All year round.


Vegetable information kindly provided by www.vegetables.co.nz