Asparagus is a vegetable, which is actually a member of the Lily family, and one that has been grown for
more than 2,000 years. It is very high in antioxidants and was valued for its perceived medicinal purposes in ancient
Rome, where it was used to treat everything from cuts to toothaches. They also thought of it as a aphrodisiac.
It takes about 3 years after a "crown" is planted that an asparagus plant will begin to produce stalks. Once they get started, the plants grow fast - very fast. Under optimal conditions, such as mild, warm weather, the spears may have to be harvested every 24 hours during their season, which begins in late spring and lasts for about three months. White asparagus comes from the same plant as green, but is grown underground. Lack of exposure to the light prevents chlorophyll from developing and keeps the stalks white. Almost 80% of the country's asparagus is grown in California, and while many states have small crops, the balance of the commercial product is grown in Washington and Michigan.
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