Description

Botanical Name:Brassica oleracea

Origin:Germany

Kale is a well-known cruciferous vegetable from the mustard family, most grouped with the leafy cabbages. Originating in the eastern Mediterranean and Asia minor, the earliest documentation of it’s use as an edible plant was around 2000 BCE. It is an annual vegetable that can survive in a wide range of temperatures going as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. This ability to withstand cold resulted in it’s important historical role by providing accessible nutrition to impoverished communities throughout Europe year-round. During World War II the U.K. encouraged planting kale in community gardens to counter nutrient deficiencies caused by rationing.