WHAT IS CELERY?

With stalks growing up to half a foot in height (20 cm), this plants favors wet, marshy landscapes.  Thought to have originated in the Mediterranean, it nevertheless can be found all over the world today.  It was the Italians, though, in the 1700s that domesticated the plant and bred out its tendency to have hollow stalks.  In North American the Pascal breed is the classic green celery that you find today.  Europeans however like celeriac (the root cousin to stalky celery) but cooked instead of raw.

WHY IS CELERY GOOD FOR YOU?

Loaded with healthy enzymes and vitamins, it is a good source of vitamins B6, C, K as well as potassium and folate.

WHEN IS CELERY IN SEASON?

Historically it was grown as a late winter to early spring vegetable. Today though depending on the local climate it’s a September through April harvest in the northern hemisphere.  Down south in Australia it is a May through July planting.

HOW SHOULD CELERY BE STORED?

This vegetable becomes limp and rubbery as it dries out.  While you want to refrigerate whole, uncut stalks, do not put them in a plastic bag.  Instead wrap your celery in aluminum foil.  It isn’t porous so traps moisture while leaving the ends slightly open allows ethylene gas to escape.  However if you’ve already cut the stalk, then submerge it in water in a sealed container and refrigerate.  Dry the cut pieces will hold up alone in your fridge for about 2 days before starting to gradually become like rubber.

DOES CELERY MAKE UGLY MEN MORE ATTRACTIVE?

This vegetable contains a hormone called androstenene.  It is a male steroid that causes men to release larger amounts of pheromones sooner.  And it has been scientifically proven that women can unconsciously detect the presence of this pheromone.  This chemical’s impact on sex drive however is still a matter of debate.  But hey, can it hurt?