🥬 National Kale Day — October 7

🌿 The History of Kale

National Kale Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday of October and was created to celebrate kale's nutritional value, versatility, and growing popularity.

Kale has a surprisingly long history. It is believed to have originated in the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor, with cultivation dating back thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans grew varieties of leafy cabbage, and kale eventually spread throughout Europe.

Kale became especially important in Northern Europe, where its ability to tolerate cold weather made it a valuable winter vegetable. In fact, kale can become sweeter after exposure to frost.

🥬 What Vegetable Family Is Kale In?

Kale belongs to the Brassicaceae family, commonly called the mustard or cabbage family.

That means kale is related to:

• 🥦 Broccoli

• 🥬 Cabbage

• 🌱 Brussels sprouts

• 🌿 Collard greens

• 🌱 Mustard greens

• 🥦 Cauliflower

• 🌱 Kohlrabi

• 🌿 Turnips

• 🌱 Radishes

Kale is essentially a cultivated form of Brassica oleracea, the same species that gave us broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and collards.

👨‍🍳 From Farm to Table

Kale has gone from an ancient European staple to a modern superfood—and it works in far more than salads.

You can sauté it, braise it, roast it into chips, add it to soups, blend it into smoothies, or incorporate it into hearty grain and pasta dishes.

For a chef, kale is also a great example of how a humble ingredient can become something much more elevated with the right technique.

Question for the food lovers:
👉 What's your favorite way to eat kale—southern-style braised, crispy kale chips, fresh salad, soup, or something else?