Leeks

Leeks date back to the early Bronze Age, around 4000 BC. It is said they were part of the diet of those who built the Egyptian pyramids. And Hippocrates, the father of medicine, prescribed the leek as a cure for nosebleeds. The name leek is a corruption of a Roman word ‘loch’ meaning any medicine that could be licked to cure a sore throat.

Care and Handling

Ideal Storage Temperature: 34° -36°F. 90-95% relative humidity. Refrigerate immediately after receiving. Ice bulb end of onions only during storage and to help maintain freshness.

Tips

  • Select leeks with a clean white slender bulb, at least two to three inches of white, and firm, tightly-rolled dark green tops.
  • The younger the leek, the more delicate the flavor and texture. Look for leeks that are slim and cylindrical rather than those that are large and bulbous.

Did You Know?

Although giant leeks do not make for great eating, Britain holds a yearly competition and awards a prize to the largest leek, which can range from 4 to 5 inches in diameter.