Home(grown) for the Holidays
Home(grown) for the Holidays
It wouldn't be the holidays without the aromas and flavors of rosemary, sage and thyme. Freshness is paramount when it comes to herbs, one of the most perishable items in the Produce Department. Ours are fresher by days and what farmers call "road miles" (the distance from farm to store) thanks to our partnership with local grower Urban Greens of Columbia Heights, Minnesota.
| Traditionally Grown Herbs from Colombia | Road Miles |
|---|---|
| Flight from Bogotá to Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 1,529 |
| Flight from Fort Lauderdale to the Twin Cities | 1,492 |
| Drive from distributor to MSP Airport, then MSP to distributor | 92 |
| Drive from distributor to Kowalski's Woodbury Market | 46 |
| Total Road Miles | 3,159 |
| Herbs Grown by Urban Greens in Columbia Heights, Minnesota | Road Miles |
|---|---|
| Drive from Urban Greens to Woodbury | 26 |
| Total Road Miles | 26 |
How to Store Herbs at Home
- Remove any twist-ties or rubber bands!
- Prep herbs like you would leafy greens, washing and drying them thoroughly. You can air-dry them, use a salad spinner, or wrap them in a clean kitchen towel and shake them vigorously.
- Store woody herbs like rosemary and thyme just as you would leafy greens (with paper towels in the bag).
- Storing tender herbs like parsley and cilantro is similar to caring for a bouquet of fresh flowers. Place their stems in water and cover with a plastic bag.
- Special note: Basil doesn't like to be refrigerated. Store it at room temp like you would a floral arrangement. It makes a pretty counter display!
Did You Know?
We carry local lettuce, too! Minnesota Grown Revol Greens' hydroponic farming practices use 90% less water than traditional farming methods and don't require tractors or harvesting equipment. Using just 22 acres of indoor land, Revol Greens yields a harvest for which traditional farming would need 660 acres to achieve – 30 times as much! Kowalski's is just 122 miles from Revol's Medford, Minnesota, farm. Compare that to California's Salinas Valley, where a large volume of domestic lettuce is grown 2,103 miles away from the Twin Cities.
Selection and availability of products vary by market.
