"The five high tunnels are currently in the process of pumping out a plethora of turnips for use in the Farm to School program where the vegetable gets turned in to tasty menu items for the school lunch program.... Come on into the kitchen. Let's get our turnips on, people!" -- Chef Jon-Boy, for the Ashland Daily Press
Turnips? What are those?Turnips are a delicious root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates such as the Chequamegon Bay area.
Pliny the Elder considered turnips to be one of the most "most important vegetables of his day," and we still enjoy them now! 
Purple Top White Globe Turnips (Brassica rapa)
What can you do with them?Turnips are full of vitamins and minerals. Both the white bulb (root) and the greens of the turnip are edible and delicious!
Turnips can be eaten raw, or the root can be cooked in similar ways as a potato, and the greens can be included in salads, sautéed, or chopped finely as a garnish for almost any dish. Baby turnips do not have to be peeled - just wash, slice off the ends, and enjoy! Winter turnips (large ones) can be peeled like a potato and then sliced. Check out the following turnip recipes: - High Tunnel Turnip Soup - Rosemary Roasted Roots - Turnips with Roasted Garlic Goat Cheese - Sweet Potato and Turnip Mash with Sage Butter - Crunchy Turnip, Apple, and Brussels Sprout Slaw - Slow Sautéed Carrots with Turnips, Kale, Parsley, and Mint Where can you find turnips?
The Chequamegon Food Co-op carries turnips, local when available. Read their Turnip Challenge post here!
700 Main Street West Ashland, WI 54806 (715) 682-8251 Monday-Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Many local CSAs include turnips in their shares. For a listing of CSAs look here. Want to grow turnips?
Including turnips in your lesson plan?Check out our Resources for Educators.
Ashland middle-school students harvest turnip leaves for a salad.
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A middle-school student harvesting turnips in a Chequamegon Bay area high tunnel.
Hakurei Turnips (Brassica rapa)
Hakurei turnips growing in the Ashland high tunnel.
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