Season: June to November

Description: Despite what the name may indicate, Swiss chard is not native to Switzerland. In fact its name comes from the Swiss botanist who first named the plant in the 19th century. Chard's actual homeland is in the Mediterranean, and it got the name 'chard' from its resemblance to another Mediterranean vegetable - the cardoon. Chard is a stalk that you might find in white, red, or yellow varieties, and it has wide fanning green leaves. It is rich in vitamins K, A, and C, and can help improve ones vision. Both the leaves and stalk are edible, and this vegetable is available year round.