Who was crowned California's Artichoke Queen in 1949?

Who other than the beautiful Marilyn Monroe. 

The artichoke...what a delectable treat, hidden beneath layer and layer of teasing sturdy leaves.  A native of the Mediterranean, the artichoke is a perennial in the thistle group of the sunflower family which was brought to California by Italians in the 1800's.  The U.S.'s first artichoke farm was planted near the San Francisco Bay area and almost 100% of the artichokes in the U.S. are still grown near there!

Half of the harvest happens between March and May and is very labor intensive work.  Crews walk quickly through the artichoke rows choosing the ripe artichokes, cutting them from the stalks with a special "artichoke" knife.  The fields are maintained in perennial culture for five to ten years.  Each cropping cycle is initiated by "cutting back" the tops of the plants several inches below the soil surface to stimulate development of new shoots.

If you are a huge fan of artichokes like me, or if you live in northern California make plans to attend the Artichoke Festival!  Held this year on May 17-18th in the self-proclaimed "Artichoke Capital of the World".  Visit the website for more details.  

The "vegetable" we eat is actually the plant's flower bud.  Low in calories, full of fiber and vitamins and minerals like folate and magnesium, the yummy artichoke can be served in countless ways...check out a variety of interesting artichoke recipes here .

About the Nutritionist

Amyjo Johnson has a Bachelors of Science in Human Nutrition and is currently working on her Certification and Masters in Nutrition through the nationally accredited American Health Science University and the National Institute of Nutrition Education.  For two years, Amyjo has been providing nutrition consulting to the on-site food service team and employees at Google, Inc. She provides information on assuring nutritionally balanced menus, excellent ingredients, and food choice nutritional education for ideal productivity and health. Through her company, Food for Change, Amyjo provides individuals and businesses counseling and consultation on a variety of nutritional situations and needs.  Contact her at:  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it