First Early Settlers and Now Innovative Chefs are Foraging For Miner's Lettuce

Early settlers in California and throughout the Northwest snacked on Vitamin C-laden miner's lettuce to fend off scurvy, a disease that resulted from a deficiency in the nutrient. The disease was common amongst those that lived without ample supply of fruits and vegetables. Miner's lettuce actually gets its name from the miners that used it to maintain health during the Gold Rush. Who knew that today many a renown chef would be foraging for the lackluster weed in the fields outside of San Francisco?

Miner's lettuce is a native winter annual that's loaded with flavor and puts your average greens to shame. It's found in natural plant communities, agricultural land, and urban areas and loves cold, damp conditions.

Miner's lettuce is a green that even the most finicky, vegetable-averse child will love. If you haven't eaten miner's lettuce before, try it first at a restaurant in a salad or boiled as you would spinach and you won't be disappointed. And once you know exactly what you're looking for, consider going foraging yourself.

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