Author: skumagai

YEAR

Cabbages

Cabbage is one of the oldest vegetables in existence and a dietary staple throughout the world. There are at least a hundred different types of cabbage grown. While green and red (purple) cabbages are most common in the U.S., the following varieties are widely used in the world:
Chinese Cabbages include Napa cabbage and pak choy/bak choy. Napa cabbage forms cylindrical head with broad green leaves and white stalk. Pak choy/bak choy do not form heads; instead, they have smooth, dark green leaves forming a cluster.
Savoy Cabbage looks like a green cabbage, but with crinkly leaf ends.

Did you know…?
Green, red and savoy cabbages are harvested from July through December, and pak choy from April through December in Washington State.
Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that is rich in phytochemicals, which help boost the immune system and help lower the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Enjoy Washington-grown cabbages while in season!

Nutrition Information

Excellent source of
Vitamins C & K:
Vitamin C helps the body heal cuts and wounds
Vitamin K protects your heart!
Other notable nutrients:
Pak choy is an excellent source of vitamin A and good source of folate.
Fiber
Vitamin B6

Fun Activities

Dissect a cabbage! Slice a red cabbage lengthwise so that the “tree” in the center of the cabbage can be seen. Peel each layer of the cabbage oﬀ one by one and watch how the tree changes! As you peel, taste the diﬀerent layers. Does the feel or taste change as you move closer to the center of the cabbage? (Dissect a cabbage!, courtesy of Oregon Harvest for Schools)
Connect the Dots: Can you match a cabbage on the left and a typical dish on the right that is made with that cabbage?

Selecting and Storing Cabbages

Farm to School Pick!

Choose cabbage heads that have firmly packed leaves and even coloring. Good cabbage heads are well formed and are heavy for their size.
Choose pak choy/bak choy with fresh leaves and firm stalks without brown spots.
Store cabbage in a plastic bag in refrigerator for up to a week (pak choy) or two weeks (head cabbages). Cabbage stored in dry environment wilts quickly.

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District Name

Pak choy/bak choy

Kimchi

Napa cabbage

Coleslaw

This material was made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Answer Key for Connect the Dots: Pak choy—stir fry; Napa cabbage—kimchi; and Savoy cabbage—coleslaw

Savoy cabbage

Stir fry