Ocean Greens: The Least Deadliest Catch

In a food world that flips from fad superfood to superfood, an increasingly skeptical public has to ask which miracle crop has the staying power. In order to be called "the next Kale," a food has to demonstrate not only exceptional nutritional value, but positive environmental and ecological externalities, potential to meet large-scale need, and the ability to create jobs at home. Our nonprofit, GreenWave, and our farm, the Thimble Island Oyster Company, are betting that the new kale won't come from land at all, but rather, from the sea. We believe that long-underutilized seaweeds will become the basis of a new food chain. There are more than 10,000 edible plant species in the ocean, in an impressive variety of forms, from dense sea beans to leathery kelp fronds to frilly sea lettuces. These plants have been integrated into global cuisines for generations, but are largely neglected in the developed world. The possibilities for reintroducing sea vegetables into the contemporary diet are limitless. Ocean greens boast an impressive nutritional profile. Some species pack more calcium per serving than milk, others more iron than red meat, and still others more protein than soybeans. Thimble Island's flagship crop, sugar kelp (saccharina latissima) has been adopted by chefs and food entrepreneurs nationwide; these innovators have worked to "de-sushify" seaweed, serving up kelp noodles, kelp butter, and kelp cocktails instead. Ocean's Halo released a full line of nori chips, pushi...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news