There's not exactly a lot of fresh produce items that can lay claim to have their origins in the sea. Which is rather surprising really considering the incredible bounty the oceans can provide and is evidenced as soon as you browse the seafood section in your local store. One California company has introduced a new line that is just that. Called Salicornia, or 'Sea Beans', the product is a new addition for Pete's Living Greens. The company grows them hydroponically in their Carpinteria greenhouses.
Explains Corrie Hutchens of Pete's Living Greens, "Sea Beans - as in the foraged kind - originate from the sea. They are plants which grow in salty environments, namely on beaches in the sand and on salt marshes. Pete’s Living Greens Sea Beans are an exception! We grow our Sea Beans hydroponically in water channels. We add just the right amount of salt to the water to ensure our Sea Beans have the same salty flavor profile. Once we harvest them, we actually leave the roots intact to ensure freshness and longevity of the product."
Pete's Living Greens also won the 2018 Food and Beverage Innovation award for the Salicornia
Great way to add salt, without adding salt
Pete's Living Greens saw an opportunity to make this unique product available to enhance and season foods without adding extra salt. According to Hutchens, the natural salty flavor of Sea Beans fits well with many dishes and has excited chefs looking to add that additional seasoning to their recipes.
"Sea Beans are very unique," she said. "Once you try it, you will never mistake it for anything else." Hutchens described the Sea Beans as looking "prehistoric" due to the lack of any leaves. She continued, "When consumed raw, it is crunchy and very salty. Sea Beans are a great way to add a salty flavor profile to virtually any dish from green salads to potato salads, stir fry or sautéed and served as a bed for fish. They are a great alternative for salt and most chefs love to use them because they can use it on fish, oyster, caviar, ravioli, ceviche, salad & even drinks like Bloody Mary."
Available all year
Sea Beans have previously been available, but were much more difficult to come by. Because Pete's Living Greens grows them hydroponically, consumers seeking them out don't need to wait for any particular season anymore. "Chefs hesitated to add Sea Beans on the menu because they were not able to get it all year round and they also have a short shelf life," Hutchens noted. "But Pete’s Living Green solved these issues. Our Salicornia, Sea Beans or Sea Asparagus will last 18 days and they are not too salty at all plus they will be available all year around."
The Sea Beans do not need any special attention, simply needing to be kept refrigerated to keep them fresh. They can be found now at a variety of locations. "There is no special care required but Sea Beans are intolerant to changes in temperature, meaning they will change shape, taste and smell if they stay out of the cooler," Hutchens said. "Sea Beans are available at some Gelsons, Pavilions and Dekalb, as well as Sysco & Fresh Point, West Central LA, World Wide LA, Davalon LA, Midwest IL, Anthony Marano IL, Hardies TX, and LA & San Francisco Specialty stores."
Sea Beans will be offered in 5lb with root for food service, and 12 counts with sleeves for retail.
For more information:
Corrie Hutchens
Pete's Living Greens
Tel: +1 (805) 684-4146