Anna Garvey can be found at local farmers markets standing behind a big tub of chopped greens. She calls the mixture “Powerhouse Greens” and the combination includes broccoli leaves, Brussels sprouts leaves, cauliflower leaves, kale, collards and cabbage.
Garvey sells her greens mixture at the Saturday and Wednesday morning Peachtree City Farmers Market and the Thursday evening Farmers Market at Sweet Apple Village. She also brings other seasonal produce she grows at McCrary Farm in Molena. This time of year that includes crops like Swiss chard, beets, turnips, rutabagas, carrots and spinach.
She created the greens combination about three years ago. “I was already eating broccoli leaves because my research told me they were good for cancer prevention. I began thinking about adding other leaves. We’re spoiled, we throw those leaves away. But they’re a source of incredible nutrition, so concentrated with vital nutrients,” she said.
Convincing her customers to give it a try was originally a tough sell. “I explained that I ate it and why. They began to try it and now they’re hooked,” said Garvey.
She suggests using the mixture in smoothies, and her customers use it in place of lettuce in salads and sandwiches and as a cooked green.
Putting together that big tub of greens is a labor intensive process. She can’t harvest all the leaves from her plants at one time because they need those leaves to continue producing. So she harvests one leaf per plant and then each night before market, she spends four hours hand chopping all the greens.
“It’s the healthiest thing I could ever think of, so I’m really happy I get to bring it to my customers,” she said.
For sale at local farmers markets
Vegetables, fruit and nuts: apples, arugula, Asian greens, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chard, collards, dandelion, endive, escarole, fennel, frisee, herbs, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, leeks, lettuce, mache, mushrooms, mustard greens, pecans, peppers, popping corn, potatoes, radishes, rutabaga, spinach, spring onions, sweet potatoes, turnips, winter squash
From local reports
Powerhouse Smoothie
Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1
If you’re new to green drinks, try substituting apple juice for some of the water in this recipe. Add enough liquid so the smoothie is the right texture for sipping. Depending on your greens, you may need more than the recipe calls for.
If you don’t have access to McCrary’s “Powerhouse Greens” mixture, try a combination of a few leaves of kale, cabbage and collards. You can find broccoli greens from farmers at several area farmers markets.
1 cup mineral water, more if needed
1 cup lightly packed chopped mixed greens
1 ripe banana
1/2 avocado
1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
In the jar of a blender, combine water, greens, banana, avocado and ginger. Process until smooth and creamy. Add more liquid if needed. Drink immediately.
Per serving: 286 calories (percent of calories from fat, 46), 5 grams protein, 38 grams carbohydrates, 7 grams fiber, 16 grams fat (3 grams saturated), no cholesterol, 25 milligrams sodium.
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