Locally Grown – Hydroponic Vegetables

In our CSA bag this week was hydroponic bib lettuce. It was grown by Oak Ridge Farms in Ord Nebraska. There are many emerging hydroponic growers in Nebraska and the US. Hydroponics is a growing trend that allows produce to be grown year round. Hydroponics means, “water working.” Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in nutrient rich water, without soil. These plants are grown inside a controlled environment such as a greenhouse. It is reported that it takes less water to grow these plants and there is little if no pest infestation, I’m a fan of that!

Bib lettuce is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin K. The bib lettuce’s root ball was still intact when we received it in a container. Oak Ridge farms stated this is so that it may keep growing in the package. It was a beautiful head of lettuce and had great texture and flavor. I used leftover taco seasoned chicken, and stir fried it up with some veggies I had on hand: red pepper, celery, jalapeno, and onion. I placed this mix on the bib lettuce leaves and served it as a Mexi Bib Boats, yum!