Joe’s Premium is known for growing radicchio, however they have added commodities throughout the years that are connected to their Italian heritage. One of these commodities is cardone, a thistle that is related to the artichoke. Cardone is an Italian specialty that looks like overgrown celery but tastes like an artichoke heart. It is typically consumed for the Christmas and Easter festivities and Joe’s Premium has supplies spring for the upcoming Easter holiday.
Cardone is a vegetable that is native to the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea where it has been eaten for hundreds of years. It is believed that Roman gardeners were responsible for taming the thistle into a garden vegetable. Cardone is related to the artichoke however instead of eating the immature flower bud, the leaf stalk is consumed. The Cardone stalk can be deep fried, boiled, or sautéed.
“Cardone is one of those items that customers search high and low to find a bunch. We’ve received feedback from consumers thanking us for keeping their Nona happy and traditions alive,” Francesca Fordice sales and marketing at J. Marchini Farms said.
