Americans Go Crazy for Ramps in the Spring
The spring season brings warm weather, flowers and other changes for people to enjoy. But for some restaurant chefs, the most exciting spring arrival is ramps.
Every spring, restaurants across the United States compete to be the first to offer the seasonal vegetable. The excitement has even created a ramps black market in Canada.
Ramps are a wild plant native to North America. They are one of the first plants that grow in the spring, usually between April and May. They are famous for their strong taste that is similar to garlic and other onions.
Ramps go really well with eggs, so they are often added to quiches and omelettes. Their unique flavor also makes them great for soups, salads, and pasta dishes.
One reason the plant is popular is that it grows in the wild.
It is difficult to grow ramp crops on farms. Most restaurants get their supply from foragers. They are people who gather ramps by searching forests for areas where they grow.
Ramps have a very short season, which is another reason why they are so popular. But their popularity could cause them to go extinct.
Foragers are supposed to leave some ramps in the ground to re-populate the area for the next season. But some of them dig up the entire area, because they can make as much as $20 for half a kilogram.
In 1995, the province of Quebec, Canada declared the plant a “vulnerable species” and banned selling the plant to businesses. But this hasn't stopped some people from illegally harvesting ramps.
