How visiting a Jute (Lalo) Farm in your spare time is fun

Would you visit Jute (Lalo) Farm in your spare time? My answer to the question is yes. What’s yours?

A Pick-your-own farm is a great place to buy fresh vegetables. We visited a pick-your-own farm and could not believe we found fresh Jute leave (lalo) in New Jersey.

After writing about Jute leaves for the first time several months ago, I received tons of emails and online questions. I felt obligated to do a follow-up article. I chose to visit a farm to learn more. I was also interested in buying fresh leaves to create more recipes.

What is Lalo or Jute Leaves

Jute leaves also called Lalo in Haitian Creole, are a staple in many provinces in Haiti. It is customary to find Jute (lalo) leaves prepared with spinach, beef, and seafood in Haiti. Many people prefer to cook it with only seafood. You may also cook it with meat alone if you prefer.

Cooking Jute leaves or Lalo

One of the many reasons we cook lalo with spinach is almost to eliminate the sliminess the jute leaves create when cooked. Another reason is that spinach accentuates the taste of the jute leaves. It also adds more volume and texture to jute leaves stews.

When cooking fresh leaves, it is necessary to use a reasonable amount to get the right portion. Prepared or cooked leaves lose their form and are reduced to smaller sizes. It is also essential to cook leafy greens with the proper utensils. My sister’s friend Syndie always recommends stirring the Jute (lalo) leaves with a wooden spoon. I am told that the sauce has a more appetizing consistency when you prepare it with a wooden spoon. I have never cooked it with other utensils, fearing ruining the texture. (Is it because wooden spoons are non-reactive and do not react adversely to acids in food?)

Jute leaves are expensive and should not go to waste!

Visiting a Jute farm

Buying Jute leaves at the grocery store can be very expensive. Not only you may have to travel far, but you only get a handful of leaves that may cost you between $2 – $4.  Not even enough to feed a family of four.

Finding a farm I thought would be easy. The idea of visiting a farm was exciting until I realized the driving distance from my home. I decide to go with family and friends. We were very excited and could not believe the ride. We thought we would never get to the farm.

The pick-your-own farm we visited was located in New Egypt, NJ, about 2 hours from my house. A bit far but well worth it. Before traveling to any farms, make sure you call ahead to find out availability and harvest time. Not too many plants or fruits are available every day on many farms.

Have you ever seen so much beautiful greenery?

The photo below shows how one of the Jute plant varieties grows into an abundance of beautiful and endless greenery.

The plants resemble any other plants. I am not sure if there are different types of edible Jute plants. I was not able to find a lot of information on the internet about jute plants.  Maybe if I had visited a science library, I would be lucky.

The above photo is from a farm located in New Jersey. The farmers grow jute and sell it every year.

Other names for Lalo or Jute leaves, nutrition, and harvest

Jute is also called Saluyot or Jews mallow. The plants are cultivated in a wide range of environments. The plants grow well under hot and humid weather. The leaves are used fresh or dried, and you can certainly notice the difference.

Jute is rich in iron, protein, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. There are several varieties of Jute plants. There are also several recipes of Jute, lalo, Jews mallow or saluyot. It is widely consumed in many parts of Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Depending on the variety, Jute leaves are harvested 30-60 days after planting. The plants may be harvested once or several times and pick-your-own farms are strict with the schedule. With multiple harvests, only young leaves and shoots are picked every two to three weeks. The plants need time to grow and to flower.

Notes and Tips

Edible Jute has many nutritional values. Its unique benefits include immunity, heart health, and bone health, and it has excellent anti-inflammation properties. Finding this wonderful plant is not easy.

As there are many species of jute plants, it is necessary to consume the right plant. Jute plants are also used for commercial purposes. It is a source of natural fiber, and manufacturers create materials made with jute.

Have you also cooked one of the many recipes we shared? For example, Jute (Lalo) with Beef, Spinach, and Blue Crabs or Meatless Legume Lalo? Not only has this recipe been getting lots of views so does my article titled “Jute (Lalo) Leaves and its benefits.”

Visit a Middle-Eastern, African, or Caribbean market for Jute, Lalo, Saluyot, or Jews Mallow.

This article was written to share our experience at a pick-your-own farm. We DO NOT SELL Jute Leaves or Lalo.

Reference:

http://www.mixph.com/production-guide-and-growing-of-saluyot-jute/