Beets
Beets are most commonly a dark red color, but they can also be white, yellow, and striped. They are the taproot of the plant.
Beets contain a unique antioxidant called betalain, which is currently being studied as a potential weapon in the fight against cancer. Betalain give beets their red hue.
Beets originated along the Mediterranean and were first cultivated for their leaves. Before the beet became popular to eat, it gained fame for other uses. Since ancient times, the beet has been used for dyes, teas, and medicinal properties, like treating constipation, fevers, skin disorders, and circulation.
Beets contain a chemical called geosmin which gives beets their fresh rain-on-soil earthy smell and taste. 20% of the worlds sugar comes from sugar beets. Table beets are the variety we eat.
This webpage includes a variety of educational materials, activities, recipes, and more about beets for use at home, in youth or family programming, in the classroom, and in the cafeteria. For more New Hampshire Harvest of the Month resources for March, click here.
Home Kit for Beets
Teacher, families, youth programs, and anyone
interested in incorporating beets into activities,
meals, and learning can use this home kit. This kit includes information, cooking tips, recipes, mini-activities,
and more. Also check out an additional parsnip resource below!
Poster for Beets
Display your love for beets! Download the
New Hampshire Harvest of the Month poster at the
link below. The file is in PDF format and is sized to
print on 11×17 inch paper.
Videos about Beets
Books about Beets
City Beet by Tziporah Cohen
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
Lesson Plan for Beets + Maple
Developed in partnership with UNH Extension, NH Farm to School, and the UNH Education department, the Harvest Lessons lesson plan and curricular activities can be used by education professionals to incorporate beets and maple into dynamic, long-lasting learning in the classroom and other education-based settings.
Beet Recipes for
Home Cooking
Iraqi Beet Salad
Maple Pickled Beets
with Mint and Basil
Iraqi Beet Jam
Ukranian Borscht
Indian-Style Beet Hummus
Beet Recipes for
School + Institutional Food Service
Find Beets in
New Hampshire
NH Department of Agriculture, Markets
and Food’s Farmers’ Markets, including
Winter markets, Farm Stand, and
CSA listings
UNH Extension’s Farm Products map
NOFA-NH’s Organic Farm and Food map