Have fresh kitchen counter herbs 365 days a year

June 9, 11:39 AMDC Fresh Foods ExaminerRobin Ripley

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Shenandoah Growers currently offers basil, cilantro,
dill, oregano, spearmint, chives and Italian parsley
in pots for pinching when needed.

Good news for foodies--Washington, D.C. area retailers are now carrying fresh, potted herbs, second only to your own kitchen herb garden.

The herbs, produced by Shenandoah Growers, are grown in soil and can be placed on a windowsill or your kitchen counter and pinched right when you need them. Since they are not cut herbs, like those in the plastic clamshells or (heaven forbid) dried, they offer maximum freshness.

Shenandoah Growers says the herbs will last for seven to ten days, but I found they'll last for many more than that if you remember to water them every couple of days and place them in a sunny spot. I have some watercress samples (not currently available in stores) that have been on my windowsill waiting for divine inspiration to strike me in the form of a yummy recipe--and they look beautiful.

Currently Shenandoah Growers produces basil, cilantro, dill, oregano, spearmint, chives and Italian parsley for sale. They are currently experimenting with other countertop produce, including arugula, watercress, lettuce blends and other salad mixes and blends.

Shenandoah Growers' facility is 100% organic and utilizes
environmentally-friendly practices.

"We can do a very good job of bringing a salad garden right to the kitchen counter," said Tim Heydon, President of Shenandoah Growers. "It's a living, home harvest salad blend."

All the Shenandoah Growers' herbs are 100% USDA organic. Heydon says that since they are grown, harvested and packaged at the Shenandoah Growers' indoor greeenhouses they are safe--cultivated in nutrient rich soil and without any chemicals.

Heydon also emphasized that their growing operation is environmentally friendly, recycling all the water, utilizing energy curtains on side walls of the greenhouse and other earth-friendly measures.

These countertop herbs are available to more than 1,200 stores across the D.C. region--all within a day's drive of the Harrisonburg, VA, farm to ensure freshness. They sell for about $3 each, although prices vary by retailer.

Did you also know I write about gardening? You can read my gardening columns at the Gardening Examiner.

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Thank you for reading! You can reach me at gardeningexaminer@gmail.com and can follow me on Twitter at @RobinWedewer.