VEGETABLES - World Food: Production and Use - page 150

Figure 4.21. Picking young asparagus.
4.10.4 Harvesting, Preparation, and Consumption
Young sprouts of asparagus (Fig. 4.21) and bamboo are harvested for eating; however,
neither is edible when the plant becomes older. On the other hand the mature stems of
both rhubarb and celery are harvested and used as food. While mature stems of aspar-
agus and bamboo are never eaten, immature stems of rhubarb and celery are never
eaten. Rubarb stems are usually red in color (Fig. 4.22) before they are picked and
used as food.
Both asparagus and celery are eaten in their original form, although asparagus is
always cooked before eating while celery is most often eaten raw. Asparagus can be
bleached white before cooking and eating. Banboo shoots are commonly sliced into
Figure 4.22. Rhubarb plant with stem ready for cooking shown in inset.