Rocket

(Eruca Sativa)

Rocket is an annual plant native to the Mediterranean region from Morocco and Portugal east to Lebanon and Turkey.  It has been grown in the Mediterranean area since Roman times.  Before the 1990’s, it was not cultivated on a large scale or researched scientifically and was usually collected in the wild.  However, now it is cultivated in various places and available throughout the world.  It typically grows on dry, disturbed ground.

Rocket leaves are deeply lobed with four to ten small lateral lobes and a large terminal lobe.  The leaves are eaten in salads, and also used as a food by the larvae of some moth species.  In addition to the leaves, the flowers, young seed pods and mature seeds are all edible.  Its flowers are often used in salads as an edible garnish. Rocket can be cooked as a vegetable or used as raw with pasta or meats in Northern Italy and in Western Slovenia.  In Pizzas it is added just before the baking period ends, or immediately afterwards, so that it will not wilt in the heat.

We grow any type of rocket or roccolla according to customer requirements.