Did you also know that white asparagus is the same as green? Asparagus starts out white underground and turns green after exposure to sunlight. Therefore, to grow white asparagus, farmers bury the stalks under dirt and cover it with plastic to ensure there is no exposure to sunlight. The extra attention towards the growing process explains the heftier price tag.

Purple asparagus is tougher to come by in the US but is popular in Europe although if you keep an eye out in the spring, you can sometimes find purple asparagus at your local farmers market. It is a bit sweeter than green asparagus as it has more sugar in the stalks.

Between the three, green asparagus wins in the nutrition department although the difference is negligible. It contains the most fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K and folate.

When prepping asparagus, try snapping the bottom end of the stalk off instead of cutting them with a knife. This will save you from eating the woody portion and make sure you are not cutting off too much. Can you tell limiting food waste is always on my mind? So hold your nose if you have to but go out and enjoy this delectable vegetable.