Peru
Asparagus
Asparagus is one of the oldest vegetables known showing in recipes dating back to the third century. New asparagus plants take 3 years to produce their first harvest, but can continue to produce for up to 25 years. Asparagus has a delicate flavor and is most often served with a light sauce like hollandaise.

Storage and Handling:
Do not wash asparagus before storing. Stand the stalks upright in a conatiner containing 1 cm of water or wrap in a paper towel and store in a plastic bag in the crisper section of the refrigerator for 2-3 days

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California
Celery
Both blanched and green, celery is used in stews and soups. Chopped celery is a staple in Louisiana Cajun and Creole cuisine, as well as French mirepoix. Celery is grown in trenches to exclude light from the stems.

Storage and Handling:
Place celery in a sealed container or wrap in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator. If wilted from room temperautre, sprinkle with a little water and refrigerate for a few hours to crisp again.

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New England
Cranberries
Considered too tart to be eaten alone, cranberries are often served as a compote or jelly, but can also be found in muffins, scones, cakes and of course juice. Grown on shrubs, they are harvested by flooding their fields and shaking the plants causing the berries to float. The berries are then skimmed up for packaging.

Storage and Handling:
Store fresh cranberries in a plastic bag in the crisper section of the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. Freeze in a moisture and vapor proof bag for up to 1 year.

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North Carolina and Louisiana
Yams (Sweet Potatoes)
What Americans refer to as "yams" are actually an orange variety of the sweet potato. Yams can be baked, broiled, boiled, fried, steamed, stuffed, stir-fried, microwaved or served raw.

Storage and Handling:
Store yams in a cool, dark and dry area for up to 2 weeks. Uncooked yams should never be refrigerated. Store cooked yams in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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California
Pomegranate
The taste of a pomegranate differs depending on the stage of ripeness and can range from very sweet to very tart. Pomegranates are best served somewhere in between sweet and tart. Most often found in juice form, pomegranates are also frequently used in Indian and Iranian cuisine.

Storage and Handling:
Store pomegranates in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Once peeled, seeds will last 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 1 year in the freezer. Juice will last 5 days in the refrigerator and 6 months in the freezer.

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