Marketing Ramps (Garlic Chives???)

[donsgal]

I read online someplace recently that ramps (of all things) are currently considered haute cuisine by the trendy set. Apparently the demand is outpacing the supply.

As I sit in my little kitchen dining room, looking out the window to the yard, I see - oh - maybe - a billion ramp plants sticking their little green arms out of the ground reaching for the sun...and I think to myself...."why not????"

So, does anybody know of a source for selling these babies? Anybody got any ideas? Any advice, suggestions, etc., will be gratefully appreciated.

Ramps, go figure.

donsgal

[dirtundernails]

This might be due to Martha Stewart hyping them up several years ago. I would try expensive or ethnic restarants. Just don't eat some first...

dun

[Pharmerphil]

Ramps and Garlic chives are different things altogether. Although they are both alliums.http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/oppclp/ramps02.jpg
Ramps (Allium tricoccum), onions (A.cepa), chives (A. schoenoprasum)
garlic (A. sativum) and garlic chives (Allium tuberosum)
The ramp's odor is akin to that of garlic and onion, but distinguishes itself by its persistence and its occasionally musty flavor. Ramps are native to eastern North America,through New England and the central Appalachian states, down into the cool upland portions of Georgia, and as far west as Iowa and Minnesota
Marketing them should be easy ifin you find the right market, Whole foods carry them in April, and I have seen them in the farmers market, in several towns here in Mn. Go to the local resturants, take the owner a few, let him try them, they are very good in all dishes, I like them in speghetti :)

[ceresone]

Ramps are? i have wild onions, and wild garlic coming up everywhere--this surely isnt it?

[Pharmerphil]

Ramps are? i have wild onions, and wild garlic coming up everywhere--this surely isnt it?
Naw, ramps are ramps, they just be alliums, in the same family as wild onions, the leaf is usually the give away, they look alot like Lily of the valley (the leaf that is) ;)

[TennOC]

Better get ready to dig and sell a lot, the season is short! The real money would be cultivating them somehow to spread the harvestable time out a bit- something nobody has yet done.

[bluelacedredhead]

Here's a recipe using Ramps. Note that the suggested substitute is green onions or regular onions.
This sounds soooo good..
http://www.gotricities.com/content/article.dna?idNumber=060517105404