Snacking on sunshine

I'm in another pickle...jar. This time it's Sunshine Farms' pickled asparagus from Thamesville, Ontario (between London and Windsor) and I should've considered taking the photo before opening them. These babies are addictive!

They're crunchy, earthy, fragrant and wholesome. They kinda squeak when you chew them and the spices are fantastic hosts to the party that will soon erupt in your mouth.

I also like the story behind Sunshine Farms and the evident humility of owners, John and Claudia Jaques. They started growing asparagus in 1982 and Claudia canned and pickled the produce for the family's consumption.

"Our sons, Josh, Ben and Adrian, just loved their mom's recipe for pickled asparagus. And, you know, you can't keep something like that all to yourself," John said on his website. "We gave some to our friends as gifts. Of course, they just kept asking for more and our business blossomed nicely from there."

Today, Sunshine Farms offers 23 types of pickles - from the more traditional variety to asparagus, beets, carrots, garlic, jalapeno peppers, beans and many more. Half its pickles are certified organic; all are Kosher. I bought my jar at Vincenzo's in Waterloo.

"We don't use preservatives, fillers or additives," John said. "All the vegetables are processed right away, fresh from our fields. You can taste the sunshine in them."

The Romans were onto something when they deemed asparagus a delicacy. They're a fantastic source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and zinc, and an excellent source of fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese and selenium.

In fact, six little spears contain some 135 micrograms of folate, almost half the adult recommended daily intake, 545 micrograms of beta carotene, and 20 milligrams of potassium, which sure does make me feel better about devouring them in mass quantities.

Pickled asparagus from a lovely farm down the 401: guaranteed to offer you sunshine on the cloudiest day.