Feb 25, 2015
Hold the CondimentsBy Abby (Kleckler) McGarry

As many of you may know, there’s a well-known rule (err … tradition) here in Chicago that you don’t put ketchup on a beloved hot dog. While at a local favorite, Murphy’s Red Hots, the man in the front of the line asked for ketchup.

“If I put ketchup on the hot dog, I’d get fired,” the worker half-joked. My friend asked why that was the case and his response started with discussing acidity and ended with, “Did you ever wonder why every food when you were a kid came with ketchup? It was so you could only taste the ketchup and you would eat the food.”

At least ketchup includes tomatoes right? But I think kids often reject new foods not because of the taste but because of the unknown.

It’s no newsflash that studies suggest gardening with kids can cultivate an interest in trying new foods. And author Dede Cummings told me for an article in the February issue, “Kids just get it. They understand composting and they just get growing their food.”

Does your garden center offer programs to get kids gardening? Do you partner with a school or children’s organization to establish an edibles agenda? I’d love to hear about it for an upcoming issue of Lawn & Garden Retailer. Message me at [email protected].

from online to your store

Mark your calendars for March 24 at 12 p.m. Eastern time. You won’t want to miss L&GR’s free webinar on miniature gardening, sponsored by Jeremie Corp. Tricia Hunt, co-owner of Millstone Market and Nursery, will cover topics you need to know, everything from differences between fairy gardening and miniature gardening to great ways for getting your customers involved.

Stay tuned for all the registration details!

Cheers,

Abby


Abby (Kleckler) McGarry

Abby (Kleckler) McGarry is the managing editor of Lawn & Garden Retailer. Contact her at [email protected].