Season: April to November

Description: Peas are a source of vitamins A and C, which are antioxidants that may reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Vitamin A helps maintain eye health. Vitamin C helps protect skin from bruising, helps heal cuts and keeps gums healthy. Eating foods with vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. Peas also provide potassium, vitamin K, magnesium and fiber. Potassium helps maintain healthy blood pressure, vitamin K and magnesium help build and maintain strong bones, and fiber helps control cholesterol and keeps you regular. Peas are also a source of folate, which may reduce your risk of heart disease. Eating foods with folate before pregnancy helps lower the risk of delivering a baby with neural tube defects. Sugar snap peas have edible pods.

Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Potassium, Magnesium, Fiber, Folate

Selection: Choose pods that are green and not to thick.

Storing: In the refrigerator and use within 3 to 5 days.

Preparation: Remove stem on snow and sugar snap pea pods.

Serving: Eat raw, steamed or boiled. Steam for 2 to 3 minutes. Shell peas can be cooked in their pod or can be shelled and then cooked. The shells of snow and sugar snap peas can be eaten raw or cooked.

Recipes containing Peas: