Fiddlehead Canada

Fiddlehead Canada

Mr. J. Melvin Nash, is the author of 2 books 'Cooking North
America's Finest Gourmet Fiddleheads' in 1995 and 'The First Ever
Fiddlehead Harvesters Guide' in 1991.

Mr. Nash has appeared numerous times on Sesame Street since Dec.
1995 and was featured on Country Canada in 1996.

In 1994/1995, he worked with the New Brunswick Department of
Agriculture to promote and upgrade the fiddlehead industry in New
Brunswick.

In 1996, ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency) and the
Federal Department of Agriculture funded Mr. Nash to promote the
fiddlehead industry throughout the Province of Nova Scotia.

He has also worked for years on solving the difficult problems of
cleaning and harvesting fiddleheads. As a result he has invented
several unique devices. His first invention was a commercial
fiddlehead-cleaning device that was field tested by the New
Brunswick Department of Agriculture in 1995. It can clean an
amazing 900 lbs. (410 kg.) per hour.

In 1998 he invented a personal fiddlehead-harvesting device that
eliminated the need of bending over to pick fiddleheads.

In 1999 he invented a new fiddlehead cleaning basket that can be
used for harvesting as well as cleaning that works similar to the
traditional Maliseet Indian basket that is made out of ash.

Mr. Nash has spent several seasons researching the Fiddlehead at
the RPC (Research and Productivity Council) facility in
Fredericton working to improve the quality and the shelf life of
both the fresh and frozen fiddleheads.


List of Presentations made this Year

March 2 & 3, 2000
Topics; Introduction to Fiddleheads and Fiddleheads the Sleeping
Giant
Hugh John Flemming Forestry Complex in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Sponsored by the Canadian Forest Service, Fundy Model Forest and
First Nation Forestry Program.
Contact; Thomas M. Beckley, PhD (506) 452-3444

March 24, 2000
Topic; Fiddleheads the Sleeping Giant
Keynote Speaker at a National Conference for the
Provincial/Territorial Management Committee sponsored by the
First Nation Forestry Program, which was held at the Sheraton in
Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Contact; Doreen Saulis (506) 454-8668

Up-coming Presentations

May 11, 2000
Topic; Fiddleheads the Sleeping Giant
National Forest Week-Open House in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre.
Contact; Lehanne Wilson (506) 452-6950


To learn more about Fiddleheads (this Sleeping Giant) call, write
or e-mail Mr. Nash and invite him to make a presentation at your
next up-coming conference, seminar or workshop.

10 Most Frequently Asked Questions

What are Fiddleheads and where do they grow?
They are a wild vegetable that grows along the banks of rivers
and streams and on islands throughout the northern half of North
America from the States of Virginia and Oregon in the USA to
Canada from the Atlantic Provinces to British Columbia. In fact
fiddleheads grow throughout the Northern Hemisphere clear around
the world.

What do Fiddleheads taste like?
A lot of people find they have a unique taste of their own
although most compare them to asparagus, broccoli and beet
greens.

Who first discovered Fiddleheads?
The Maliseet and the Mi'kmag Indians in eastern Canada were the
first people of record to harvest this delicious wild delicacy.
Fiddleheads are to this day highly cherished by the local
Aboriginal people not only for the food value but also for the
medicinal and cleansing qualities they believe are in the
fiddleheads. They maintain fiddleheads help cleanse their bodies
each spring of accumulated impurities and toxins. They feel this
is necessary in order to prepare their bodies for the onslaught
of the oncoming harvest season.

When harvesting how do I identify the proper edible ferns?
Fiddleheads are the young growth of the Ostrich fern, known
botanically as Metteucia Struthiopteris. They are perennials,
which are a member of the small sub family of Onocleoid ferns
that grow throughout the northern temperate regions of the world.
A good way of identifying the proper edible fiddlehead ferns is
by looking at a cross section of the stem. It must be concave at
the front of the unfurling fern all the way up the stem. Their
rich green color is another distinguishing feature of this wild
vegetable.

When is the Fiddlehead harvest season?
The harvest season starts in early April in the United States and
progressively moves north to Canada, with the last harvesting
done in early June. The harvest season usually lasts 3 weeks in
each location from start to finish.

How quickly do Fiddleheads grow?
Once the fiddleheads come up through the crown of the plant they
grow very quickly unfurling 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters)
in 24 hours under optimum weather conditions.

How to clean Fiddleheads?
First of all if they are picked fairly clean without grass or
leaves washing your fiddleheads clean is relatively easy. Soaking
your fiddleheads in cold water for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes
not only keeps your bounty fresh, long-lasting and crisper but it
also helps separate the loose brown papery 'chaff ' from the
fiddleheads. Now take a 3/8 inch (1cm) wire mesh basket or tray
with approximately 2 to 3 lbs. (1 to 1.5 kg) and dip them
repeatedly into a large container of clean water. They should
wash perfectly clean after dipping them several times. To wash
large quantities 25 lbs. (11kg) or more use two large containers
that each holds approximately 25gal. (100 liters) of clean water.
Use the same process as above, except this time, dipping the
quantity of fiddleheads in the first container to remove most of
the debris, than dip in the second container to do a final
cleansing. If they are not sufficiently clean, repeat the process
until you are satisfied.

Is their scientific proof that Fiddleheads are safe to eat?
Yes, tests were done on rats raised on a diet of Ostrich Fern
Fiddleheads at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976.

What is the shelf life of fresh Fiddleheads?
Maximum 3 to 5 days in your refrigerator crisper. The ends of the
stems will start to turn dark after 2 days and should be trimmed
before cooking. If they are vacuum packaged immediately after
harvesting and cleaning they will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks in
your refrigerator without the ends turning dark. Mark the expiry
date on each package if you are keeping them fresh for any length
of time.

What is the best way to preserve Fiddleheads?
The best way to preserve fiddleheads is by freezing them in
vacuum-sealed plastic bags. Also you may freeze them in
containers filled with water, or thirdly, by freezing them in
plastic bags with as much of the air removed as possible.
Blanching use to be the best way to preserve fiddleheads, but by
using this method they tended to be a bit chewy and stringy and
they did not retain their color well.
Canning was also another method that was widely used. The main
problem with canning were health and safety laws. The
state/provincial and/or national laws required overcooking of
canned fiddleheads. This process made them very soft and mushy.

Company Details

Company Information

Melvin Nash
Title: Data Provider
Telephone: (506) 446-6983

Services

Cookbook / Basket / Fiddlehead Consulting