A lot of people ask me, "Why beets?" in which I respond with a cheeky grin, "'Beets' Me!" Actually, beets intrigue me as I think they are vibrantly diverse, spectacularly nutritious, and remarkably under-utilized. Perhaps you could say that I "root" for the underdog, er vegetable.

I was raised to appreciate fruits and vegetables. Thanks, mom and dad! Although I cannot recall the specific incidents, apparently when I was a toddler, I loved "helping" my parents in the garden by eating all the strawberries: dirt, insects, and all. Yes – to this day, I still love fruits and veggies; the beet happens to be one of the many extraordinary vegetables that I adore.