Swiss chard is available year round but is best in summer
Chard is often referred to as Swiss chard because of its extensive cultivation in Switzerland. As a member of the beet family, it has also been referred to as silver beet, spinach beet, leaf beet, sea kale beet, white beet, strawberry spinach and even Roman kale.
In our area, the two main types available are red chard and green chard. The red, which has a stronger flavor, has red stems and dark green leaves with red veins. The green has lighter green leaves with white stalks.