Harvested in the spring and fall in Illinois, spinach can add a big nutrient boost to salads, soups, sauces, smoothies and much more. Learn more about this versatile, good-for-you green with the following fun facts.
- Spinach belongs to the amaranth family and is related to beets and quinoa.
- The main commercial types of spinach are flat-leaf spinach and savoy (crinkly-leaf) spinach.
- U.S. farms harvested nearly 53,000 acres of spinach in 2025.
- Spinach is highly nutritious and rich in potassium, folate, iron, fiber, and vitamins K, A and C.
- Eating spinach may benefit eye health, help prevent cancer and reduce blood pressure levels.
- There are just 7 calories in 1 cup of raw spinach.
- Spinach can be harvested about 37 to 45 days after planting.
- Spinach is a hardy crop that can withstand temperatures as low as 25 degrees.
- In the 1930s, spinach growers credited Popeye the Sailor Man with a 33% increase in U.S. spinach consumption.
Sources: Healthline, Smithsonian Magazine, University of Illinois Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture
See more: Farm Facts: Pumpkins
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