Badger Flame Beets are a sweet, colorful, and less-tannic root vegetable that can be eaten raw or roasted. They are cylindrical in shape, with a vibrant orange-yellow interior and flame-like colors that deepen as the season progresses.

Breeder Irwin Goldman and his colleagues at UW-Madison Horticulture spent over 15 seasons developing the Badger Flame Beet to highlight the vegetable's sweetness without its earthiness. They wanted to create a beet that people would enjoy eating raw, without pickling or caramelization.

Here are some tips for preparing Badger Flame Beets:

Raw -

Peel and thinly slice the beets, then serve with salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice. You can also eat them like carrots or jicama sticks.

Roasted -

Wrap the beets in foil and roast at 350° F until tender, which should take about 45–60 minutes.