Artichokes
If you went by the vague and misleading idea of electability, the artichoke would not stand a chance. It’s got a prickly exterior, lacks the refined sheen of some of its peers, and generally does not conform to the mainstream of edible crops. It’s an independent thistle, after all, and belongs to neither the Fruit Party nor the Vegetable Party. But if you throw convention out the window and just vote for what’s fun, delicious and beneficial for Castroville’s image on the world stage, there’s no better specialty crop.