Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Spinach

Department of Defense fact sheet containing nutritional Information for spinach.

Product Description

Good quality spinach should have clean, fresh, crisp leaves with good green coloring. Avoid spinach that appears wilted or long-stemmed.

Peak Growing Season

Spinach is available throughout the year. Its peak season is from June to August.

Uses

Excellent for all-purpose use.

Preparation

Spinach must be washed thoroughly to remove sand. When cooking spinach, use only the amount of water that clings to the spinach after washing.

Storage

Spinach should be stored at 32 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 90–95 percent. Cover spinach packages with crushed ice to help keep them fresh during storage.

Best If Used By

Spinach can be stored in the refrigerator for three to five days.

Nutrition Facts

Legend: kcal = kilocalorie; g = gram; mg = milligram; RAE = retinol activity equivalent; IU = international unit

1/2 cup of raw spinach provides:

Calories 3 kcal
Protein 0.43 g
Carbohydrate 0.54 g
Fat 0.06 g
Saturated Fat 0.009 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Iron 0.41 mg
Vitamin C 4.2 mg
Vitamin A 70 RAE
Calcium 15 mg
Sodium 12 mg
Dietary Fiber 0.3 g

Sources of Information

Questions:   Food Distribution Program | FoodDistribution@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Thursday, October 02, 2025
Related Content
  • DoD Fact Sheets
    Department of Defense (DoD) fresh fruits and vegetables fact sheets.
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • 2026–27 FFVP Grant Recipient Announcement (added 31-Jul-2026)
    On July 30, 2026, the CDE NSD awarded and posted the FFVP first allocation grant recipients and funding allocations for School Year 2026–27 on the CDE FFVP Funding Results web page. The FFVP first allocation is July 1, 2026–September 30, 2026.
  • Local School Wellness Policy Final Rule--Revised (added 29-Jul-2026)
    Management Bulletin SNP-03-2026: The Local School Wellness Policy Final Rule (Revised) provides additional information explaining the requirements of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's local school wellness policy requirements.
  • Competitive Food and Beverages Definition of Sold (added 29-Jul-2026)
    Management Bulletin SNP-28-2014, AB 626 (Skinner), EC 49430(f): Competitive foods and beverages: implementing the definition sold.
  • Farm to Summer Celebration Week 2026: Post-Survey (added 17-Jul-2026)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) recognizes SMP operators who complete the three key elements during the F2Summer Celebration Week: 1) Taste, 2) Teach, and 3) Connect.
  • Powering Up with Plant-based Menus and Marketing (added 16-Jul-2026)
    The School Nutrition Programs Powering Up with Plant-based Menus and Marketing online training.