Fun fact: In Great Britain, children (with the help of their parents) leave out beer and avocados for reindeer on Christmas Eve.
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Leafy greens
Reindeer like to munch on crunchy, leafy greens. Lettuce, kale, collard and mustard greens, Swiss chard, romaine, spinach and cabbage might make an ideal salad bar for reindeer. Did you know about three-quarters of the nation’s production of lettuce and leafy greens comes from California?
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Herbs
Reindeer are herbivores, meaning they eat only vegetation. They use their antlers to forage for food, such as herbs, on the ground. If they were foraging in California, they’d likely find plenty of basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, cilantro, chives and other herbs.
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Hay
Reindeer are also known as caribou. An adult eats an average of 9 to 18 pounds of vegetation a day, which includes alfalfa hay for the domesticated animals. Alfalfa is the most common type of hay grown in California and is important in farmers’ crop rotations, because it helps improve the health and structure of the soil.
Sources: California Apple Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of California, California Alfalfa and Forage Association, San Diego Zoo
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