Ramps are wild plants that look like onions and grow in the mountains from Canada to the southern U.S., including West Virginia. In spring, they appear in wooded areas like the Monongahela National Forest. Ramps have wide green leaves and white bulbs, and they smell strong—like onions or garlic.

Long ago, prehistoric people in the Appalachian Mountains ate ramps after long winters without fresh food. They used the whole plant in cooking, often boiling it or eating it raw. Some people believe the high Vitamin C content of ramps helps prevent colds or cleanses the blood.

Ramps are still popular in West Virginia today, especially in April. Communities hold ramp dinners, and Richwood has hosted the famous "Feast of the Ramson" every year since 1938.