Fresh News
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 15 June 2018
- Hits: 39
Vacationers will take to the skies in record numbers this summer. Air travel can be very stressful with TSA checkpoints and managing personal affects.
Feeling good at the end of a flight may depend on how well and what we eat and drink inside the airport terminal.
Hydration is essential to having a good travel experience. Bring a portable water bottle to be filled once inside security clearance or purchase bottled water at vendor locations. Drink up!
Avoid beverages known to upset the tummy. Too much coffee, alcohol or orange juice will bother most people. Order more soothing drinks like club soda or herbal teas.
Fruits like berries, pineapple, cantaloupe, cucumbers and watermelon contain a high percentage of water.
Feeling good at the end of a flight may depend on how well and what we eat and drink inside the airport terminal.
Hydration is essential to having a good travel experience. Bring a portable water bottle to be filled once inside security clearance or purchase bottled water at vendor locations. Drink up!
Avoid beverages known to upset the tummy. Too much coffee, alcohol or orange juice will bother most people. Order more soothing drinks like club soda or herbal teas.
Fruits like berries, pineapple, cantaloupe, cucumbers and watermelon contain a high percentage of water.
- Category: News Blog
- Friday, 15 June 2018
- Hits: 18
Seeking to infuse your culinary or beverage creations with the ultimate fresh fruit flavor? No need to peel, dice, purée, and simmer for those ideal results.
Perfect Purée is the solution!
Perfect Purée is the premium purée product on the market. The succulent, single-note flavors of Perfect Purée inspire everything you can think of: cocktails, marinades, cakes, cookies, sorbets and smoothies. At the back of the house or front of the house, chefs, cookes, baristas, bartenders, pastry chefs, and brew masters love this product line!
For a perfect summer, try out our favorite warm weather flavors: El Corazon, Pink Guava & Passion Fruit.
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 08 June 2018
- Hits: 59
Sure, there are more ways than one to accomplish any given task. Or cut a melon, pineapple or mango.
When amateur knife skills clash with more expert techniques, there is a lot to be learned.
Anyone can wield a knife blade. Exacting just the right cuts to extract every bit of fruit without waste can be tricky. Doing so safely is yet another feat.
Round-shaped fruits are especially unruly. Picture a large cantaloupe or honeydew melon rolling around the countertop. There is a tendency to judo chop it dead center to stop that action.
Deft hands will exercise patience and execute a plan.
One clever move is to first cut both ends of the melon off. This creates a flat base on which to stand the melon on end.
When amateur knife skills clash with more expert techniques, there is a lot to be learned.
Anyone can wield a knife blade. Exacting just the right cuts to extract every bit of fruit without waste can be tricky. Doing so safely is yet another feat.
Round-shaped fruits are especially unruly. Picture a large cantaloupe or honeydew melon rolling around the countertop. There is a tendency to judo chop it dead center to stop that action.
Deft hands will exercise patience and execute a plan.
One clever move is to first cut both ends of the melon off. This creates a flat base on which to stand the melon on end.
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 01 June 2018
- Hits: 80
Apples and oranges are great.
No one refutes their solid nutritional value or culinary versatility.
By the time June rolls around, it’s time to mix things up in the fruit department. We crave the taste of summer in all its stone fruit and berry glory.
Every trip to the grocer or farmers market is a deliberate pursuit for what’s new in the season.
Early California cherries have found their way to the stands. The season looks to be a short and sweet one with a limited crop this year. Northwest cherries will quickly follow. No need to pout with Rainiers and red varieties like Chelan, Teiton and Bings rushed to market upon harvest.
No one refutes their solid nutritional value or culinary versatility.
By the time June rolls around, it’s time to mix things up in the fruit department. We crave the taste of summer in all its stone fruit and berry glory.
Every trip to the grocer or farmers market is a deliberate pursuit for what’s new in the season.
Early California cherries have found their way to the stands. The season looks to be a short and sweet one with a limited crop this year. Northwest cherries will quickly follow. No need to pout with Rainiers and red varieties like Chelan, Teiton and Bings rushed to market upon harvest.
- Category: Market Report
- Thursday, 24 May 2018
- Hits: 91
Americans have a serious love affair with snacking. Those of a certain age might still define a snack as a quick midday grab for a Snickers bar or bag of potato chips.
Traditional daily eating patterns are built around three “square and structured” meals. Snacks were supplemental to those three squares.
This behavior is yielding to more modern eating styles characterized by frequent snacking. These snacking events occur in a more unsystematic way and varies from person to person.
Snacking used to be about diversion, fun and indulging in food cravings. There is a shift toward health, wellness, fresh and premium snack foods.
Pleasure is still a component to snacking, but so are nourishment, optimization and convenience.
Traditional daily eating patterns are built around three “square and structured” meals. Snacks were supplemental to those three squares.
This behavior is yielding to more modern eating styles characterized by frequent snacking. These snacking events occur in a more unsystematic way and varies from person to person.
Snacking used to be about diversion, fun and indulging in food cravings. There is a shift toward health, wellness, fresh and premium snack foods.
Pleasure is still a component to snacking, but so are nourishment, optimization and convenience.
- Category: Market Report
- Thursday, 17 May 2018
- Hits: 112
The Blossom Hill orchards are located in Patterson, California. Some suggest this location to be the world’s best apricot-growing region.
Lucich — Santos Farms have been family-owned for more than 90 years. For over 35 years, they’ve developed expertise in growing, packing and shipping California apricots and apriums under the Blossom Hill Orchard name.
Four generations oversee the daily operations. Their overarching goal is to provide customers with the best eating, sweetest, juicy apricots.
Jim Lucich, sales representative for Blossom Hill, said the 2018 crop in Patterson is lighter than usual. Weather played a part with the crop set. Chill hours were lower than needed, and some cold and rain that came after the bloom had an effect on the crop.
The company grows its apricots in a sustainable-minded environment. Lucich and Santos Farms and Blossom Hill Packing’s objective is to produce premium delicious fruit with food safety in mind.
Lucich — Santos Farms have been family-owned for more than 90 years. For over 35 years, they’ve developed expertise in growing, packing and shipping California apricots and apriums under the Blossom Hill Orchard name.
Four generations oversee the daily operations. Their overarching goal is to provide customers with the best eating, sweetest, juicy apricots.
Jim Lucich, sales representative for Blossom Hill, said the 2018 crop in Patterson is lighter than usual. Weather played a part with the crop set. Chill hours were lower than needed, and some cold and rain that came after the bloom had an effect on the crop.
The company grows its apricots in a sustainable-minded environment. Lucich and Santos Farms and Blossom Hill Packing’s objective is to produce premium delicious fruit with food safety in mind.
- Category: Market Report
- Thursday, 10 May 2018
- Hits: 128
There are ten celebrated national holidays in the United States, so named by congress. After those stayed holidays, petitions get introduced to local, state and national officials for commemorating other worthy days.
Fewer than 150 are granted in an average year, across all categories, by the president of the United States. Still others get invoked at a more local level proclamation.
Even so, that still gives us everything from National Pomegranate Month and National Cherry or Pecan Pie Day to draw attention to the produce industry and ingredients worthy of a food holiday.
However manufactured, some of the food related holidays make perfect sense. National Barbecue Day and National Hamburger Day coincide with the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday weekend.
For most of the country, Memorial Day weekend launches the summer outdoor cooking season. We build memories around sharing food and creating food events in more casual environment.
Fewer than 150 are granted in an average year, across all categories, by the president of the United States. Still others get invoked at a more local level proclamation.
Even so, that still gives us everything from National Pomegranate Month and National Cherry or Pecan Pie Day to draw attention to the produce industry and ingredients worthy of a food holiday.
However manufactured, some of the food related holidays make perfect sense. National Barbecue Day and National Hamburger Day coincide with the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday weekend.
For most of the country, Memorial Day weekend launches the summer outdoor cooking season. We build memories around sharing food and creating food events in more casual environment.
- Category: Market Report
- Thursday, 03 May 2018
- Hits: 155
Food safety risks may be reduced on the farm by following good agricultural practices (GAPs).
GAPs help growers understand the practices and risks associated with their farm. They help identify practical ways to reduce the risk of contaminating produce being grown, harvested and packed.
There is no such thing as zero-risk, but practices and steps need to be in place on farms to minimize any potential risk of contamination. Although the common principles of GAPs don’t change from farm to farm, each GAP is unique, as every grower does things differently.
GAPs focus on assessing the risk in five key areas:
Water
Manure/Compost and Soil Amendments
Land Use (Previous/Adjacent) and Animal Access (Domestic/Wildlife)
Equipment, Tools & Buildings
Employee Health & Hygiene
GAPs help growers understand the practices and risks associated with their farm. They help identify practical ways to reduce the risk of contaminating produce being grown, harvested and packed.
There is no such thing as zero-risk, but practices and steps need to be in place on farms to minimize any potential risk of contamination. Although the common principles of GAPs don’t change from farm to farm, each GAP is unique, as every grower does things differently.
GAPs focus on assessing the risk in five key areas:
Water
Manure/Compost and Soil Amendments
Land Use (Previous/Adjacent) and Animal Access (Domestic/Wildlife)
Equipment, Tools & Buildings
Employee Health & Hygiene
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 27 April 2018
- Hits: 141
Earth Day is just behind us. Mother’s Day is just ahead. The two celebrations bring awareness to the influences of motherhood.
Mother Earth and Mother Nature cue their messages from other like minded mothers. We are only on this lovely planet for a very short time. While we are here, we need to mind our manners and play by the rules.
Things a mother might say–
“Go outside and play” was a mantra of all baby boomer moms. Getting on a bike or going for a hike meant ultimate freedom.
Being out in nature has a way is fast-paced life of ours can easily strip out any natural rhythm that we humans long to be a part of. The cycle of each season speaks to our primal nature. Go outside.
Mother Earth and Mother Nature cue their messages from other like minded mothers. We are only on this lovely planet for a very short time. While we are here, we need to mind our manners and play by the rules.
Things a mother might say–
“Go outside and play” was a mantra of all baby boomer moms. Getting on a bike or going for a hike meant ultimate freedom.
Being out in nature has a way is fast-paced life of ours can easily strip out any natural rhythm that we humans long to be a part of. The cycle of each season speaks to our primal nature. Go outside.
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 20 April 2018
- Hits: 175
Its easy to ignore “The sky is falling” warnings when they are inconclusive. The classic folk tale of Henny Penny (Chicken Little) bares recollection when food safety is at stake.
The most recent industry messages regarding romaine lettuce alerts have been frustrating for everyone in the supply chain.
In defense of all stakeholders, no one wants to err on the side of personal illness or worse case scenario, death.
As companies wait for more information from federal agencies on the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has been ascribed to chopped romaine only and not a specific supplier, fresh produce industry associations are communicating in a uniform voice about the situation.
United Fresh Produce Association, Produce Marketing Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement have worked in concert on communications regarding this recent outbreak.
The most recent industry messages regarding romaine lettuce alerts have been frustrating for everyone in the supply chain.
In defense of all stakeholders, no one wants to err on the side of personal illness or worse case scenario, death.
As companies wait for more information from federal agencies on the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has been ascribed to chopped romaine only and not a specific supplier, fresh produce industry associations are communicating in a uniform voice about the situation.
United Fresh Produce Association, Produce Marketing Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement have worked in concert on communications regarding this recent outbreak.
- Category: Market Report
- Thursday, 12 April 2018
- Hits: 224
California avocados have arrived! They are generally available from April to September, but for the nearly 5,000 growers in the state, the avocado season is a year-round endeavor.
Farmers walk their avocado groves every month to check on the trees, assess weather affects and grove conditions. They must ensure avocados are on the right track for projected harvests. Each stage in the growth cycle is critical.
Avocados, grown on trees, have a tree growth cycle with six stages: flowering, shoot growth, root growth, fruit set, fruit growth, and harvest.
That’s a lot to watch and care for during each season.
California produces about 90 percent of the nation’s avocado crop. Ninety-five percent of California avocados are the Hass (rhymes with pass) variety.
The Hass variety accounts for about 80 percent of all avocados eaten worldwide. By now, most of us understand that an avocado is actually a fruit.
Farmers walk their avocado groves every month to check on the trees, assess weather affects and grove conditions. They must ensure avocados are on the right track for projected harvests. Each stage in the growth cycle is critical.
Avocados, grown on trees, have a tree growth cycle with six stages: flowering, shoot growth, root growth, fruit set, fruit growth, and harvest.
That’s a lot to watch and care for during each season.
California produces about 90 percent of the nation’s avocado crop. Ninety-five percent of California avocados are the Hass (rhymes with pass) variety.
The Hass variety accounts for about 80 percent of all avocados eaten worldwide. By now, most of us understand that an avocado is actually a fruit.
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 06 April 2018
- Hits: 233
Nearly six years ago, meal kits companies took the food scene by storm in the United States.
They looked to be the major disruptors in how people choose to procure, prepare and eat food.
As American food culture evolves, what we eat, when we eat and how we eat are all open to personal interpretation.
The crowded space of meal kit companies is facing fierce competition as meal subscribers are selecting from vast options for convenience, value and variety.
Grocery industry “brick and mortar” spending represents about $650 billion, with a “B”, dollars in the U.S. The experience of daily provisions can be frustrating at best with lots of energy devoted to meal planning, grocery shopping and finally preparation.
They looked to be the major disruptors in how people choose to procure, prepare and eat food.
As American food culture evolves, what we eat, when we eat and how we eat are all open to personal interpretation.
The crowded space of meal kit companies is facing fierce competition as meal subscribers are selecting from vast options for convenience, value and variety.
Grocery industry “brick and mortar” spending represents about $650 billion, with a “B”, dollars in the U.S. The experience of daily provisions can be frustrating at best with lots of energy devoted to meal planning, grocery shopping and finally preparation.
- Category: Market Report
- Thursday, 29 March 2018
- Hits: 218
Once the door to Spring is cracked open, watch out. There seems to be no limit of vibrant swaths of color popping up everywhere.
It’s hard to miss the stunning fruit tree blossoming in and around neighborhoods or roadside orchards.
A river walk presents clusters of wild neon poppies and verdant anise in early bloom. Breathe it all in…then exhale slowly.
Awaken the senses with pots of bold color after Easter pastels fade. Perennial bulb plants give us an excuse, as if one is needed, to dig in the garden beds.
Avoid getting dirt on the hands altogether with one quick trip to a grocery store these days. The bevy of new color bowls and potted color bulbs and plants is staggering.
It’s hard to miss the stunning fruit tree blossoming in and around neighborhoods or roadside orchards.
A river walk presents clusters of wild neon poppies and verdant anise in early bloom. Breathe it all in…then exhale slowly.
Awaken the senses with pots of bold color after Easter pastels fade. Perennial bulb plants give us an excuse, as if one is needed, to dig in the garden beds.
Avoid getting dirt on the hands altogether with one quick trip to a grocery store these days. The bevy of new color bowls and potted color bulbs and plants is staggering.
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 23 March 2018
- Hits: 205
The fleshy green spears of asparagus are all at once succulent and tender. They have long been considered a true seasonal delicacy.
This highly prized vegetable arrives with the coming of spring. When the shoots finally break through the soil and reach their peak harvest length, we are ready to enjoy locally grown asparagus.
In California, the first crops may be picked as early as February. The season generally is considered to run from April through May. Like most things in agriculture, Mother Nature is in charge.
In the Midwest and East, the season may extend through June or July.
Under ideal growing conditions, an asparagus spear can shoot up to be eight to ten inches tall in a 24-hour period. Each crown will send spears up for about six to seven weeks during the spring and early summer.
This highly prized vegetable arrives with the coming of spring. When the shoots finally break through the soil and reach their peak harvest length, we are ready to enjoy locally grown asparagus.
In California, the first crops may be picked as early as February. The season generally is considered to run from April through May. Like most things in agriculture, Mother Nature is in charge.
In the Midwest and East, the season may extend through June or July.
Under ideal growing conditions, an asparagus spear can shoot up to be eight to ten inches tall in a 24-hour period. Each crown will send spears up for about six to seven weeks during the spring and early summer.
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 16 March 2018
- Hits: 242
Kids of all ages have perfected the art and tradition of egg dying for Easter.
From waxy pencils to small tablets of color, not much has changed in the decoration process. Or has it?
The kitchen pantry is a studio of natural ingredients and interesting colors waiting to be used. Common food items, and food waste in some cases, will transform an ordinary hard boiled egg into a beautiful showpiece.
Natural dying elements have long been used in fabrics and paper. Porous eggshells invite color no matter the source.
Red cabbage and beets, brown, red or yellow onion skins contribute to an array of egg color possibilities. So will coffee, tea, and dried spices.
From waxy pencils to small tablets of color, not much has changed in the decoration process. Or has it?
The kitchen pantry is a studio of natural ingredients and interesting colors waiting to be used. Common food items, and food waste in some cases, will transform an ordinary hard boiled egg into a beautiful showpiece.
Natural dying elements have long been used in fabrics and paper. Porous eggshells invite color no matter the source.
Red cabbage and beets, brown, red or yellow onion skins contribute to an array of egg color possibilities. So will coffee, tea, and dried spices.
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 09 March 2018
- Hits: 235
A 300 mile radius, or less, to define locally grown may not matter much to those that are able to pick straight from a hoop house out back everyday.
That reality doesn’t exists for most fresh produce customers.
For three seasons out of the year, regional growers make it easy for us to scratch our local itch. That fourth season is tougher to rely on for close to home grown.
Living in the mid-west, or other cold belt states, poses real challenges for sourcing fresh produce from inside the USA during winter.
California, Arizona and Florida manage to eek out a fair amount of crop production through the dead of winter. The desert regions (Yuma and Huron) do the heavy lifting for Arizona and California lettuce and wet vegetable production.
That reality doesn’t exists for most fresh produce customers.
For three seasons out of the year, regional growers make it easy for us to scratch our local itch. That fourth season is tougher to rely on for close to home grown.
Living in the mid-west, or other cold belt states, poses real challenges for sourcing fresh produce from inside the USA during winter.
California, Arizona and Florida manage to eek out a fair amount of crop production through the dead of winter. The desert regions (Yuma and Huron) do the heavy lifting for Arizona and California lettuce and wet vegetable production.
- Category: Market Report
- Friday, 02 March 2018
- Hits: 286
Signature dishes are those that proudly represent the best efforts of a restaurant, chef or cook. They reflect a sense of place, ingredients that work well together or reflect a shared food memory.
We know that Aunt Alice’s potato salad will always be served at Sunday supper or at the church picnic. No one can top banana cream pie from XYZ’s famous restaurant.
The dishes we fondly remember may have certain emotional attachments. A young person going fishing with a favorite granddad looks forward to the handmade pocket sandwiches that get packed along for lunch.
Grandmother’s signature falafel pita is wholly embraced partly because it tastes so terrific. The rest of the clamor is due to the circumstances in which it was enjoyed — who it was shared with, the experience in which it was eaten, the excitement of being outdoors, etc.
Signature dishes are consistent. They are largely fail proof due to repetition. By making something over and over again, a person gets to labor over a recipe and then own it. Experimenting with that one special component might put a signature stamp on it.
We know that Aunt Alice’s potato salad will always be served at Sunday supper or at the church picnic. No one can top banana cream pie from XYZ’s famous restaurant.
The dishes we fondly remember may have certain emotional attachments. A young person going fishing with a favorite granddad looks forward to the handmade pocket sandwiches that get packed along for lunch.
Grandmother’s signature falafel pita is wholly embraced partly because it tastes so terrific. The rest of the clamor is due to the circumstances in which it was enjoyed — who it was shared with, the experience in which it was eaten, the excitement of being outdoors, etc.
Signature dishes are consistent. They are largely fail proof due to repetition. By making something over and over again, a person gets to labor over a recipe and then own it. Experimenting with that one special component might put a signature stamp on it.
- Category: GP Newsroom
- Friday, 22 September 2017
- Hits: 871
On Monday, September 18, our resident GP “Chefs” made 12 delicious dishes with recipes they developed just for this challenge and recipes they already knew and loved from their favorite food bloggers. The common opinion among the Chefs is that the precut Cauliflower Pearls saved them time by cutting out the prepping steps of washing, cutting, and processing cauliflower. With how delicious all of these dishes are, that’s a huge win for anyone who wants to recreate them.
- Category: GP Newsroom
- Tuesday, 25 July 2017
- Hits: 945
Our resident GP “chefs” boldly accepted the challenge. Without any experience cooking with the provided Broccoli Rabe, they faced off against one another to create original dishes. GP employees tasted & voted on their favorites. D’Arrigo provided prizes for the 3 chefs with the most popular recipes. So who won? The coveted first place went to Linda Unden for her Broccoli Rabe Soup. Second and third places respectively went to Marvin Watson for his Broccoli Rabe Feta Ham Pie and Jennifer Ho for her Broccoli Rabe Korean Pancake.
For both the participants and the taste-testers, it was a difficult choice. We had 9 wonderfully delicious recipes to enjoy. Check them out below & let us know which ones you would try.
Red Yams, Japanese Yams & Okinawa Sweet Potatoes
- Category: Produce Beat
- Wednesday, 23 November 2016
- Hits: 1152
David John differentiates various yams and sweet potatoes.
Smitten Apples
- Category: Produce Beat
- Wednesday, 16 November 2016
- Hits: 1282
David John explains what Smitten Apples are, how they taste and how they compare to other apples.
Calabaza & Red Kuri Squash
- Category: Produce Beat
- Wednesday, 09 November 2016
- Hits: 1281
David John talks about what to do with Calabaza and Red Kuri Squash. Try it!
Satsumas
- Category: Produce Beat
- Wednesday, 02 November 2016
- Hits: 1241
How Satsumas are different from other citrus fruits.
Fennel
- Category: Produce Beat
- Wednesday, 12 October 2016
- Hits: 1330
How to pick, store, and 3 ways to use fennel.
Cactus Pears
- Category: Produce Beat
- Wednesday, 05 October 2016
- Hits: 1294
David John III explains how to pick, clean, eat and use the cactus pear.
Apple Hill Apples
- Category: Produce Beat
- Wednesday, 28 September 2016
- Hits: 1287
David John explains the history and current state of Apple Hill apples.
- Category: GP Newsroom
- Monday, 26 September 2016
- Hits: 2370
Chilean Navels
- Category: Produce Beat
- Wednesday, 21 September 2016
- Hits: 1197
Chilean Navels are in season and better than ever!
Figs
- Category: Produce Beat
- Wednesday, 14 September 2016
- Hits: 1251
David John III differentiates figs: Brown Turkey, Kadota, Tiger Striped.
