Market Report
- Category: June 2017
- Thursday, 29 June 2017
- Hits: 3046
We’ve said it before-California grows over 400 different crops, some grown nowhere else in the country. A few crops include wine and table grapes, almonds, artichokes, citrus, strawberries, and walnuts.
California produces nearly all of the country’s almonds, apricots, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, nectarines, olives, pistachios, prunes and walnuts.
Fifty eight counties make up the lush California landscape. All but three contribute to the total agricultural economy. Once transition happens from winter crops in Mexico moving north, the fertile California soil produces a bounty for our nation’s hungry tables.
Pick any county in the summertime to find a working family farm. We speak of “locale” when we mention who or where the melons, onions, squash and green beans are coming from.
“Brentwood” is synonymous with “super sweet“ white corn. Located in Contra Costa County, this delta town is steeped in a rich agricultural heritage.
Fifty eight counties make up the lush California landscape. All but three contribute to the total agricultural economy. Once transition happens from winter crops in Mexico moving north, the fertile California soil produces a bounty for our nation’s hungry tables.
Pick any county in the summertime to find a working family farm. We speak of “locale” when we mention who or where the melons, onions, squash and green beans are coming from.
“Brentwood” is synonymous with “super sweet“ white corn. Located in Contra Costa County, this delta town is steeped in a rich agricultural heritage.
- Category: June 2017
- Thursday, 22 June 2017
- Hits: 3114
The Summer of Love was a social phenomenon that occurred during the summer of 1967. As many as 100,000 people, converged in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district.
Tie-dyed clothing, love beads, men with long hair and a mantra of “free love” characterized the counterculture hippie groups that flocked to the city. A swirl of art, politics, music and revolution was in the air in 1967.
Among other notable shifts in traditions, this was the period in time that influenced our culture in the food movement and politics toward natural, organic and vegetarian diets in America.
The politics of food remain central to those conversations happening in California regarding organic farming, sustainability, improving childhood nutrition and the obesity epidemic.
Present day activism rises from the national trend toward local, sustainable and conscious eating. Consumers want to know what they’re eating, where it comes from and how it is produced.
Lucky for us then that locally grown actually means we’re able to enjoy melons, stone fruits, sweet corn, beans, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes that are actually grown and harvested close by.
Tie-dyed clothing, love beads, men with long hair and a mantra of “free love” characterized the counterculture hippie groups that flocked to the city. A swirl of art, politics, music and revolution was in the air in 1967.
Among other notable shifts in traditions, this was the period in time that influenced our culture in the food movement and politics toward natural, organic and vegetarian diets in America.
The politics of food remain central to those conversations happening in California regarding organic farming, sustainability, improving childhood nutrition and the obesity epidemic.
Present day activism rises from the national trend toward local, sustainable and conscious eating. Consumers want to know what they’re eating, where it comes from and how it is produced.
Lucky for us then that locally grown actually means we’re able to enjoy melons, stone fruits, sweet corn, beans, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes that are actually grown and harvested close by.
- Category: June 2017
- Friday, 16 June 2017
- Hits: 3125
A renegade herb that will happily take over any untended garden bed, mint is a staple of summer eats and drinks.
Looking to exact a sense of culinary cool, calm, sweet or freshness? Mint is indispensable and without substitute.
The enticing aromatic gets its scent from the oil in the leaf, menthol.
A wide variety of mint plants exists, ready for use in the kitchen. The two most common are probably peppermint and spearmint and the more rare curly leaf, pineapple and ginger mint.
Get to know the nuanced differences so applications into salads, starters, sides, entrees, drinks, cocktails and desserts are best suited to specific flavor profiles.
A few top mints to get to know: Spearmint. Most commonly used in cooking for many notorious mint recipes, including lamb, spring rolls, vegetables (like peas, carrots, potatoes, beans and cucumbers), tabouli salad and favorite summer cocktails like mojitos and mint juleps.
Looking to exact a sense of culinary cool, calm, sweet or freshness? Mint is indispensable and without substitute.
The enticing aromatic gets its scent from the oil in the leaf, menthol.
A wide variety of mint plants exists, ready for use in the kitchen. The two most common are probably peppermint and spearmint and the more rare curly leaf, pineapple and ginger mint.
Get to know the nuanced differences so applications into salads, starters, sides, entrees, drinks, cocktails and desserts are best suited to specific flavor profiles.
A few top mints to get to know: Spearmint. Most commonly used in cooking for many notorious mint recipes, including lamb, spring rolls, vegetables (like peas, carrots, potatoes, beans and cucumbers), tabouli salad and favorite summer cocktails like mojitos and mint juleps.
- Category: June 2017
- Thursday, 08 June 2017
- Hits: 3226
Dads have that reputation for being “super-heroes”. That does not mean they have to eat like Superman, right?
Dads are just regular people looking to stay fit and healthy for their families. They do like to eat, drink and be merry when the opportunity strikes.
Upcoming Father’s Day is a perfect chance to share good food with the fathers in our lives. Like most holiday celebrations, the ways we make merry are diverse and unique.
Everyday dad food does not translate into “cheese, bacon and burgers”. Traditional fare from days long past was largely meat and potatoes basics for Dads. Maybe for most conventional men, that would still be typical.
New dude foods, prepared by using the freshest ingredients, strike a cord with those favorite family traditions and deliver full of flavor on the plate.
By example, Pops might like a nice ravioli with red sauce, skillet chilaquiles or marinated skirt steak on Father’s Day. Cooking at home can be a group effort. “No fuss” should be the mantra of the day, but if a little extra effort is made, we’re good!
Dads are just regular people looking to stay fit and healthy for their families. They do like to eat, drink and be merry when the opportunity strikes.
Upcoming Father’s Day is a perfect chance to share good food with the fathers in our lives. Like most holiday celebrations, the ways we make merry are diverse and unique.
Everyday dad food does not translate into “cheese, bacon and burgers”. Traditional fare from days long past was largely meat and potatoes basics for Dads. Maybe for most conventional men, that would still be typical.
New dude foods, prepared by using the freshest ingredients, strike a cord with those favorite family traditions and deliver full of flavor on the plate.
By example, Pops might like a nice ravioli with red sauce, skillet chilaquiles or marinated skirt steak on Father’s Day. Cooking at home can be a group effort. “No fuss” should be the mantra of the day, but if a little extra effort is made, we’re good!
- Category: June 2017
- Thursday, 01 June 2017
- Hits: 3342
A plant-based diet can boost optimum health, decreasing the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
The main advantages with a plant-based diet seem to be related more to the foods consumed (eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts) rather than those foods avoided (primarily meats).
Staying at a healthy weight is easier on a plant-based diet and menu. A “less meat, more plants” style of eating can improve quality of life.
Associated benefits include the reduction of inflammation and diseases attributed to inflammation. Lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels are others plus ups seen with plant-based food choices.
There are many different types of plant-based diets. The three most common ones are: Vegan: No animal products such as meat, eggs, or dairy products. Lacto-vegetarian: No meat or eggs, but dairy products are acceptable. Lacto-Ovo-vegetarian: No meat is consumed, but dairy products and eggs are allowed.
The main advantages with a plant-based diet seem to be related more to the foods consumed (eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts) rather than those foods avoided (primarily meats).
Staying at a healthy weight is easier on a plant-based diet and menu. A “less meat, more plants” style of eating can improve quality of life.
Associated benefits include the reduction of inflammation and diseases attributed to inflammation. Lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels are others plus ups seen with plant-based food choices.
There are many different types of plant-based diets. The three most common ones are: Vegan: No animal products such as meat, eggs, or dairy products. Lacto-vegetarian: No meat or eggs, but dairy products are acceptable. Lacto-Ovo-vegetarian: No meat is consumed, but dairy products and eggs are allowed.
