Eat This Now—Tuesday 03/09/10
2010
Best if Used By 03/15/10
Eat This Now for Tuesday March 9th, 2010 features: Seedless Mandarins, Honey Tangerines, Organic Leaf Lettuces, Russet Potatoes, and Hass Avocados.
1. Seedless Mandarins
Sweet, seedless, easy to peel, portable – sounds like a Clementine, right? Well, close, AND closer to home. Late season Organic and Conventional Seedless Mandarins (or W. Murcott or Afourer Mandarins, the real names that nobody really ever uses) from California, are particularly noteworthy right now. These bright orange gems are packed full of juicy flavor and are a killer value right now. Sold in 3lb bags, 5lb Gift Boxes, Loose and even with the Stem & Leaf still attached, Seedless Mandarins are branded as “Cuties, Delites, Sweeties, and Easy-Peelers.”
Some supermarkets are convinced you’ll be more likely to buy them if they call them “Clementines” on their ad or signage, even though the package clearly reads Seedless Mandarins. Your mission? Find these tasty small orange fruits from California, no matter what the name and enjoy piece after yummy piece.
2. Honey Tangerines
Are you someone that doesn’t mind spending a little more time with their food, so long as the flavor pays off in the end? The perfect piece of citrus awaits – Florida Honey Tangerines, in season and inexpensive for a few more weeks. Honey Tangerines are packed with seeds and have a persistent thin skin that clings to the fruit, not to mention they’re kinda ugly: light orange skin with green patches and lots of scars. In spite of their flaws, what Florida Honey Tangerines have going for them is that they are very sweet, juicy and manage to pack that Southern sunshine into each flavorful bite. Slow down and try one.
3. Organic Leaf Lettuces
Exceptional quality – two words that every great salad should start with. Organic Green Leaf, Red Leaf and Romaine Lettuces from Lady Moon Farms in Florida are on an outstanding run of heartiness, freshness and beauty – yes beauty, and at a reasonable price right now. California Organic Lettuces are solid too, especially butter varieties. If you have access to a coop, natural food store or supermarket that promotes organic lettuces, use these exceptional ingredients to make an exceptional meal.
4. Russet Potatoes
What does an earthquake in Chile have to do with potatoes grown in North America? Not too much, but a connection can be made. The devastating quake has disrupted the packing, cold storage and export shipments enough on Seedless Grapes to cause prices to spike and retailers to remove them from their feature ads. So what is a supply safe, good quality and price promotable item to advertise instead in coming weeks? Russet Baking Potatoes, whether they’re from Idaho, Prince Edward Island or elsewhere, should be good and priced right. Grapes? Not so much.
5. Hass Avocados
I’ve eaten six Hass Avocados this past week from three different growers, all from Mexico. They’ve been perfect. A little garlic powder, shake of cumin, lots of cracked pepper, pinch of sea salt and all the juice from a lime – and you’ve got some fantastic Geek-guac. Go for it!
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