Best if Used By 03/01/10

Eat This Now for Tuesday February 23, 2010 features: Jumbo Navel Oranges, Baby Bella Mushrooms, Broccoli, Braeburn Apples, and W. Murcott Mandarins.

1. Jumbo Navel Oranges

Big is not necessarily better, but Big is… bigger.  Jumbo-sized Organic and Conventional Navel Oranges from California are an excellent fruit choice right now if you want to get the most out of Big.  The larger sized fruit means less work peeling and more sweet, seedless, juicy meat inside to eat, even if the rind is thicker.  So what should you look for at the store?  Jumbo Navel Oranges are softball sized and should feel heavy, and they’re often sold in 8lb bags.  Come late March and into April, Jumbo Navel Oranges can sometimes become dry inside as the season ends – so don’t wait!  The next 3-4 weeks is the time to go Big.

2. Baby Bella Mushrooms

What’s in a name?  Here was a mushroom with an identity crisis: Crimini.  Crimini’s are similar to White Mushrooms left to mature until the tops become tan to brown.  If those Crimini’s are allowed to grow even more they become big ol’ Portabella Mushrooms when the veil opens up to show the gills.  But most people don’t know what a Crimini/Cremini/Italian Brown/Roman Brown is – sounds too challenging, something only chefs would know how to use.  Lots of people do know what a Portabella Mushroom is.  The name “Baby Bella” was coined by a clever Pennsylvania mushroom grower for their Crimini’s.  Other’s mimicked with Baby Portabella and both names sold more Crimini Mushrooms than ever.

Grown inside, Baby Bella (aka Crimini) Mushrooms are available year round, so now is as good a time as any to try them.  The texture and shape is that of a standard White Mushroom, but the flavor is earthier and richer.  You can use Baby Bella’s as a tastier, buttery substitute for White Mushrooms in salads, stir-frys, sautes, pizzas, pastas and with meats.

3. Broccoli

The low down: Last week brought on lots of Organic and Conventional Broccoli in West Coast growing areas.  There was not enough demand for it throughout the country.  That translates into lots of supply, low prices at wholesale and plenty of sales and promotions at stores this week.  You should take advantage of it.  Raw, steamed, boiled, stir-fried – versatile Broccoli is loaded with flavor and nutrition.

4. Braeburn Apples

Firm, just a little more sweet than tart, Braeburn Apples are a good selection right now for snacking and baking.  This year’s Washington State crop got jolted by a late freeze.  Still, in spite of some crop loss there still lots of great Organic and Conventional Braeburns available at fair pricing.  This variety stores quite well, so you’re not likely to get the dreaded “mushy apple” like you might with the Red and Gold Delicious this time of year.

Hate mealy apples?  Vote for your favorite Non-Mushy Apple below:

Campaign Against Mushy Apples – Who likes mushy apples?  Exactly.  Vote for your favorite NON-Mushy apple variety available in Winter, and Yes, there are some major varieties missing that can be way too inconsistent on texture this time of year.  P.S. Alas, Honeycrisp are done for the season.  And, yo – Gala and Granny Smith, you’re both on my mushy-watchlist this time of the year.

5. W. Murcott Mandarins

So many citrus variety names – how are you to keep up with it all?  Well, most people don’t and instead buy the same stuff they usually do until that variety is finished, and then they don’t try anything else until that variety they’re used to comes back again.  Can’t blame ‘em.  Who wants to spend money on something they’re not sure if they’ll like?  That is probably the reason you would not buy a W. Murcott Afourer Mandarin.  A what?  Exactly.

W. Murcott Afourer Mandarins from California are out-of-control delicious right now – virtually seedless, sweet, easy to peel orange colored citrus fruits!  Smart Organic and Conventional growers are marketing these wonderful late season mandarins as “Seedless Mandarins,” “Sweet – Seedless Easy Peelers,” “Delites” and “Cuties.”  If you like Clementines (which are going out of season), you’ll love W. Murcotts.  You won’t find them everywhere, but if you come across them in bulk, in 2-3lb bags or 4-5lb gift boxes – they are a must buy, no matter what the name.

Forward this to a friend if you think they’ll like it – Here’s to fresh produce!

The Produce Geek,
Jonathan K. Steffy

10 Ways to eat more Fresh Fruits and Vegetables without breaking the bank.

Your New Year’s Resolution Goals related to Health and Weight Loss will be EASIER to achieve when you incorporate more fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet. Worried it will be too expensive to eat more fresh produce? Here are some tips to keep you eatin’ fresh and saving money. Check Out Produce Geek’s 10 Ways to EAT MORE Fresh Produce WITHOUT Going Broke.

Best if Used By 01/11/10

Eat This Now for Tuesday January 5, 2010 features: Pink Lady Apples, Gala Apples, Minneola Tangelos, Packaged Salad, and Organic Broccoli.

1. Pink Lady Apples

Ever heard of ‘em?  Ever tried ‘em?  If not, now is an ideal time to buy and taste this refreshing apple as you tackle your diet, weight loss, nutrition and health related New Years Resolutions.  One of the most dense apple varieties I’ve ever eaten, Pink Lady’s consistently deliver crunch when you bite in and a firm texture as you chew.  The bright flavor is exciting, rather tangy with sweetness underneath and a fresh aftertaste.  This apple is definitely worth a try for good ol’ snackin’ or for cooking with savory ingredients.

Pink Lady is actually a brand of the Cripps Pink variety in which participating growers must meet particular standards to call it “Pink Lady.”  The Cripps Pink variety is a cross between Golden Delicious and Lady Williams apples and originated in Australia in the mid-1980s.  If you find Cripps Pink Apples at your store, go ahead and buy them as they are essentially Pink Lady’s.  Both Organic and Conventional Pink Lady Apples are available from Washington State right now and will be promoted more prominently by discriminating retailers for the next three months as they replace regional varieties that are running out for the season.  As other varieties start to get mushy in storage this time of year, Pink Lady/Cripps Pink stay rock solid.  Now, once you’ve tried one – you’ll be a Pink Lady Insider!

2. Gala Apples

Ahhh, the Gala is the Sweetheart of Apple Eaters because it’s not simply a wonderful balance of sweet with a little tartness – it’s crisp too!  Kids love the ‘em for the sweetness, adults prefer them for their combination of flavor and texture.  Sorry Red Delicious, you’re really sweet ‘n all, but you just can’t be relied on for good texture. America is saying “No” to mealy, mushy eating apples.  That’s why Gala is taking a run at King of the apple display.  The fresh crop of Gala’s is already sold out, and what is in stores now is coming out of Controlled Atmosphere storage rooms where the best of the harvest apples were put into virtual hibernation so that apples can still be fresh long after they were picked.  But alas, even the best storage science can’t keep Gala’s perfectly crisp and tasty forever.  To make sure it’s likely to be a good apple, lightly run your thumb across the skin to see if it wrinkles (if it does it’s going to be a disappointment).  So, go buy some Washington, Pennsylvania or New York Gala Apples the next few weeks while they are still at their best, and heck, they might even be on sale too.

3. Minneola Tangelos

You may have seen this variety of tangerine before and thought it was a weird looking orange.  The knob-like growth at the stem end of this dark orange citrus fruit is it’s giveaway characteristic.  I think they look funny, but their taste is serious.  Minneola Tangelos are fairly easy to peel, full of fresh flavor and really juicy.  The flavor is sweeter than a grapefruit but more tart than a clementine or mandarin, honey-sweet with a floral acidity at the end.  Still, those are just a bunch of words.  Go try some for yourself – you might discover that Minneolas are a fantastic snack.  Approaching peak harvest, California Minneola Tangelos will be plentiful and high quality through early spring.

4. Packaged Salad

What better way to start eating better than with salads made with fresh cut lettuces or salad greens!  Stores are advertising packaged salads at deep discounts this week and quality is better.  After a really rough stretch of raw product quality issues and availability in November and December due to weather conditions, fresh cut salad producers are finally hitting on all cylinders just in time for Resolution Season as new planting in the deserts of Yuma, AZ are harvested.  Don’t get stuck in a rut buying the same old blend each shopping trip.  Take a few moments to look at the varieties available at your store and try some new blends.  You may fall in love with a different combination of flavor and texture based on the green and lettuce used.  Variety is the spice of life!

5. Organic Broccoli

Resolving to eat less pesticide and chemical residues this year?  Organically grown bunched Broccoli has been steady in supply the last few weeks and handful of growers are running into small flushes of product this week following the holidays.  Keep an eye out for in-store specials on this healthy and versatile vegetable.

Forward this to a friend if you think they’ll like it – Here’s to fresh produce!

Here’s to a Healthy New Year!

The Produce Geek,
Jonathan K. Steffy

Curious about the fresh ingredients that are on your holiday shopping list?  Based on what I’m hearing from growers and retailers, and seeing on the dock, this is what you can expect at the supermarket Christmas week: