Best if Used By 11/30/09
Thanksgiving Edition II – Celebrate your blessings and give thanks with the Fresh Produce that is BEST right now.
Eat This Now for Tuesday November 24, 2009 features: Jazz Apples, Bananas, Sunburst Tangerines, Idaho Potatoes, and Organic Haas Avocados.
1. Jazz Apples
Are you hooked on Honeycrisp Apples, the texture, the sweet-tart taste – can’t get enough, huh? I’ve got some tough news for you, friend. Growers’ supplies in PA, NY, MI, MN and WA are running low on Honeycrisps and they’ll be all but finished in a few weeks. You’ll soon need an alternative. “What? What?,” you ask. Well, here’s one to try: Jazz Apples.
Jazz Apples are tangy and sweet, dense and crunchy with a surprisingly refreshing taste. Bright red blush over yellow skin, Jazz are a combination of Braeburn for firm texture and tang with the sweetness of Gala. The fresh crop of Jazz Apples has started shipping from Washington State. They’ll be around for several months and get slightly sweeter as the season goes on. They’ll be available from New Zealand during the summer too. Learn more at www.jazzapple.com.
Jazz are full-throttle on flavor and never mushy. They are not cheap, still folks that try them come back for more – a lot more – in spite of the premium price. Kid-friendly and snack-friendly, Jazz tend to grow smaller in size than other apples so a large portion of the crop is marketed in 3lb bags and fridge packs. The biggest challenge with Jazz Apples is that there are many stores that don’t stock the variety. In fact, two local supermarkets that I frequent did not have Jazz Apples on the shelf this week. So be bold. Go ahead, ask your store’s Produce Manager if she can help you get ahold of what might become your next favorite apple. Need some help finding stores that stock Jazz Apples in your area? Email us at eatthisnow@producegeek.com and we’ll do our best to offer some store suggestions in your area.
2. Bananas
Available all year long, Bananas are a wonderful fruit to buy and eat every week. And this is a particularly good week. Why, you ask? First, supplies are plentiful out of Central America. Second, Bananas are a great value whether you pay $.39lb or $.99lb, and it is important not to abandon fresh produce just because the economy has you pullin’ in the purse strings. Third, Bananas are very healthy, chock full of potassium, fiber and other stuff you should Google. The main reason you’ll need Bananas this week is because of Thanksgiving. You might be feelin’ bad about overeating on Thursday – grab a Banana for breakfast or a snack. You might be hosting family over the weekend – make Banana bread. You might want a special holiday weekend brunch – make Banana Pancakes with Bananas Foster topping. You might need a To-Go fruit for Black Friday shopping excursions. One thing: NEVER refrigerate Bananas, it turns them gray.
3. Sunburst Tangerines
Brilliant orange skin like a new construction cone, juicy-sweet tangerine taste like a, well… a burst of Florida Sunshine! Sunburst Tangerines are tangerines, NOT Clementines. Don’t get fooled at the store, Florida Sunburst Tangerines are sold loose, in 3lb bags and in 5lb Gift Boxes. People buy a gift box thinking they’re getting Florida-grown Clementines, but they are Tangerines – with seeds. Seeds? Yea, I said seeds – lots of them. If you are in the Anti-seeds Camp stick with Clementines and Satsuma Mandarins. If you like the juicy-sweet taste of Tangerines, buy them now, enjoy and repeat. Florida growers are shipping gorgeous quality fruit right now – seeds and all.
4. Idaho Potatoes
Russet Potatoes from Idaho are low moisture potatoes, making them ideal for fluffy Mashed Potatoes for Thanksgiving. You can use any leftover potatoes for a bazillion things later in the week. www.idahopotatoes.com. Quality and supplies are great, pricing is inexpensive.
5. Organic Hass Avocados
This is a great time to enjoy both high quality and very reasonable price points on Organic Hass Avocados. Supplies are plentiful right now out of Mexico. Keep an eye out for Fair Trade Organic Hass Avocados too. Need a refresher on how to choose your Organic Hass Avocados or some recipe ideas? Check out www.avocadofiesta.com.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Produce Geek,
Jonathan K. Steffy
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