Best if Used By 03/22/10

Eat This Now for Tuesday March 16th, 2010 features: Strawberries, Navel Oranges, Sweet Red Peppers, Red Potatoes, and Organic Eggplant.

1. Strawberries

Oh, it’s on! Strawberries are good to go, finally. Rainy weather and freezes dealt one setback after another to the three winter growing areas of Florida, California and Mexico, causing prices to be high and quality to be just fair the past 8 weeks. But that’s behind us and it is time for you to go buy some fresh, delicious Strawberries! Think about all the possibilities that will get you thinking Spring: Strawberries on your cereal, yogurt, cottage cheese and ice cream; Strawberries in your salad and fruit cup; Strawberries in your dessert or smoothie; or simply devour them as a healthy snack! Mmmmm…

Here’s what to expect. Florida is running into a massive flush of Strawberries the next two weeks. These berries will be inconsistent in shape and size, and will have occasional white shoulders (an unripe area near the stem), but they’ll also be priced to sell and will taste fantastic. California Strawberries are increasing in volume too, and their quality, size and appearance is picture perfect.

2. Navel Oranges

Late season Navel Oranges from California are particularly sweet right now – I’m talkin’ candy! This assessment is based on the samples I’ve tasted from multiple new arrivals this week and last. Try some yourself. There’s more good news for you: California Navel Oranges are likely on sale where you shop this week – be it in 4lb or 8lb bags, or loose. But late season Navels don’t stay this nice forever, so get while the gettin’s still good.

3. Sweet Red Peppers

You can’t go wrong this week with Sweet Red Peppers. Whether you find:

• Fancy, extra large, elongated-style, field-grown ones;
• Mis-shapen, but still delicious choice grade ones;
• or Bell-shaped, greenhouse-grown, premium ones – they’re all good and probably on sale.

Left: field-grown // Right: greenhouse-grown

Healthy, crunchy, mild, flavorful freshness at an affordable price – now that is sweet! Curious about an easy way to slice your Sweet Red Peppers? Watch this:

4. Red Potatoes

Red Potatoes for your St. Patty’s Day meal? – sure. Everyone’s favorite leave-the-skin on potato is likely to be advertised this week where you shop and quality is solid. Want to mix it up? Look for Klondike Rose or Butter Red Potatoes which feature thin, tasty red skins with a creamy-rich gold flesh.

Left: Red Potatoes // Right: Klondike Rose Potatoes

5. Organic Eggplant

High quality ingredients are the foundation for great meals. Right now the Organic Eggplant I’ve been seeing from Mexico has been outstanding. Pricing and availability are good too, though you may have to go to a natural foods store or coop to find it. Eggplant should have a nice thud when you tap it and should not be flabby. Find the freshest and start your own great meal!

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

The Produce Geek,
Jonathan K. Steffy

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!

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

The Produce Geek,
Jonathan K. Steffy