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Produce Expert
Dan Avakian
By now grocery shoppers nationwide may be feeling the effects of last month’s heat wave. Just look at your grocery bills. Lettuce, broccoli, summer squash and tomatoes as well as several other items are way up in price. Late California rains set production of many crops back. Combine this with the excessive heat from last month, and we have a situation that was already suffering hit even harder. Farmers big and small in California’s “produce basket” region are struggling. Cantaloupes literally cooked in the fields. Cucumbers just weren’t that cool anymore. And now, at peak season when prices should be fairly decent, we re seeing winter pricing.
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Market Watch
According to a report from The National Weather Service, the San Joaquin Valley (where much of California’s produce is grown) endured the hottest July in recorded history. Temperatures shot way above 100 degrees for 20 straight days. It’s estimated that more than a billion dollars was lost in crops and livestock last month, though total losses will not be determined for quite some time. Governor Schwarzenegger is even appealing to the federal government for disaster relief for ranchers and farmers.
For the time being, there is nothing to do but endure steeper pricing and wish our farmers better fortune in future seasons. And of course, remember that your local roadside farm stands and farmer’s markets are often the best source for superb fruits and vegetables during the growing season. |
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Apples: A Great American Harvest
If ever there were a month to eat apples, this is it! Every growing region in the United States harvests hundreds of varieties of apples in September, flooding grocery stores nationwide with a huge array of crisp, juicy treasures. And of course, don't forget your local small orchards. They are always good for rare varieties that are usually outstanding in flavor. Support them while you can before urban sprawl steals them away! |
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All About Heirlooms
How ‘bout them tomatoes? Many new varieties of tomatoes have made their way into the produce stand over the past few years, and flavor has reclaimed the fruit. Heirloom varieties and cherry varieties are available in a rainbow of colors from yellow to purple to black— enough to satisfy every tomato lover right up through the first frost. To top it all off, recent studies have shown that consuming tomatoes and tomato products may help lower the risk of heart attack and prostate cancer. Tomatoes have also been studied for their possible role in lowering the risk of breast cancer, cervical cancer and cancer of the gastrointestinal tract. |
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September is Organic Harvest Month!
The organic sector of the produce industry has grown 20% plus per year over the last decade. What was once the realm of small “hippie” farms and crunchy natural foods stores is now a major category of many large growers, and has become a mainstream staple in the produce department of most grocery stores. In fact, any grocery or produce market not handling organic produce is missing out on the sales of a huge category that is still on the rise. |
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Fun with Fungus
September is National Mushroom Month. Recent studies in mushroom varieties have shown great health benefits. Mushrooms are rich in selenium, which contains antioxidants that may help protect the body from cancer. Selenium is also essential to good thyroid function and may help reduce the risk of asthma. Most recently, selenium has been studied for its possible role in helping to decrease the risk of heart disease. |
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Ask Dan a Question
Q: Does shriveled skin on mission figs mean they're
not fresh?
A: Black mission figs should have a slight cracking or
shriveling, particularly near the stem end. This is not
a sign of age, but merely a reaction to the sun. Figs
with excessively wrinkled skin are on their way to the
drier. The mission fig is famous for its distinctive flavor
and deep purple color. Despite its slight wrinkling, it is both visually and gastronomically exciting in recipes.
E-mail Dan with your produce questions produceman@producepair.com
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Listen to Dan
on
the Radio!
Join Dan “The Produce Man” every Saturday at Noon as he co-hosts the National Radio Show, “The Produce Pair” heard on the Talk America Radio Network. www.producepair.com
Read more about Dan Avakian.
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Organic pearl apples from Hale's Apple Farm. |
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Apples are bountiful and in the markets this month.
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Calabaza's are in the market now. Pumpkins and different varities of squash are arriving weekly for great autumn eating. |
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Pink Pearl apples are crisp, tasty, and great for eating and baking.
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Heirloom tomatoes have a wonderful flavor and come in funky colors and shapes that are perfect for salads.
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Oganic Macintosh apples growing at the Gabriel farm in Sebastopol, CA
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Black figs at Dan's open-air produce market in Alameda, CA. |
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Dan with Chef Paul Prudhomme on his National Radio Show, "The Produce Pair". |
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