The Fruits and Vegetables of Chinese New Years

Taylor Gold Pears

Many Consumers may be asking why some of their favorite Pears aren't quite as Juicy and Crisp as they would like them to be during this time of the year. It's because our Domestic Crop of Pears, mainly from Oregon and Washington, were picked way back in September and October of Last year. As good as these Pears have been, modern day Controlled Atmosphere Technology can only maintain it's freshness for so long. But the Good News is that we are Now just starting to see some of the fresh, in-season picked Pears from the Southern Hemisphere arrive at our Local Markets.

Bartlett Pears from Argentina have been available since the first of April, and the Comice from Chile have been available for the past

10 days. And just This Week, the Taylor Gold Pears have arrived from New Zealand.

A Pear with a History!

An unusual thing happened one day when a grower

was out harvesting his crop in New Zealand. As he was picking his Pears, he saw something strange and different sprinkled throughout his tree. It wasn't anything like the Green Colored Bartletts that he had been picking all morning long. These were Russet-Golden like in Color; Plump,Short and Round. And it had an Elongated Neck. How odd this was. He picked it, tried it, and liked what he tasted. When a different variety of fruit appears "Out of Nowhere", it's referred to as a "Chance Seedling", or a "Natural Mutation". Through good old fashioned Grafting techniques, the grower created a tree of its own. He called this newly found fruit the "Taylor Gold Pear".

Taylor Gold Pears have a Rich and Sweet taste, and are Extremely Juicy. And they have a Creamy and tender interior. Taylor Gold's are firm, so they are not only good for eating out of hand, but hold up well when cooking and baking as well. The Taylor Gold Pear is the latest variety of just three In-Season Pears that are currently available in the United States this time of the year.

Remember, Pears ripen from the inside out. So if it's Soft around the Belly, it will be Mooshy on the inside.

Fresh From the Market...

The Produce Guy

theproduceguy@yahoo.com

RomanitaTomatoes

A fairly new Award winning Specialty Tomato variety is finding it's way to Grocery Stores and Produce Markets across America. Its called the "Romanita", a Baby Roma Tomato. Its unique, and unlike any other tomato. It has the meat and thickness of a Roma Tomato, and yet is smaller, which gives it the versatility much like the specialty cherry varieties on the market. It's Meatiness and Firm Flesh makes the Romanita a perfect slicer. It doesn't break apart when slicing like some other tomato varieties--qualities and characteristics you also don't usually find in the Sweeter Miniature Cherry type of tomatoes. The Romanita gives you both the Firmness and Sweetness one might desire.

Baby in Size, But Big in Sweetness!
If you like Romas, you'll Love the Romanita. These are Very Sweet Tasting Tomatoes. The USDA can actually determine just how sweet fruits and vegetables are with a device that measures the sugar/acid ratio in units of "Brix". The Higher the unit, the sweeter it is. The Average Roma Tomato measures 3.5 to 4 Brix, but the Romanita measures 6 to 6.5 units on the Brix scale.

An International Tomato with a Bay Area Flavor
This Tomato has been Recognized by both Culinary Artists and Tomato Experts alike. The Romanita has recently won two International First Place Awards at the Prestigious Mashov Agriculture Fair in Israel for both Best Tasting Tomato in it's class, and Best Overall Tasting Tomato as well.

The seed for the Romanita was developed in Israel quite a few years ago, but most growers weren't interested in it because they felt that it was too small to be a Roma, and too Large to be a cherry or grape type baby tomato. But a West Coast Produce Company, The Produce Exchange, in Livermore, Ca. discovered the Romanita at an International seed show, and decided to do further research and development on the tomato with the help of Renown Chef Emeril Lagasse.

It’s goal was to develop a tomato that Tastes Good; has a Good Shelf Life, and is available All Year Long! After all, how often have consumers found delicious tasting tomatoes during the late Spring and Summer time, but be so disappointed when they can't find that "elusive" perfect tasting tomatoes in the colder Winter months?

After three years of field testing, and perfecting it's growing techniques, they liked both what they saw, and most importantly, what they tasted. And so did Emeril . In fact, he liked it so much, he said "Let's go for It" and put his Signature on it!

Handle with Care
The Romanitas are grown in a "Closed Environment" under plastic or netting housing, much like a Hot House but without the glass, in both Mexico and California. This enables the Grower to have more control over harsh weather conditions such as too much sun, wind and dust, and also closely monitor "fertigation" and irrigation practices. The end result is a Firm, Full Color, Fully Ripe Tomato available 52 weeks a year!

The Face of Emeril Lagasse
Romanitas can usually be found next to the specialty and cherry tomatoes at your local retail outlets. It's easy to spot, and there are No Imitations. The only way you can find the Romanitas in the United States is packaged exclusively in the Emeril Lagasse pyramid-shaped 10 oz. clam shell containers. And there's good news for "Greenies" too. USDA Certified Organically grown Romanitas are Now available as well.


Fresh from the Market...


The Produce Guy
theproduceguy@yahoo.com

Gold Nugget Mandarins

The Gold Nugget Mandarin is the latest Tangerine variety to hit our local Grocery Stores and Specialty Produce Markets. It is a fairly new late-season variety that has just recently been finding it's way to the Mainstream Market Place. These are being grown in a small area just south of Porterville, California--the Heart of Citrus Country.

The timing by Mother Nature couldn't be better, because the Satsuma Mandarins and Clementines that we've been seeing over the past few months are virtually finished. Although the semi-seedless W.Murcotts are still available, it's season will be ending soon as well. These Gold Nugget "Zipper Skin" fruits are easy to peel, Super Sweet, Completely Seedless, and Full of Juice!

Until a couple of years ago, Consumers had no options when it came to buying Tangerines once the Winter Season ended, and Spring time began. But things are much different now. Because of recent Research, we now have two late-season varieties to choose from this time of the year. And Mother Nature has saved the Best for Last!

The Gold Nugget is by Far one of the Sweetest of all the Mandarin and Tangerine varieties. And Science can prove it. The United States Department of Agriculture has a device that actually measures the sugar content of fruit in "Brix" units. The typical Tangerine and Mandarin meaures out at 7-8 brix. But the Gold Nugget measures out at a whopping 13 brix! Mandarins are members of the Tangerine Family that are both seedless, and easy to peel.

The Gold Nugget was developed by The University of Riverside, as a late season madarin. It is often referred to as "Pixe like", because it is a cross between the Pixie tangerine, and a lesser know "back-yard" variety mandarin. Although the Pixie Tangerines (13 brix) out of Ojai Ca. have also just begun, the Gold Nugget is a much better bargain, and has a much shorter season than the Pixe (another story for another time). So Now is the Time to Buy the Gold Nugget Mandarins.

The Gold Nugget is a very delicate fruit, and needs to be handled with special care. It bruises easily, which is why the larger Commerical Growers shy away from growing this Gem. Be sure to ask your Local Green Grocer for the Gold Nugget Mandarin!


FRESH from the MARKET ...


The Produce Guy
theproduceguy@yahoo.com

The Fruits & Vegetables of Chinese New Year

Food is a common thread of Holidays celebrated around the world. I can't think of a Holiday that emphasizes Fresh Fruits and Vegetables more than the Chinese New Year's celebration. For the Chinese, the New Year is a time for Reflection and Resolution. It's also a time to spend with friends and family; to feast, and to give gifts.

Citrus is an integral ingredient during this time of the year. One of the most unusual looking pieces of fruit, is the fragrant Buddha Hand Citron. The base of this fruit resembles a lumpy lemon, with finger like extensions (the hand of Buddha) . It represents "Good luck"and "Good Fortune". This makes a wonderful table centerpiece. The Pomello is also a very important fruit for the Chinese. This looks like an overgrown grapefruit. It is usually more mildly tasting than it's counterpart. When given as a gift, it is believed to bring "Prosperity".

Mandarins, and Tangerines in general, are also thought to bring both "Luck" and "Good Fortune". These fruits with, both the Stem and Leaves attached, are a very Symbolic part of the Chinese New Year's observance. It signifies that life is "Ever growing" and "expanding", and that "Life does not end now". It also represents the "Family Tree".

The somewhat golden color of Navel Oranges represents "Wealth", and being round signifies "Wholeness" in one's life. It also represents a "Well Rounded" career. To some Chinese, the Navel variety is the only orange used during the holiday, because it is something that is easily peeled, and can be separated by hand, compared to the Seeded Juice Orange that needs to be cut with a knife. It is believed that cutting into a juice orange brings "Bad Luck", because it represents the "Severing of Relationships''.

Miniature Kumquat trees are also given out as gifts, and displayed in the home because the word kumquat means "Golden Orange" in many Chinese languages.

Some of the important vegetables used during Chinese New Year's include Green Onions. In Cantonese, the word for green onion is "Chung Ming", meaning "Brilliance" and "Intelligence". Also, the extra length of Green Onions with the Roots attached represents a "Long Life''. The Chinese Broccoli, Gai Lan, is also very popular because it signifies "Youth and Wealth".

All varieties of Leaf Lettuces are important for many, because it represents "Growing Wealth" . The Cantonese word for lettuce is "Song Choy". Song means "To Grow and Live", and Choy means both the words vegetable and wealth.


THE VIETNAMESE "PRAYER" PRESENTATION

The Vietnamese celebrate the Chinese New Year as well. They also enjoy eating some of the same fruits and vegetables as the Chinese, such as Gai Lan, Pomellos and Mandarins. However, these perishable items don't have the same meanings behind them as the Chinese customs do. But the Vietnamese do have unique traditions of their own--strongly emphasising Four Key Fresh Fruits in their "Prayer Presentation" to Buddha.

The four fruits must be presented and laid out togeher in this particular order: Cherimoya, Papaya, Young Coconut and Mango.

The word for Cherimoya in Vietnamese means "To wish for", or "To Pray for". The word Papaya and Young Coconut together means "Just enough to meet my needs". And the word for Mango means "To spend", particularly on something "Extra".

When all put together in a prayer presentation, they are saying to Buddha "I wish or pray for just enough to meet my needs. And if I am fortunate to have a little bit more, please allow me to SPEND it on something "extra" than just the essential needs in my life". This is done in a very humble, and respectful way.

Dried figs are important for the New Year, beacause it represents "Family Togetherness". Watermelon is also a key fruit. Vietnamese tradition says that the Redder the First cut Watermelon of the season, the more "Prosperous" one will be for the Remainder of the New Year.

And the Pineapple is part of Vietnamese tradition as well. It is believed that the aroma from Fresh Pineapple will bring good luck into the home, and to all those in the home as well.

"FRESH from THE MARKET"....

Greg McDonald
The Produce Guy
theproduceguy@yahoo.com

* Logo by Melanee Cooper


Special thanks to all those who were kind enough to share their culture with me!

Also to "BellyFull", The San Jose Mercury News Food Section's Website for mentioning and highlighting this Post! (2-07-08)
WWW.mercextra.com/blogs/food/2008/02/07/fruit/fruit-and-veggies-to-bring-you-good-fortune-and-long-life/

The Concorde Pear

One of the Newer Variety Pears to arrive to the market are the Concorde Pears. These are coming out of the states of Oregon and Washington. Up until this season, they have mainly been available at the local Farmer's Markets, and High-End Specialty Grocers in the Oregon and Washington State areas only. This was because there was very little production of the pear. But this year, for the very first time, there is a large bounty of the Concorde, and it's finding its way to Grocery Stores across America.

These are Firm, Sweet, and Full of Juice. Growers describe the taste as "Earthy, with a hint of Vanilla". It's Truly a unique Pear. The Concorde is a cross between a Bosc pear, which is perfect for cooking, and a European Comice variety, which is a Delicious and Delicately Sweet eating Pear. So now you get the Best of Both Worlds. A pear that will hold up to cooking, and a fabulous eating out-of -hand pear. And to top it off, the Concorde has slower oxidation qualities, which means it browns much slower once cut than the other varieties. A perfect addition to fruit salads!

The Concorde Pear has an elongated neck like the Bosc. It's green to slightly bronze in color. It doesn't have a color change when ripe. Remember, pears ripen from the in-side-out. That means if you wait until the "Belly" of the pear is soft, it will be over ripe and mushy in the inside. To properly check for ripeness, gently feel the top of the Pear for
softness--Then you'll know that it's ripe.




That's what's
"Fresh from the Market''
this week.

The Produce Guy

theproduceguy@yahoo.com

(photos courtesy of USA Pears)

http://www.usapears.com/