The Specialties Report – French beans, Baby red beets, Chives, Basil, hammi melons
The Specialties Report Produce News You Can Use – Dec. 14 to Dec. 19
Specialty Veggies- French beans and yellow wax are still fairly expensive. Red Grape and Yellow Grape tomatoes are a good choice in for flavor and color on the plate right now, abundant supplies are making for steady pricing. Baby red beets and baby turnips are a good deal right now, they are at the peak of their season right now as far as quality and flavor.
Seasonal Items- Herbs are coming in from warmer climates farther away and their seasonal characteristics are coming into play with the markets. Chives are naturally dormant at this time of year in our area and they have become very limited in recent weeks. We are working hard to source them for you but they are becoming very expensive and the quality is in jeopardy due to the long distances they are traveling. Basil naturally needs hot weather to thrive so you can understand the difficulty in producing this herb when cold and wet weather threatens its ability to grow. Be aware that prices and vailability go on a roller coaster ride at this time of year. Fuyu Persimmons are winding down, we still have some nice organic Fuyus available. Orange Honeydews are pretty much the only mixed melon with reliable availability. We are saying goodbye to yellow watermelons, Tuscan melons and hammi melons. Jazz Apples are a special treat along with some cool pears like Yali and Forelles, a great way to spice up your flavors and menu descriptions with seasonal fare.
Local- Connelly Gardens produces our micro rainbow mix, if you are not using micro greens yet you might want to consider this garnish option. It is an array of tiny sprouts of some of the best looking and tasting herbs and vegetables you would use in a variety of dishes. Red amaranth, opal basil, red kohlrabi, mizuna, arugula, basil, red kale and more are found in the mix.
Tags: Produce Reports
