Subscribe to Our Blog FeedAre strawberries a berry? The strawberry is not, from a botanical point of view, a berry. Technically, it is an aggregate accessory fruit, meaning that the fleshy part is derived not from the plants ovaries but from the receptacle that holds the ovaries. Each apparent “seed” on the outside of the fruit is actually one… Read more »
Posts Categorized: organic produce
Asparagus; A Perennial Flowering Plant.
Give Us the Details, Please Asparagus, otherwise known as the folk name Sparrow Grass (1). This deep pistachio green stalk is a perennial flowering plant species in the genus asparagus (2). “Crowns” are planted in winter, and the first shoots appear in spring ready to harvest and enjoy (1). Tender at the tip and slightly… Read more »
Navel Oranges; A Balanced Level of Sweet, Tangy, and Tart
Give us the details please This marvelous citrus is available winter through spring. It’s medium to large sized. The shape is slightly oval with a “navel” or circular hole on the blossom stem end (1). The medium thick rind matures from green to bright orange and is smooth with a pebbled texture due to many… Read more »
Oyster Mushrooms: Versatile, Healthy, Delicious!
Oyster mushrooms have grown wild since ancient times in places like Europe, North America, and Asia. It wasn’t until the 1940’s when they were first commercially cultivated. Today Oyster Mushrooms are available all year-round, with a peak season in the late summer through fall (1). Their caps are broad and fan-like, ranging in color from… Read more »
Terra Dolce Peppers and the Scoville Pepper Scale
Growing up playing and foraging in the woods of rural Michigan, founder Owen Rice acquired a taste for morels as a child. This passion for the distinctive flavors of locally available wild and specialty foods followed him to the mountains of Oregon, where he founded Mycological Natural Products, a company dedicated to bringing gourmet edible… Read more »
What is a Sunchoke?
I remember the first time I tasted a Sunchoke, and I was amazed that I had never heard of this fabulous food before. Nutritious and tasty, these tantalizing tubers are known by many names: Jerusalem artichoke, sunroot, earth apple, topinambour. Are you curious to learn more about these fascinating vegetables? Read on to find out just… Read more »
Bay Area Leeks: How to Eat Them and Why You Should
Northern California supports many different growing seasons at the same time due to a wide range of micro-climates. These micro-climates are created by ocean air interacting with the coastal hills and mountains. This environment lends itself to an abundance of local farms. In the Bay Area leeks are available year round, due to the mild winters…. Read more »
California Seasonal Winter Fruit Availability
This week was interesting for us all as we returned to the normalcy of post-Thanksgiving. Although for me, finding out today that we can get California blueberries and limes for next week doesn’t seem normal and I love it. Additionally, last week was the end of a bountiful and unseasonably long California Kiet mango season…. Read more »
Mother Earth’s Comforts Of Autumn
As the days shrink; the nights become longer, earlier. At sunset Mother Earth comforts us in her shadow and lulls us to sleep. The rays of light from our closest star, the sun, now approach the axis of our planet at a steeper angle. We people feel this imperceptible effect on our circadian rhythm as… Read more »
Why Organic Foods Is Making Mars Look to Tcho and Artisanal Culinary Craft
Can candy be organic? It most definitely can! Golden Gate Organics certifies that with the changing pace of sustainability, farm to table dynamics, and an emphasis on whole organic foods. This is a trend reaching just about every aspect of culinary delight. Including chocolate, and particularly in the Bay Area. How so? Try the nationally-known Mars…. Read more »
