Posted by & filed under Health Benefits, local, organic, Organic Lifestyle, organic produce, Wellness.


Photo by Christine Siracusa on Unsplash

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 woody thick at the end (2). The younger asparagus shoots are most commonly eaten. Once the buds start to open, the shoots turn woody. Stem thickness is an indicator of how old the plant is. The thicker the stem, the older the plant (1).

Asparagus originated in maritime habitats with temperate climates. It thrives in sandy soils too saline for normal weeds to grow. Traditionally a little salt was used to suppress weeds in beds intended for planting (1).

Throughout the world China is the largest producer, followed by Peru and Mexico. US production is mainly concentrated in the states California, Michigan, and Washington (1).

Sign up for a box and get this superb veggie delivered to your doorstep.

Provides plenty of Nutrition

Asparagus has more health benefits than most people may think. The list of positive attributes is long. Eating this spring vegetable provides a good quantity of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. It’s also a very good source of dietary fiber, protein, beta-carotene, vitamin C, E, K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, folic Acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese, selenium, and chromium (1).

The trace mineral chromium regulates the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the blood stream into the cells (1).

Asparagus contains more glutathione than any other fruit or vegetable. This antioxidant plays an important role in the prevention of certain cancers and diseases, regulating DNA and protein synthesis (2).

Focus on the culinary

Asparagus has a mild grassy and sweet flavor. All spears should be snapped at their natural breaking or bending point. Discard the lower parts as they are too fibrous and woody to eat (2). Another method is peeling the skin at the base removing the tough layer. Peeled asparagus poaches fairly quickly (1). The bottom portion of asparagus often contains sand and soil. Thorough cleaning is generally advised before cooking (1). We suggest a variety of cooking methods. It can be sauteed, steamed, boiled, baked and fried.

There is a vast array of items that asparagus pairs with. Try it with spring ingredients such as morel mushrooms, green garlic, wild ramps, fennel, leeks, young lettuces and citrus. Asparagus is delicious when added to yeasty breads, like sourdough and wheat, and grains such as arborio rice, quinoa and farro (2).

Check out these amazing Asparagus Recipes!

History Lesson; pass the asparagus

Asparagus has a long history. Native to most of Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia (2). It’s celebrated in ancient festivals. A recipe is given in one of the oldest surviving collections, Apicius’s third century BC “De re coquinaria,” Book III. It is pictured as an offering on an Egyptian frieze dating to 3,000 BC. They cultivated and ate it for numerous medicinal properties. Greeks and Romans ate it fresh when in season, and dried the vegetable for use in winter (1).

Suggested storage method

The best way to enjoy it is while fresh. Asparagus has a shelf life of five to seven business days uncooked in the refrigerator. For longer storage there are other methods. It can be cooked or blanched and frozen for six to eight months (2). For even longer storage try pickling. Under the correct conditions it can last for years (1).

Coastal View Produce

Coastal View Produce has been growing asparagus for over thirty five years. They own and operate 170 acres in Gonzales, between Santa Lucia and Gabilan mountain ranges in the heart of Salinas Valley. The Mediterranean climate and fertile soil make it an ideal growing region. The weather is never too hot or too cold, staying around 65 to 75 degrees (3).

Farmer Brian Violini, who runs CVP with his brother, sums up their family’s farming history fairly succinctly (3).

“We’ve had this farm for three generations. My grandfather came over from Switzerland. He started with a dairy, then moved into farming. My dad and uncle ran the farm after him, and now it’s me and my brother. Farming, it’s all we know (3).”

Find out about the many organic farms we source from at our farm page.

Sources:

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asparagus

(2) https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Green_Asparagus_422.php

(3) https://www.goodeggs.com/coastalviewproduce

Posted by & filed under fruit, Health Benefits, local, organic, Organic Lifestyle, organic produce, organic produce delivery, Wellness.


Photo by Alice Pasqual on Unsplash

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 oil glands found across the surface. The white pith has a spongy texture upon easily pealing. The pale yellow flesh is juicy, tender, and seedless (1).

Navel oranges are aromatic, sweet, and contain a low-acidity which produces a balanced level of sweet, tangy, and tart flavors (1).

Are you already a fan? Interested in trying this delicious fruit and much more. Sign up and receive exceptional fruits and veggies delivered to your doorstep.

Provides Plenty of Nutrition: True

This “navel” orange has an abundance of beneficial qualities. It is an excellent source of Vitamin C, Dietary fiber, Thiamine and good source of Potassium, Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene, and Calcium (1). There are numerous sources on the web to obtain nutritional info. We suggest this website if you would like to learn more.

Culinary Speaking

Navels are best suited for both raw and cooked applications. The segments can be tossed into green salads, smoothies, garnished over cooked meats, or served over the morning grain bowls and yogurt (1).

The rind can be used to flavor baked goods such as cakes, crumbles, and pies. Zest to your hearts content. Flavor salts, sugars, syrups, curds, and dough (1).

We fully suggest roasting segments to create a sweet layer of caramelization (1). It’s simple and fancy. Serve as a dessert item by itself or garnish on top of ice cream, or ice cream alternative. To go the step further, roast some bananas too. Place both on top of your favorite brand of coconut ice cream. This recipe may help you get started.

This citrus may not be the best to juice for later. To obtain the optimal flavor it is recommended to drink soon after juicing. It contains an antioxidant know as Limonin which causes the juice to turn bitter or sour after about 30 minutes exposure to air (1).

The list of pairing potential is vast; Strawberries, bananas, coconut, pomegranate, honey, Greek yogurt, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, sesame seeds, cucumbers, snap peas, cabbage, cilantro, red bell pepper, and quinoa (1).

History Lesson

Navel oranges are native to Brazil. Seedlings were brought to Florida in the 1830s, and California in the early 1870s. In 1875 the orange tree began producing its fruit in the United States (1).

Check out these delicious orange recipes!

Storage Methods

Properly storing oranges helps keep it fresher longer. Plus eating it at the height of potential is quite enjoyable. Navels will keep up to a week at room temp and up to two week when stored in the refrigerator (1).

Rainbow Valley Orchards

There are numerous citrus suppliers in California. Rainbow Valley Orchards provides a consistent quality product to savor. Located in Rainbow, Ca.

“Since 1981, we have been directly involved with the promotion and development of organically grown citrus, avocados and sub-tropical fruits grown in Southern California.  It is with the belief that it is our responsibility to be respectful stewards of our created earth. We work and manage a company of dedicated people that lend support to the overall development of organic, sustainable agriculture and viable, responsible methods of recycling and usage of our cherished resources (2).”

Sources:

(1) https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/navel_oranges_8521.php

(2) https://rainbowvalleyorchards.com/

Posted by & filed under Health Benefits, Mushrooms, organic, organic produce, organic produce delivery.


Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash

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 dark gray, brown, tan, pink, to yellow. Their curled edges become wavy lobed with maturity. White gills extend from beneath their caps, and the flesh is white, meaty, and firm. Oyster mushrooms are known for their chewy texture along with a mild and nutty flavor. Oyster mushrooms are super nutritious and healthy too. They contain Vitamin B6, D, Fiber, Potassium, and Folate. They also contain Ergothioneine, which can help decrease inflammation in the body (1).

Cooking applications such as frying, stir-fry, and braising are best for Oyster mushrooms. They pair well with onions, shallots, green onions, garlic, ginger, potatoes, thyme, parsley, peas, green beans, eggplant, sherry, soy sauce, tofu, scallops, poultry, lemon, and spaghetti (1). So pretty much everything!

For freshness they can be stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator for a short period of time.

Haven’t tried these before? Long time fan? We can help you with both. Sign up here to get fresh, local, Oyster mushrooms in an organic produce delivery from Golden Gate Organics.

Inspirational Local Organic Mushroom Farmers

Far West Fungi started in 1982 as a mail order supply company.  Today the farm is a 60,000 square foot growing facility strategically located in the heart of Monterey Bay at Moss Landing.  A steady ocean breeze and northern coastal fog makes it ideal for a consistent temperature throughout the year and a perfect location to grow mushrooms (2). 

Their goal is to provide a year-round supply of high quality, organic mushrooms (Shiitake, Tree Oyster, Lions Mane, Maitake, and King Oyster) throughout the local San Francisco Bay Area (2).  “Our family’s mission is to consistently produce quality mushrooms and provide customer service with a high level of commitment and dedication.  Skilled care and attention are given to our mushrooms when growing, harvesting, grading and packing for freshness.  The farm uses a balance of modern and traditional growing techniques in order to maintain high quality mushrooms while ensuring minimal impact on the environment.” 

Sumano’s Organic Mushrooms is in San Juan Bautista, San Benito County.  Certified Organic since 2008.  Ray Sumano purchased the mushroom farm in 2017 (3).  “In Sumano’s Organic Mushrooms Farm our commitment is to provide high quality great tasting mushrooms at a fair price.  In our farm we grow shiitake, lion mane, and various kinds of oyster mushrooms organically all year round (4).”

“We’re looking to expand our mushroom operations.  We’ve got 10 acres of greenhouses that we currently grown on, but only use about 25% of available capacity (3).”

“People want a local, organically grown product and we’re delighted to be able to supply them with these tasty mushrooms (3).”

Ken Kimes and Sandra Ward of New Natives are part owners in the mushroom operation.  They sell the tasty mushrooms with their sprouts at Monterey County farmers markets (3). 

Learn about other California Organic Farms on our Farm page.

Sources:

(1) https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/oyster_mushrooms_703.php

(2) https://hotcfarmersmarket.org/farwestfungi

(3) https://www.montereybayfarmers.org/markets-hours/aptos-farmers-market/aptos-vendors/sumanos-mushrooms

(4) https://sumanosorganicmushrooms.com/

Posted by & filed under Education, organic produce, organic produce delivery, tips & tricks.

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 mushrooms and other fruits of the forest to consumers and chefs, in 1995.

Today, Mycological has expanded its product offerings to include dried chiles and additional wild and organically grown specialty food ingredients.

Get spicy local organic peppers in an organic produce delivery from Golden Gate Organics.

“Our cultivated products, including organically farmed mushrooms and chiles, come from small, certified organic farms in the verdant Willamette Valley (where we are located), and other regions. We work with dozens of small farmers to source the highest quality products and are excited to play a role in supporting the growth of sustainable organic farming practices.”
Terra Dolce 1.25oz package of organic dried Anaheim chile peppers.  With a Scoville heat unit range of 500 – 1,500.  The Anaheim chile is one of the mildest dried chile peppers.  Also known as the California Chile, it is just a bit hotter than the bell pepper.  The vibrant red sauce made from this flavorful chile is traditional on enchiladas, huevos rancheros, tamales, and chilaquiles. 

Terra Dolce Organic Dried New Mexico Chile Peppers 1.25oz package.  Scoville heat unit range of 500 to 2,500.  The New Mexico Chile is wildly popular in the state of New Mexico, and has become the defining ingredient in the regional cuisine.  This Chile has mild heat intensity and makes a flavorful base for many types of red chile sauces.

Terra Dolce organic chipotle dried chile peppers 2oz package.  Has Scoville heat units between 25,000 to 35,000.  The Chipotle chile pepper is a dried, smoked Jalapeno with medium heat intensity.  It is a key ingredient in traditional Mexican cuisine and adds a smoky, rich fruity flavor to dishes such as salsas, chile, beans and rice, and barbeque sauce.  Source:  USA 

Get spicy local organic peppers in an organic produce delivery from Golden Gate Organics.

Terra Dolce .75 package of organic dried Bird’s Eye chile peppers.  With a scoville heat unit range of 100,000 – 175,000.  The African Bird’s Eye Chile, also known as the Piri Piri Chile, is a spicy, earthy chile that combines well with citrus and acid flavors.  Steep in vinegar for an easy condiment, add to marinades for meat, chicken, or shrimp, or use to make Portuguese piri piri sauce.  Source:  India

To prepare Bird’s Eye Chiles, remove and discard stems if present. Chiles may be crushed, chopped, or simply used whole.  During preparation chile oils will cling to fingers;  WEAR GLOVES or WASH HANDS thoroughly before touching sensitive areas such as eyes. 

You can find these deliciously spicy peppers in an organic produce delivery from Golden Gate Organics. Click to see if you are in their delivery area.

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

The Ketogenic diet has been one of the most popular diets in America for years now.1 The promise of cutting carbs and sugars to enter the magical state of ketosis seamed by many the solution to finally cutting unwanted pounds and living a healthy lifestyle. But after several years of unsuccessful results people are rightfully wondering why the keto diet hasn’t worked for them. Below are 8 common reasons why the Keto diet isn’t working for you.

Real Ketosis Is (Almost) Impossible

Even under the guidance of a trained doctor or certified nutritionist actual Ketosis is almost impossible to achieve, let alone maintain.2 This is the big reason you aren’t seeing any results from the diet. The odds are stacked against anyone on the diet. This shouldn’t be a surprise. All the literature on the Keto diet even says that it is challenging to reach ketosis. Remember: ketosis is the physiological process from which the body gets all of its energy from converting fat into energy. And along the way you get so tired and lethargic because you are so low on energy! So now you are on a diet that makes you feel tired and maybe even gives you migraines (which is very common, more on that later). Then shortly after starting the diet you do lose a few pounds, because you cut out carbs like sugar, but then you just get tired and stop losing weight. Because it’s almost impossible to reach Ketosis.

Then, if you did briefly achieve ketosis, which is very unlikely, you end up with horrible bad breath. Which is the next reason the keto diet isn’t working for you.

You’re Addicted To Sugar

Most people don’t realize they are addicted to sugars. Some studies even show that sugar is as addictive as cocaine.3 Then when they go on the Keto diet they get horrible sugar withdrawal side-effects like irritability, headaches, sugar cravings, and more. You may think it is ok to sneak a sugary snack here and there but when you do you are resetting the Ketosis process. This makes you experience the other reasons below all over again in a dieting death spiral that only leads you away from true wellness.

You Aren’t Tracking What You Eat

Do you know how many grams of animal protein and vegetable protein you consumed yesterday? Do you know how many calories you consumed yesterday? How about how many grams of fat? Do you know how many calories you burned yesterday? Do you know what your daily recommended calorie intake is? If you don’t know the answer to all of these questions then there is no way to know if your keto diet is even working for you. But you can learn how to track your eating habits easily.4 Unless you have a daily plan for all of those numbers then you really have no guide to reaching ketosis. You might get close to ketosis but remember: close only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades. If you are only cutting carbs and sugars out of your diet then you are only half the way to reaching ketosis. Heck maybe you are more than halfway to it. How can you know if you aren’t tracking what you eat and your caloric intake? Get started on your successful keto diet today!

You Haven’t Created a Meal Plan

Most people think that as long as they cut out carbs and sugar then they will lose weight with the Keto diet. Sadly, this isn’t how the diet works. If you don’t have a meal plan for what to eat each day based around your daily recommended caloric intake goal, then you may be over-eating every day. And no matter what diet you are on, if you are consuming more calories than you are taking in then, well, that is what weight gain is. If you want to lose weight on ANY diet, even the Keto diet, then all you need to do is consume less calories than you burn each day. The keto diet just has the added benefit of burning fat faster if you carefully follow your daily eating plan. So, if you don’t have a daily goal for your calorie usage and a plan to reach that goal then reaching ketosis will simply be luck. Hopefully you are luckier than me! But, if your not then its easy to create a meal plan to support your goals.5

You Feel Tired All The Time

One of the big reasons why the Keto diet doesn’t work for you is that you just feel so tired all the time.6 This is also why many people hate diets in general. When you eat mostly meat, cheese, and a few veggies your body is spending most of its energy on digesting those heavy foods. Imagine Thanksgiving dinner even without the carbs. It will still put you in a food coma because all of the blood in your system is in your digestive organs! When this happens there is no energy left over for you to feel energetic. There is also no energy leftover for your brain to work optimally. So while your stomach is digesting heavy complex proteins and storing all the animal and dairy fats you just ate with your meal, your body is also trying to burn the fat it has already stored. So your system is trying to store fat and burn fat at the same time just to stay even. The result is no leftover energy to make you feel great and energized. Indeed, this constant cycle of bad eating, based around eating (mostly) meat7 and cheese,8 is THE reason you are so tired all the time. Feeling like this makes people wonder why the Keto diet isn’t working for them. It makes you wonder why you still aren’t losing weight. It’s because you don’t have the right proportions of healthy food in your diet. Only a doctor or certified nutritionist knows how to do this right. And everyone’s keto diet needs to be customized. What works for someone else on the keto diet probably won’t work for you. It’s not a one size fits all diet. Get organic and keto-friendly produce delivered to your doorstep!

You Are Still Overweight

How is it that you’ve been on the keto diet for months or even a year and you still aren’t as healthy as you want to be? The most common reason for this is because you are still consuming more calories than you are burning each day. This goes back to your health and diet plan.9 You need to find your daily caloric baseline. That is the amount of calories your body will burn even if you do nothing all day. Is your heart beating? Of course it is! Every time your heart beats you burn 3 calories. Every time you sit up, walk, talk, etc, you burn calories. All bodily movements require energy. Heck even your brain is using energy as you think. Energy that is counted in calories. Whether you are on the keto diet or no diet, you have to track your daily calories burned and consumed if you want to gain or lose weight. If you are only cutting carbs and sugars out of your diet then that is only one aspect of the keto diet. That’s not how its done successfully. 

You Get Horrible Migraines

One of the biggest complaints about the Keto diet are migraines. These are most common in people who don’t eat enough vegetables and fruits.10 If you are eating mostly meat and dairy (both of which have many health benefits) but you are hardly eating fruits and veggies, then you are not getting all the nutrients your body needs to work optimally. When I found out before that nitrates could cause migraines I eliminated the nitrates from my diet. And then my migraine stopped happening too. Nitrates are most commonly added to meats as a preservative. Remember, if you are getting migraines then there may be something wrong with your diet. This is especially true on the Keto diet, Atkins diet, and other meat centric diets. It makes me wonder if vegans get migraines. Get your keto-friendly produce delivered for free!

Your Brain Feels Foggy

Your brain has evolved over millions of years to efficiently burn carbs for energy. When you cut carbs out of your diet you get the dreaded “Keto fog” that happens until you reach ketosis. 11 And remember, it is extremely difficult to reach ketosis even with a customized nutrition plan under the best of circumstances. Because of this most people on the Keto diet feel like zombies without the energy their brain (and bodies) need to feel invigorated and energetic. When you eat a treat like a banana or doughnut and feel a great rush of energy to your body afterwards, you quickly burn through that energy and are back to feeling tired, foggy, and perhaps even guilty. That’s not fair to anyone.

You’re Eating The Wrong Foods

I’ve met tons of Keto dieters who are overweight, unhealthy, suffer from migraines & low energy, and still think the Keto diet is working for them. Well, it’s not working for them. In some cases they are in worse health than they were before. Not always, but often. And when I start talking with them it becomes obvious that they are eating too much of the wrong foods and not enough of the good foods.12 This is in addition to not tracking their calorie and eating goals. Regardless, it is extremely important to any successful healthy diet that you eat mostly fruits and vegetables. Even if you’ve committed to giving up fruit and tomatoes for the Keto diet that is ok. But you need to plan your meals around veggies as the main course to ensure your body gets all the natural life giving nutrients every human needs to feel well and optimal. If someone is eating mostly meat and cheese then it will be impossible for them to feel their best. They just won’t be getting everything they need. Let us help you achieve your keto goals with optimal nutrition!

What You Can Do

The best thing you can do to get the full benefits of the Keto (or any diet) is to talk to your doctor and ask for a referral to a nutritionist.13 It is often covered under your insurance too! Together you will determine your daily calorie intake and set a goal. Then they will give you recommendations on healthy well-rounded meals for you to use as inspiration to create your own meals to meet your nutritional needs. The easiest way to do this is with an organic produce delivery service like Golden Gate Organics in the Bay Area. Every one of their veggie boxes is Keto friendly. You can even sub out the non-keto items for more of the veggies you love to cook with. Additionally, all of our produce boxes have the added benefit of being organic. This means no toxic pesticides, insecticides, or fertilizers all of which can cause long-term health issues like migraines. Don’t wait, use the coupon code KETO to save 15% off your first 4 boxes of keto friendly produce deliveries from Golden Gate Organics.

Corey Tufts is the Founder and CEO of Golden Gate Organics, a wellness services business in the Bay Area, California. When he isn’t spending time with his lovely wife and two amazing boys you can find him meditating, writing, riding his motorcycle, Jeeping, and occasionally substitute teaching at elementary schools. Corey is passionate about wellness, harmony, self-improvement, and enlightening others to truth.

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Dear Golden Gate Organics Family, 

The safety and wellbeing of our customers is our utmost priority. We wanted to let you know that we are taking the developments of the Coronavirus very seriously, and as further precautions, have added the following measures to our regular safety standards for handling food and best management practices to ensure the safest produce possible. Please also refer to the CDC website regarding Coronavirus best practices.

1. Employees will continue to wear gloves while hand selecting your produce and packing your boxes.

2. Employees are required to wear protective face masks while on premises.

3. All surfaces are triple cleaned daily with disinfectant.

4. We have instituted a 6ft personal space requirement for all employees.

5. Produce is generally packed at the farms and is not handled until it reaches our facility. 

6. Effective this week, we are no longer picking up old produce boxes to recycle them at our facilities, to further ensure the utmost safety of your organic produce delivery. Until further notice we are asking all customers to please recycle all used produce boxes at home.

We recommend you take the following precautionary actions regarding your produce deliveries:

1. Dispose of all used boxes in the appropriate recycling container.

2. Rinse your produce immediately after receiving. Dry it. Then place it into the refrigerator. Don’t take it out until the day you are going to eat it. (Of course this will ensure freshness too!)

3. Rinse your produce thoroughly before cooking or eating. 

In addition to freshness and highest quality, we believe that produce from a local organic farm is the safest food we can consume. And we here at Golden Gate Organics are doing everything that it stays that way. Thank you for being a Golden Gate Organics customer. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us. We appreciate your support of local organic farms, now, and always.  We will get through this together. 

With Care,

Corey Tufts, Founder
@coreytufts

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Organic Gold Nugget mandarins from Homegrown Organic Farms

Every week Golden Gate Organics works with the most local organic farms available to source their best breaking fruits and veggies ready for harvest. We then curate a weekly seasonal selection of the best organic fruits and vegetables available for our mindful customers. This is our report about this week’s seasonal local produce availability to our residential and business customers in the Bay Area for the week of March 16-20 2020.

Organic Fruit Report

I’ve noticed a trend for smaller organic fruits recently. I think this may be due to the lack of rain all around California. However, the fruits we have been receiving taste as great as ever. For example, the Tango Mandarins from Homegrown Organic Farms this week are super sweet and easy to peel. They have that premier mandarin taste that just makes you close your eyes and smile when you take a bite. So juicy.

Organic Fruit TIP: Keep your fruit in the fridge and don’t take it out until the morning of the day you want to eat it. This will keep it super fresh and flavorful. You always want to eat your fruit and veggies when they are at room temperature so plan accordingly. Golden Gate Organics produce is always refrigerated which is just one of the reasons it is always so fresh. Always feel free to contact us for tips and tricks on storage, handling, preparation, and recipes. It’s what we love to do.

Other premium fruits this week are the Honey Crisp apples from Cascade in Washington, Hass avocados from Eco Farms in the San Diego Hills, Blueberries from Forbidden fruit orchards, and Cara Cara oranges grown near Fresno.

Office Fruit Boxes

The office fruit boxes this week are the best ones we’ve had in a long time, in my opinion. Fair Trade Bananas from Equal Exchange, Honey Crisp Apples, Cara Cara oranges, and some freshly harvested Bartlett Pears just arrived from Argentina. These are the highest quality fruits right now and the cornerstone of a premier health and wellness program for your employees and staff. Check out this link to learn some benefits of having fresh organic fruit delivered to your office.

Interested in learning about organic fruit deliveries as the cornerstone to your businesses health and wellness program? Contact us here!

Organic Veggie Report

The selection of vegetables right now is pretty nice. The bunched broccoli from Josie’s Organics in Watsonville is beautiful. Add some to a salad or design a beautiful dinner around it. The purple fair trade brussels sprouts from Covili organics were a huge hit last week. Supply is very limited this week though. Local Tomatero Celery is as good as it gets. Share some with a friend or family member and watch them be amazed at just how flavorful celery can be. Fresh garlic is available this week in 3oz retail packs from Christopher Ranch. They usually have 3 big bulbs in them. Local asparagus from Coastal View Produce is abundant right now. Not sure prices will be much lower this year. We have the standard size which is not too thick and not too thin. Let us know which you prefer!

Be well and thank you for helping Golden Gate Organics support local organic farms. Follow us on Instagram!

With Organic Love,

Corey & The amazing GGO Team

Posted by & filed under Recipes.

There is nothing more comforting than a warm homemade meal on a cold night. This warm salad, using fresh, seasonal winter veggies and citrus fruit, will delight your senses and taste buds. And give you a healthy boost of vitamin C!

Created with care by Twists and Zests

warm beet and parsnip salad, cara cara oranges, recipe, healthy food, seasonal dish

Serves 2-3 as a side, or 1-2 as a light main

Ingredients

1 lg/225g parsnip

1 lg/300g beet

2 tbs/30ml olive oil, divided

½ tsp/3g sea salt, divided

½ tsp/1g ground cinnamon

½ tsp/1g ground pepper

2 tsp/4g lemon zest

½ tsp/1g ground coriander

1 lg/250g Cara Cara or blood orange

¼ c/30g sliced almonds, toasted

Dressing

1 tbs/15ml pomegranate molasses

1 tsp/5ml Dijon mustard

1 tbs/15ml olive oil

1 tsp/5ml balsamic vinegar

¼ tsp ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with a non-stick mat, parchment paper, or aluminum.

Peel and slice parsnips and beets into ¾” square by 2-3” long slices. 

Season parsnips: In a small bowl, toss sliced parsnips with 1 tbs/15ml olive oil, ¼ tsp salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Spread seasoned parsnips on ½ of baking sheet.

Season beets: In the small bowl (reused to save dishes), toss sliced beets with remaining olive oil and salt, lemon zest, and coriander. Spread on other half of baking sheet.

Bake root vegetables for 17-20 minutes until just softened enough to be pierced by a fork.

While parsnips and beets are baking, peel orange and slice horizontally into ¼” circles. Cut circles in semi circles.

Make dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients and whisk until smooth. Set aside.

Once out of the oven, allow beets and parsnips to cool for about 5 minutes. Once slightly cool, toss cooked beets, parsnips, orange semi circles, and toasted almonds with dressing. Serve immediately.

beets and parsnips
cara cara oranges

Get seasonal, organic fruits and veggies delivered to your home or office with Golden Gate Organics. Sign up here!

Posted by & filed under Healthy Business, Organic Lifestyle, Wellness.

Here at Golden Gate Organics we make wellness a priority; for our customers, for ourselves, for the planet and even for our pets! Here are several of our favorite blogs on how to be your best self and how to create an environment of wellness in every area of your life.

It’s all About the Gut

Have you been hearing a lot about gut health and how it affects your entire body? The food you eat can have a huge impact, not only on your physical health but also your mental health. Here is how to Boost your Mood with Food and also the Benefits of Mindful Eating.

Sweet, Sweet, Sleep

Adequate, quality sleep is one of the best things you can do for your mood, your immune system and your overall quality of life. Check out these Natural Ways to Sleep Better.

Why not Wellness at Work?

Corporate wellness has come into focus recently and it makes sense. Healthy employees benefit their companies by having less sick days, being happier and also being more productive. Here is why we think a wellness fair or a corporate farmers market is a great next step to take for your corporate wellness program and how we can help!

The Earth Supports us All

Our environment supports the food we eat, the air we breathe and life itself! The food you choose, and even the coffee you drink!, can help the health of our planet as well. Here are The Health and Environmental Benefits of Organic Coffee.

It’s Time to Move it, Move it

Eating well is only one part of the equation. You also have to move! Now this doesn’t mean that you immediately have to go out and join a pricey gym, though. Here are some No Gym Methods on How to Get in Peak Shape. from our friends at Groom and Style.

We want to partner with you to further your wellness goals. Do you want to eat healthier? Cook more at home? Bring wellness to your office? We can help! Get in touch with us here.

Posted by & filed under Organic Lifestyle, Recipes.

The holiday season is upon us and with it, tons of delicious food. If you are vegetarian or just trying to add more plants into your holiday feast rotation, try one of these incredible vegetarian friendly, plant-based recipes from our friends at Twists and Zests!

This Mixed Green Spread is a great way to use up leftovers to create a yummy dip with veggies or potatoes wedges and can also be used as a pizza topping!

Have you seen that funny looking broccoli in the store recently? Well it’s called Romanesco, and it is delicious! Try it in this Romanesco and White Bean Pasta dish, it will satisfy even your meat-eating friends.

For a gorgeous pop of color that will brighten any holiday table, try this Watermelon Radish and Pomelo salad.

Cheers to a happy and healthy holiday season!