My trail above the Lake Chabot.

What is an organic lifestyle? It could have completely different meanings from person to person. For me, an Organic Lifestyle is a choice. I choose to know what farms my food comes from. I make a choice to not ingest synthetic chemicals. I choose to support local farmers and keep my money in California. I choose to be as healthy as possible. I am choosing piece of mind and a longer, healthy, happier life. Organic Lifestyle is a choice. It’s your choice and it’s my choice. The next time someone asks you “Why do you eat organic?” ask them why they don’t? When they ask why organic food is more expensive, ask them why conventional food is so cheap. The most influential vote you can make is with where you spend your money and nobody wants to waste money.

While Wayne was working on this week’s menu we’re constantly analyzing the process and the choices of exactly what we will put in each box. Should we go with one giant peach or two smaller ones? Cantaloupe since they are the first we’ve seen this season or a head of lettuce since we don’t yet have any leafy greens? Many questions, tradeoffs, and choices to determine during the course of the menu creation.

How is our menu then? Overwhelmingly the feedback has been positive. However, our menu revolves around what is in season and changes week to week, month to month. Our menu revolves around You! Wayne and I want to know what you think each week. That is why he has created an extremely complex and confusing survey. It is a smiley face or a frowny face. We consistently try to create the BEST menu that is possible. A menu perfect for that time and place of existence, and we need your input to make it as perfect as possible. Thought the corn was less than spectacular or the best corn you have ever had? Let us know. Thought the oranges were to green? Let us know. Want us to create a box that is perfect for your juice diet? Let us know! This is a two=way relationship between all of you, and us, and right now it’s a pretty good relationship 🙂

This week we have our first California cucumbers of the season from ALBA Organics in Watsonville, CA. It is always exciting for us to get the first harvest of the season and to make that available for all of our customers. Also this week we have Calyx tomatoes from T&D Willey’s farm in Madera, CA. Now these tomatoes are expensive but I have high hopes and can’t wait to try them for myself.

Speaking of tomatoes, did you know the green pointy stem that sticks out of the top of the tomato and has the little green pointy leaves around it is called the Calyx? Wierd huh?

Site improvements this week include a new easy to use and much prettier on the eyes Marketplace. When you login it can be found just below your order on the home screen.

Another big upgrade, and one in which we are very excited to finally have completed, is our Farm Page. Now you can see info on all the farms we buy from, how many miles your food traveled, and their website info, if they have a website. I think this is just fantastic! The fruits and veggies for the week even show up on the farm page so you can easily see where your food is coming from. Simply Awesome.

If any of you are interested in receiving fresh organic fruit at your office please let me know. We have a few businesses that provide their employees with our fruits instead of donuts or junk food. We are happy to supply you what you need and we feel good to have a part in spreading healthiness around the bay!

REMINDER: Please leave your box out for our driver to pick-up. We reuse the good ones and recycle the not-good ones. Every little bit helps. 😉

Don’t forget that this weekend is SF Pride! A perfect time to show your support of human rights and do some unique people watching. Jen and I will be there on Sunday.

Thanks again to all of you. We hope you enjoy the menu and have a safe weekend!

Cheers,

Corey and Wayne

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY ON SUNDAY!!

What a beautiful week! The weather was HOT, records were broken around the Bay, and the summer solstice, also known as the longest day of the year, isn’t even until next Wednesday! Not a great thing considering the climate change crisis but great for a nice Saturday motorcycle ride with my girlfriend Jen through the back roads of Marin!

Jen and I at Point Reyes Station!

Please help by doing your part to cut emissions and conserve resources. Turn of lights and appliances that aren’t in use. Ride that bike to work, carpool, and wear those jeans two or three times before washing them! I would bet money that most of you are already doing those things anyway but we can always do a bit more to help the environment and our future generations by setting a good example for our friends, family, and community. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

I heard some good news come in this morning! LABELGMOs.org and other groups have successfully collected the more than 500,000 signatures required to get the chance for California voters to vote on whether genetically modified foods should be labeled or not. The secretary of state certified the measure this week for the November ballot! Please pass the word and encourage your friends and family to vote to pass the new law in the Fall. If it passes California will be the first state to require labeling of foods that contain genetically modified organisms, or GMO’s. Check out the full story on our Facebook feed here.

Also this week our buddy Kasper Koczab visited us from the East Bay Express to help us with what we have to do to be recognized in their yearly Best of the East Bay issue.

Getting a “Best Of” is quite an accomplishment and Wayne and I are working hard to get the word out to everyone to vote for Golden Gate Organics for Best New Business and also as a write in for Best Delivery Service. You can vote here. You are required to vote for 20 different ‘Best Of’ categories which at first seemed like a lot but after I voted I realized that there are quite a few businesses, bars, bartenders, coffee shops, barbers, Farmer’s Markets, parks, etc that I frequent on a regular basis and it was actually pretty easy. I was able to sensibly vote on many more than the minimum 20. So pretty please with organic cherries on top vote for us! It would mean so much for Wayne and I and GGO! We will not be able to do it without all our loyal and wonderful customers.

Tuesday- April 17th, 6:30pm – 9pm at Frog and Fiddle, Golden Gate Organics is partnering with Frey Vineyards, America’s oldest organic winery, and Soleil’s African Cuisine to bring you a night of wine tasting 7 entertainment.

Live music by Kim Kenny & the Otherlys. Tickets are $40, by reservation only. Call the Frog at 510-522-3764 to purchase, or you can purchase tickets as additional items with your order!

April 17th, at the Frog and Fiddle in Alameda

It’s mid-March, farmers and gardeners are readying their seeds for this summer’s growing season. Chilly rains have moved across the region preparing the ground for the reception of these baby plants into the soil. The days are getting longer and summer is just around the bend. This summer is already chalking up to be one of the best in years.

If you were ever thinking of starting your own garden then this is the time! All you need are some seeds from your local greenhouse and some potting soil. Start with a small flower pot and some herbs like Basil or go bigger and try tomatoes. Growing your own food can be fun. It gets you outside and is a great conversation starter when you have visitors over. Not to mention you get to eat it!!

Stay dry and eat healthily!

Corey

PARSNIP you glad to see me? We’re in prime time Parsnip season right now and this close relative of the “Carrot” is mild enough to chop up for a salad yet sturdy enough to be boiled, broiled, baked or stewed.

Back in the medieval days there were no such things as orange carrots, so Parsnips and Carrots were often used interchangeably. Don’t worry, we are still getting a small quantity of carrots that are available for sub & purchase! Grab a bunch and you can do your own taste test, side by side with the Parsnip.

FACEBOOK – Just to let you know, we really like to use Facebook to get info out to everyone, so if you haven’t yet, head on over to our facebook page (http://facebook.com/GoldenGateOrganics) and hit that little “like” button. We don’t spam, sometimes write haiku’s or share recipes, but the coolest thing is we’re able to let you know:

• when our drivers hit the road with your box

• the weekly produce report! This is so cool, if there are any last minute changes to the menu or your box, you can find out the why and what.

• when we might have a bit of something extra, sometimes we’ll just ask if anyone wants a free bonus item!

NEW YEAR DEAL! – OK, we’re not going crazy (maybe a little?), but here’s a deal for you, for this week only. Have a friend that made a resolution to eat healthier? Get them to try us out and we’ll give you $20 off your next box. Fine print: Limit of, oh, say 3 friends per person, and your friend has to sign up by… next Thursday. That’s a loooot of free produce you could get.
As Always, have a fantastic weekend, keep eating healthy, and REALLY, try a Parsnip if you haven’t. Thanks for being so good looking and awesome,
Your Friends,

Wayne & Corey