Today is: 07.25.2008
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Mise En Place with Cef Donna-Garden State Produce |
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Aaah, Summer. It’s finally here! The kids are out of school, beaches are packed, and the scents of sunblock and barbeque abound! It is a favorite season for most of us, where we can shed the heaviest of our clothes, eat cooler, lighter foods, and enjoy the sunshine a little bit longer. It is also a great time of year for fresh local produce or that which tastes beyond compare. Consider the Jersey tomato, corn or blueberry, each identifiable by their distinctive sweetness, color and flavor.
In the “Garden State,” we are renowned for some of the best produce around. Although farm lands are slowly dwindling, thankfully, there are those who have held out or are producing quantities large enough to feed the masses. But how do you select produce at its prime? There are several different tips on selection, be it at your local farm market or grocery store. In this edition of Mise en Place with Chef Donna, let’s take a look at what makes the best pick of the bunch, and what to do with it afterwards. • Be picky! Only purchase what you can consume within a reasonable time. Better to buy ripe and ready-to-eat now, and return later for that day’s freshest selection. • Chose produce with your senses. Touch, smell and see. Select only fruits and vegetables which are rich in color, unblemished, fresh-smelling and feel slightly firm, not soft or hard, free from mold or insects. For example, when checking for ripeness in a cantaloupe, press gently on the vine end of the melon. It should give way gently and smell sweetly. A ripened watermelon will give a hollow thud when thumped and will also have a sweet scent. • Although fruits such as cantaloupe, nectarines and peaches may soften after purchasing and storage, they won’t ripen. Think twice before buying under-ripe fruit. • Be gentle. Keep your fruits and vegetables separate from other food items if shopping at your local grocer. Make sure they are placed on the top of your other groceries when bagged for home. If buying from a local farm stand or market, bag tenderly. Do not leave produce in a hot car for an extended period of time. This may cause bruising, wilting or over-ripening. Bring a cooler filled with ice to preserve your purchases if you have other stops along the way before heading home. • When going to a local farmer’s market, go early for the day’s best selection and quality. If you have questions concerning how to select a particular type of produce, don’t hesitate to ask. Remember, they’re the ones who produce the produce! • If purchasing cut fruit, such as watermelon, make sure it is stored on ice or refrigerated, both at place of purchase or at home. • Always, always remember to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before handling produce or any other food product. • Wash all fruits and vegetables right before eating or preparing with cool running tap water. Berries should be rinsed, placed on a baking sheet lined with paper towels and refrigerated to dry, prior to usage. • Melons grow on a vine and lay on soil. Because bacteria can be transferred from the outside of a melon to the inside by a knife, scrub melon rind vigorously with a brush and running water. With an abundance of produce this time of year, it is easy to get your “five a day” in. Whether eaten raw or a cooked preparation, fruits and vegetables are a healthy and delicious part of everyday meals and a great alternative to unwholesome snacks. Listed below are “Pick your own Farms” located in Monmouth County. Take the kids and make it a family affair. It will be a fun, “fruitful,” learning experience for all!Antonio Casola Farms & Greenhouse • 178 Highway 34 & Schank Rd., Holmdel • (732) 332-1533Atlantic Farms • 1506 Atlantic Ave. (Rt. 524), Wall • (732) 528-8680 • www.atlanticfarmsinc.comBattleview Orchards • 91 Wemrock Rd., Freehold • (732) 462-0756 • www.battlevieworchards.comBoyce Berry Farm • Burnt Tavern (Rt. 537), Clarksburg • (609) 259-9198C. Casola Farms • 489 Rt. 520 E., Marlboro • (732) 946-8588Earth Friendly Organic Farm • 17 Olde Noah Hunt Rd, Cream Ridge • (609) 259-9744 •
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Laurino Farms • 773 Sycamore Ave., Tinton Falls • (732) 842-3470The Berry Farm • Rt. 34 (behind Delicious Orchards), Colts Neck • (732) 294-0707Wemrock Orchards • 300 Rt. 33 W., Freehold • (732) 431-2668 • www.wemrockorchards.comOr, support the community farmers’ markets locally. Here are three in Monmouth County:Belmar Farmers' Market Between Main St. & Train Station, Belmar • (732) 681-9023 - Annette Berginn • www.belmarchamber.com Highlands Farmers' Market Bay & Cornwall Avenues • Highlands, At Huddy Park • (732) 291-4713 • Carla Cefalo-Braswell • www.highlandsnj.com Red Bank Farmers' Market W. Front St. & Shrewsbury Ave, Red Bank • At the Galleria Parking LotElaine and Jimmy Sourlis • (732) 530-7300 • www.redbankartsantique.com
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