Just Picked

New Item: Prima Apples

How many apple varieties can you name? If you can name ten, you're doing pretty good, especially in light of the fact that there are about 7,500 known varieties. One of the reasons we have this amazing amount of varieties is that botanists and food scientists are continuously cross-breeding apples to attain better-tasting and pest- and disease-resistant fruit. Now don't panic. While the notion of scientists tampering with your food may seem scandalous, apples actually need the help of us humans to become the fruit we all enjoy.  Without getting too wonky, apples do not naturally develop as we would intuitively expect (as a similar "offspring" from it's respective "parents"). So breeders add their expertise in a completely natural way to yield some of the highly desirable apple varieties we all crave (Honeycrisp, Cameo and Jonagold to name a few recently developed treasures).

Fairly new to the scene is the Prima apple. It gets it's name in part from the three schools that worked to breed the fruit - Perdue, Rutgers and (University of) Illinois. This apple was specifically bred to resist scabbing, therefore reducing the use of chemical fungicides. The Prima is a sturdy, crisp apple that's mildly sweet and resists browning when cut. In a small experiment performed while writing this post, a Prima apple core sat close by for over twenty minutes without showing any signs of browning - clearly this makes the Prima a good choice for slicing and serving with a salad or simply on a platter.

So do you think you may try one? Have you tried one already?  Let us know what you think.

New Item: Modern Mermaids Eco-friendly Products

How many toxic chemicals are in your home? The number is probably somewhere between sixty-two and eighty-seven. How many toxic chemicals do you need to keep your home clean? According to the women who founded Modern Mermaids, none!  Audra and Amy, the environmentally-conscious duo who met on Cape Cod, have developed a line of eco-friendly products that are non-toxic yet effective for a variety of household uses.

Look in our cleaning section for the Mint Foaming Soap, Vitalizing Fruit & Veggie Wash, Mint All-purpose Glass Cleaner and Mint Bathroom Cleaner.  

New Product: Reusable Produce Bags

The Fruit Center is always on the hunt for products that are locally made and environmentally friendly. If we find a product that fits both of those criteria - jackpot! We were lucky enough to be approached by Christine Fiske, Milton resident and entrepreneur. Christine is passionate about sustainable products and eating locally. Combining those two interests led her to develop her company, Bite, and her first product, reusable produce bags.

These bags are sturdy and machine washable as well as stylish. And - added bonus - they're made in the U.S. There are several designs to choose from (three are pictured here) and all have a secure drawstring to hold your produce safely. So, next time you're selecting some perfect fruits or veggies here at the Fruit Center, consider moving on from the typical plastic bags and purchasing a reusable produce bag. You'll find them in our produce department.   

Organics Still Going Strong

News this week from the Organic Trade Association says that, despite our challenging economic environment, folks are still craving their organic products. Sales for 2008 were up over 17%. Coincidentally, we discussed the benefits of organic produce in the May issue of our “Just Picked” in-store flyer.

When you step back and consider this rise in organic sales, it only seems fitting that in an economic climate where all around us is seemingly losing value we’re investing in something priceless – ourselves. Organically-grown produce offers tremendous benefits for our health: these produce items typically contain higher levels of vitamins, minerals and flavonoids, a compound that helps prevent cancer and heart disease. Also, organic farming practices are more beneficial to the land as compared to conventional farming.

Here at the Fruit Center we're continuing to expand our organic offerings. Share with us what your favorite organic items are by posting in our "comments" section. 

New Product: Yellow + Blue Wine

Put your preconceived notions about boxed wine aside – here’s proof that a pleasurable, and environmentally friendly, wine doesn’t have to come from a bottle. Yellow + Blue (which make green … get it? Green … environment …) began with the idea of crafting wine in the most environmentally conscious way possible. Starting with organically grown grapes and traditional winemaking processes, Yellow + Blue then turned to TetraPak packaging. These packages are 75% paper harvested from responsibly managed forests. This type of packaging is also more cost effective to ship. Best of all – the TetraPak holds two more glasses of wine than a typical bottle.

The Fruit Center is currently offering a 2008 Malbec (Tasting notes: “Aromas of black cherries and chocolate with a medium to full body, fine tannins and a lingering, complex finish”) and a 2008 Torrontes (Tasting notes: “Fresh aroma of peach, cantaloupe and pineapple, with a hint of lime. Fresh and lively, with medium weight, nice acidity, and a long fruit and mineral laden finish.”).

Let us know what you think – post your own tasting notes in our “comments” section.