Maury Feren is now 100 years old and has been in the produce business for over 85 years. He wonders if the nutritional value of lettuce salads is actually good for you - especially when you look at the expense in water and other resources to bring us that lettuce.
Here is a snippet of his column:
...He emphasized the fact that salads were really not all that nutritious, nor did they really fill the needs of your body for green stuff. I'm speaking mostly about the leaf vegetables because that is what I will be concentrating on when I continue on this subject.
I am truly angry at myself because I have been doing the same thing using salad as a filler expecting it to fill all my green needs when in truth there is nothing there in terms of body and nutritional value.
There is another problem. Thousands of pounds of lettuce are grown and shipped from the most arid area in the country. Lettuce needs lots of water. So we wind up spending all that money transporting lettuce 3,000 miles under refrigeration. This burns up tremendous energy and getting little for our money. I always thought that salads where on the right track but lets take a close look at what we have done. ....
Read the rest of Maury's Salad Dilemma
Showing posts with label produce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label produce. Show all posts
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Why is food from Amish Produce Stands so good?
Maury Feren is 100 years old and has been in the fresh fruit and produce business for over 85 years. He knows produce!
He wrote the following column about Amish Produce and small farms.
What is there about the produce that is sold by the Amish people that gives it that special taste?
It's got to be from lots of good things. First of all they rotate their crops. The land they use for growing is given a rest every year according to the item they grew that year.
I know it will drive you crazy but the Amish use cow manure live for fertilizer. I know it doesn't sound good but it does the trick. I stopped by two farm markets (Amish) on two separate occasions. I will talk about that later. The produce was shining. I couldn't believe it. This was an organic tomato farmer and he had set out a display of tomatoes that covered the whole stand. And the tomatoes looked like they were photo perfect.
I went to another stand not organic, Sustainable. The tomatoes were like a picture. I bought the sustainable tomatoes. Let me tell you why. Four extra-large tomatoes in a container was $4.50 against $6.00. I made a different purchase at another time and the tomatoes were only $3.00.
So here is what has happened. Farm markets have spread all over. Everyone is enthralled with them. In fact, we have gone overboard with our enthusiasm I can't blame a farmer for charging whatever the market will bear. They don't know what to charge. On one location I spent $3 for 4 peaches. At another I paid $6 for peaches not as good.
Price was not a factor in my choice I was looking for good taste because the produce was locally grown. It also fit my time schedule. When time is a factor it also saves money. Since the prices were so high I'm going to go off the local growers and just go to my supermarkets where I shop.
I thought about this for a long time. I said to myself "Why should I write a negative report on farmers that work so hard". But here is the point. You can go into a supermarket and purchase produce for a lot less money. Fresh corn 50-70 cent each for the farmer, Marc's 6 for $1 from Florida. Not much difference in taste either.
Peaches, nectarines $1.99 at Miles Market good quality, good taste. Another example I can't see paying $4 for a bunch of beets. If it was something exotic it would be OK, but it's just a bunch of beet greens and 3-4 beets. I can go on and on about this. These prices have bothered me for a long time.
I'm not trying to soften the blow but when I compare it to the gas prices, these people were trying to get the prices up to $5 a gallon not too long ago. Now they are selling at $2.40 mostly so why hit on the farmer. It's such a petty business but it can amount to big bucks at some point.
I can remember very well when I used to go out in to the country to purchase produce and it was priced reasonable. I'm sure I will get criticism on my comments but it is something that needs to be said. I am just astonished at the people that own farmers markets haven't backed down on their prices to date. I don't expect this article to change anybody's mind.
Yeah! The first local corn has been harvested it seems to be early and you have to make that decision by yourself. Do I want to buy fresh picked local corn or shipped corn from Florida? We will see where that will take you.
Another interesting little note. You may have seen and tasted the black seeded watermelons. They are much bigger and they weigh about 30lbs. They are longer in shape and you will see them on the fresh watermelon displays. The seedless round watermelon have good flavor too but not the sweetness of the elongated black seeded melon.
Look for heavy netted cantaloupes with a tendency to an orange color. Avoid slick melons and remember black spots don't do well. Be more careful about your grapes because we are heading to the end of the season.
Romaine Hearts remain as the stars of the vegetable patch, with local zucchini and long yellow squash coming to the forefront. Be sure to pick young zucchini for best flavor.
Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries dominate the berry scene. Check out the red raspberries for softness and decay. They can be a winner with yogurt or on fresh cereal. More to come later.
See more of Maury Feren's columns
He wrote the following column about Amish Produce and small farms.
What is there about the produce that is sold by the Amish people that gives it that special taste?
It's got to be from lots of good things. First of all they rotate their crops. The land they use for growing is given a rest every year according to the item they grew that year.
I know it will drive you crazy but the Amish use cow manure live for fertilizer. I know it doesn't sound good but it does the trick. I stopped by two farm markets (Amish) on two separate occasions. I will talk about that later. The produce was shining. I couldn't believe it. This was an organic tomato farmer and he had set out a display of tomatoes that covered the whole stand. And the tomatoes looked like they were photo perfect.
I went to another stand not organic, Sustainable. The tomatoes were like a picture. I bought the sustainable tomatoes. Let me tell you why. Four extra-large tomatoes in a container was $4.50 against $6.00. I made a different purchase at another time and the tomatoes were only $3.00.
So here is what has happened. Farm markets have spread all over. Everyone is enthralled with them. In fact, we have gone overboard with our enthusiasm I can't blame a farmer for charging whatever the market will bear. They don't know what to charge. On one location I spent $3 for 4 peaches. At another I paid $6 for peaches not as good.
Price was not a factor in my choice I was looking for good taste because the produce was locally grown. It also fit my time schedule. When time is a factor it also saves money. Since the prices were so high I'm going to go off the local growers and just go to my supermarkets where I shop.
I thought about this for a long time. I said to myself "Why should I write a negative report on farmers that work so hard". But here is the point. You can go into a supermarket and purchase produce for a lot less money. Fresh corn 50-70 cent each for the farmer, Marc's 6 for $1 from Florida. Not much difference in taste either.
Peaches, nectarines $1.99 at Miles Market good quality, good taste. Another example I can't see paying $4 for a bunch of beets. If it was something exotic it would be OK, but it's just a bunch of beet greens and 3-4 beets. I can go on and on about this. These prices have bothered me for a long time.
I'm not trying to soften the blow but when I compare it to the gas prices, these people were trying to get the prices up to $5 a gallon not too long ago. Now they are selling at $2.40 mostly so why hit on the farmer. It's such a petty business but it can amount to big bucks at some point.
I can remember very well when I used to go out in to the country to purchase produce and it was priced reasonable. I'm sure I will get criticism on my comments but it is something that needs to be said. I am just astonished at the people that own farmers markets haven't backed down on their prices to date. I don't expect this article to change anybody's mind.
Yeah! The first local corn has been harvested it seems to be early and you have to make that decision by yourself. Do I want to buy fresh picked local corn or shipped corn from Florida? We will see where that will take you.
Another interesting little note. You may have seen and tasted the black seeded watermelons. They are much bigger and they weigh about 30lbs. They are longer in shape and you will see them on the fresh watermelon displays. The seedless round watermelon have good flavor too but not the sweetness of the elongated black seeded melon.
Look for heavy netted cantaloupes with a tendency to an orange color. Avoid slick melons and remember black spots don't do well. Be more careful about your grapes because we are heading to the end of the season.
Romaine Hearts remain as the stars of the vegetable patch, with local zucchini and long yellow squash coming to the forefront. Be sure to pick young zucchini for best flavor.
Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries dominate the berry scene. Check out the red raspberries for softness and decay. They can be a winner with yogurt or on fresh cereal. More to come later.
See more of Maury Feren's columns
Remembering The Perfect Peach
Maury Feren is 100 years old and has been in the fresh fruit and produce business for over 85 years. He knows produce!
He wrote the following column about Peaches.
Today I am going to talk about the wonderful memories of all the perfect peaches I met in my search for good taste. I've purchased peaches (local) from 3 different farm stands all priced differently all claiming to be Amish but only one lot made the top.
My problem is I know what a local peach should taste like. My early history goes back to Blackmore Farms in Painesville, Ohio where I was subjected to the most exquisite peaches I have ever tasted. These big beautiful Hale peaches (variety), fully red ripe all around and perfectly shaped.
Mr. Blackmore knew how important it was to handle a fruit like a peach - which is so fragile the least bit of bruise would turn brown. It never happened because they were transported on racks so the peaches never touched each other. Maybe 50-60 baskets came in racked and you could smell the flavor. Unforgettable 75 years later.
And then I remember my visit to Paris with my children. I went over to a fruit stand where peaches were still ripening on a tree. Some were already over ripe but those I picked were truly tree ripened. A dollar a peach seemed high for that time, but I would pay anything to taste another peach that was not only beautiful, perfect in color and taste that could not be founded anywhere else.
I never want you to forget it's the land and the soil that makes the difference plus the grower who works his magic.
I also think back of the peaches that we used to get from Michigan, Hale Havens. Boy were they juicy and sweet. They use to be packed in bushels but since they were so delicate and fragile there were always a lot of bruising.
Benton Harbor, Michigan was the major shipping point. We also use to get some premium tasting fruit from South Carolina layer- packed like eggs. They could match the best of them. I don't know why all of these peaches have disappeared. New Jersey is a great fruit state. We use to receive shipments of their best fruit in early August. That is another area that has disappeared from the scene. I don't remember all of the varieties because they have changed over the years. New Jersey was a good supplier but it was only a short season.
West Virginia shipped some harder varieties of peaches that had good color but the hardness took away some of its taste.
I can't stop unless I talk about the Canadian shipments that we received for many years in Cleveland. They were knock outs. That fruit was bursting in color and the peach juices just poured down your lips as you bit into it. I don't know why the government stepped in and didn't allow shipments to the United States. The Canadian fruit from Niagara had to be some of the best tasting varieties I had from anywhere. What a great lost that was. I wonder what happened to that deal. That had to be a story in itself.
But let me tell you my own story. I had a connection from Perry or Painesville, Ohio from a family farm Pederson's that ranked with the best. I used them commercially when I was in business. That farm is still around today. You can stop by their roadside stand and you will love the fruit that they sell. It matches the best in flavor and appearance.
Today I spent some time in Chesterland, Ohio were there are 3 local growers who are offering tree ripened peaches. Having almost thrown out the store bought peaches that had been so hard and dry they had to be cooked. I talked to all of these growers. Their fruit looks magnificent. Great size, great color and wonderful taste.
California continues to ship hard fruit that needs 3-4 days ripening and are not free stone. It is quite odd that nectarines seem to ripen better than the peaches from California from the same areas.
Now is your chance to savor some of the best fruit just like I have been talking about from local areas. A month from now your mouth will be watering for more of the same. I look forward to meeting you there.
There is a family farm called (West) in Madison, Ohio right on route 20 who produce some of the best tasting fruit in this area. Don't you miss it. It will be your best treat for peaches this year.
See more of Maury Feren's columns
He wrote the following column about Peaches.
Today I am going to talk about the wonderful memories of all the perfect peaches I met in my search for good taste. I've purchased peaches (local) from 3 different farm stands all priced differently all claiming to be Amish but only one lot made the top.
My problem is I know what a local peach should taste like. My early history goes back to Blackmore Farms in Painesville, Ohio where I was subjected to the most exquisite peaches I have ever tasted. These big beautiful Hale peaches (variety), fully red ripe all around and perfectly shaped.
Mr. Blackmore knew how important it was to handle a fruit like a peach - which is so fragile the least bit of bruise would turn brown. It never happened because they were transported on racks so the peaches never touched each other. Maybe 50-60 baskets came in racked and you could smell the flavor. Unforgettable 75 years later.
And then I remember my visit to Paris with my children. I went over to a fruit stand where peaches were still ripening on a tree. Some were already over ripe but those I picked were truly tree ripened. A dollar a peach seemed high for that time, but I would pay anything to taste another peach that was not only beautiful, perfect in color and taste that could not be founded anywhere else.
I never want you to forget it's the land and the soil that makes the difference plus the grower who works his magic.
I also think back of the peaches that we used to get from Michigan, Hale Havens. Boy were they juicy and sweet. They use to be packed in bushels but since they were so delicate and fragile there were always a lot of bruising.
Benton Harbor, Michigan was the major shipping point. We also use to get some premium tasting fruit from South Carolina layer- packed like eggs. They could match the best of them. I don't know why all of these peaches have disappeared. New Jersey is a great fruit state. We use to receive shipments of their best fruit in early August. That is another area that has disappeared from the scene. I don't remember all of the varieties because they have changed over the years. New Jersey was a good supplier but it was only a short season.
West Virginia shipped some harder varieties of peaches that had good color but the hardness took away some of its taste.
I can't stop unless I talk about the Canadian shipments that we received for many years in Cleveland. They were knock outs. That fruit was bursting in color and the peach juices just poured down your lips as you bit into it. I don't know why the government stepped in and didn't allow shipments to the United States. The Canadian fruit from Niagara had to be some of the best tasting varieties I had from anywhere. What a great lost that was. I wonder what happened to that deal. That had to be a story in itself.
But let me tell you my own story. I had a connection from Perry or Painesville, Ohio from a family farm Pederson's that ranked with the best. I used them commercially when I was in business. That farm is still around today. You can stop by their roadside stand and you will love the fruit that they sell. It matches the best in flavor and appearance.
Today I spent some time in Chesterland, Ohio were there are 3 local growers who are offering tree ripened peaches. Having almost thrown out the store bought peaches that had been so hard and dry they had to be cooked. I talked to all of these growers. Their fruit looks magnificent. Great size, great color and wonderful taste.
California continues to ship hard fruit that needs 3-4 days ripening and are not free stone. It is quite odd that nectarines seem to ripen better than the peaches from California from the same areas.
Now is your chance to savor some of the best fruit just like I have been talking about from local areas. A month from now your mouth will be watering for more of the same. I look forward to meeting you there.
There is a family farm called (West) in Madison, Ohio right on route 20 who produce some of the best tasting fruit in this area. Don't you miss it. It will be your best treat for peaches this year.
See more of Maury Feren's columns
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