YOUR PRODUCE MAN'S "F R E S H T I P S"
April 6, 2001
Our last produce PUZZZZLE dealt with root vegetables: Is the Water Chestnut a root vegetable? Are we ever going to get to the bottom of what a root vegetable is? Even this week's Water Chestnut is not a root vegetable. It is actually an underwater stem base, enlarged to store food and to supply nourishment to the roots below and to the stems above. This group of vegetables is actually called "Corms." This week's PUZZZZLE still deals with root vegetables: Is the Carrot a root vegetable? See next week's "Fresh Tips" for the correct answer.
LEMON: Have you noticed a little more "greening" on the blossom end of your Lemons? This is an indication of the new summer crop of Lemons starting up. As the season progresses, the greening will end. This greening, by the way, is not an indication of poor quality Lemons or immature Lemons. It is simply a growing condition of the time of year. Even though this may be "new crop" summer Lemons, the majority of Lemon varieties are winter fruit, which is why we see more Lemons in the wintertime. There is much research being done at the University of California at Riverside, at their Citrus Research facility. They are trying to develop actual summer varieties of Lemons, which would greatly help increase supplies for the summer months when demand is the highest. People eat healthier during summer months, so more fish entrees, using Lemons as a salt substitute, or for drinks. This increased summer demand combined with lower supply levels, keeps summer Lemon prices higher than other times of the year. Researchers hope that by the end of this decade, with new summer varieties grafted, there could be better summer supplies. Until then, expect Lemon prices to start their annual trek upward. I call it the Lemon Summertime Climb.
BELL PEPPERS: Can they possibly get worse? Well, as a matter of fact, yes, they will. On top of all the trouble with Bells over the past few months, April is traditionally one of the worst months of the year for Bell Pepper supplies, price and quality. This is definitely the time of year to be on watch for your Bells. Growers are transitioning between southern growing regions of Mexico and Florida, to more northern growing regions like California. Newer domestic fields are not yet in production, but will be over the next few weeks. Old crop fields in Mexico and Florida are older and tired, very stressed out from the long season, particularly because of the unusual cold temperatures the plants went through in January. During this time of year, the walls of the Bell Pepper tend to be much thinner, and that leads to quicker dehydration and that means a shorter shelf life, as well as less yield. Throughout the month of April, this will be a concern, until new fields come into production from late-April or early-May. To help minimize dehydration, keep your bells enclosed in the plastic bag. Buy just before you need them and use them quickly.
STRAWBERRY: With Easter just around the corner, it doesn't look like fields in California will recover in time to provide good supplies. If you remember the rains of just a month ago, then you'll know why we may be having trouble now. The rain and cold that hit Southern California fields over a stretch of two weeks, not only caused damage to the current berries on the vines, but also has affected supplies even today. You see, tiny white blossoms on the plant were knocked off from the driving rain and the cold. In the produce industry, that's called a "blossom drop." Each blossom represents a berry. Now, from blossom to harvest is about 30 - 45 days, which is why a blossom drop in early March is impacting Strawberry supplies in early April. Fields from Santa Maria to Anaheim have also seen some very overcast days. That means pinker fruit, with a little more white shoulder. Right now, California production is only about half of what it should be for this time of year. With heavy Easter demand combined with very short supplies, we will see much higher Strawberry prices.
RADICCHIO: We're seeing a lot more imports from Italy, Chile, France and Holland, and that will mean much higher prices as well. Cold weather in winter growing regions really caused havoc with the Radicchio crop. That affected domestic crops in Arizona and Florida. Don't expect much lower prices until growers in Salinas start with their production. That won't be until early May. Until then, expect higher than normal prices. Also, you need to watch quality. Even though the imports are air-shipped in, if a retailer is overstocked, they will be holding Radicchio longer than normal, and that would definitely affect shelf life. So ask the produce manager when their next shipment of fresh Radicchio will be arriving. Buy it then.
GRAPEFRUIT: As we move into warmer Spring temperatures here, in Texas and Florida, you tend to see less color in the inside fruit. Heat takes the color out of produce. So instead of that dramatic brilliant red color in Grapefruit, you may start seeing lighter red color, even more pink, particularly with Texas fruit. California fruit already had lighter red color, so warmer temperatures will give us more pink fruit. Flavor and juice content will still be excellent. It's just the color that will change.
RECIPE: Wilted Radicchio