MR. GREENS "FRESH TIPS"
January 5, 2001
Our last MR. GREEN'S PUZZZZLE dealt with New Year's traditions: What produce item is given to signify prosperity and happiness in the New Year? For many cultures, giving fruit at the start of a New Year is very important. It is not only a symbol of friendship, but also a wishing of good for the recipient. No other produce item is used like this one. It is a citrus fruit, signifying prosperity and happiness, and is really given a lot during Chinese New Year celebrations. It is the Navel Orange. This week's PUZZZZLE still deals with winter vegetables: What produce item was also used as the original pacifier for babies? See the answer in next week's "Fresh Tips."
FINGERLING POTATOES: It may come as a shock, but the newest potatoes for the newest millennium are not new at all. In fact, they are centuries old. There is more to the world of Potatoes than Russet, Red and White. There is a world of tiny Fingerling Potatoes, and they are turning up in some of the poshest places these days. Fingerlings are becoming attractions on many menus of some of the country's finest restaurants. These tiny tubers have even made it into the White House for many state dinners. Potatoes originated in the Andes Mountains. The Inca Indians were the first to cultivate Potatoes. The Irish were generally attributed for making Potatoes common. However, the Germans were responsible for making potatoes prolific and prominent. In The New Cookbook, printed in 1581 on Gutenberg's press, there were a dozen potato recipes compiled. In the late 1700s, Frederick Wilhelm, King of Prussia, ordered that all farmers were to plant potatoes, or risk having their noses and ears cut off. Frederick thought that potatoes would spare his nation from hunger and would sustain the economy. It came as no surprise when potatoes quickly became a staple in German diet. Frederick not only promoted legal and social reforms, but became the first promoter of potatoes. Frederick, by the way, became known as Frederick the Great. Somewhere in Europe, sometime in the 16th Century, some peasant farmer noticed that some potatoes were not round like an apple, as most potatoes were. That's why they were originally called "apples of the earth." This farmer noticed that some were long, lumpy and slender with a yellow flesh. Kind of looked like a finger. Fingerling potatoes were finally found. Today, as Fingerlings become favorites for many chefs and consumers, more growers, from Maine to Colorado, from Idaho to California, are getting into Fingerlings. What's all the fuss about Fingerlings? That's as simple as their size is small. Fingerlings are novel because of their size, shape and their striking colors. Most have a yellow flesh with a rich buttery texture. Fingerlings are ideal for roasting and give chefs a dramatic variation on a potato theme. There are many varieties of Fingerlings, but the most common are the French Fingerling, the Ruby Crescent, the Purple Peruvian and the Russian Banana Fingerling. Try some Roasted Fingerlings and medallions of Ostrich, served with applesauce, caramelized onions, corn, tomato broth and fall vegetables. Or Roasted Fingerlings served with leg of lamb, yellow wax beans, or Grilled Fingerlings served with chicken, carrots, leeks and lemon thyme in butter sauce. Have you found your favorite Fingerling yet?
CLICK HERE for Mr. Green's Fingerling Potatoes Recipes.
Freeze Conditions In Florida Are Affecting Produce Prices
For 10 winters, Florida has escaped any major devastating freeze. Hurricanes, yes. Freezes, no. Cold freezing temperatures do far more to disrupt agriculture than any other weather condition. Freezes not only affect the current year's crop, but also future crops because of damage to trees.From late December into early January, growers in Florida have had nightly freeze warnings. Meteorologists in Florida expect this year to be particularly bad, but growers are hoping this won't be a signal of several years of freezing conditions.
Growers still talk of the six devastating freezes which crippled citrus groves from 1977 to 1986. Meteorologists site over 100 years of weather records which show that in "Neutral" years, freezing temperatures are more common. In 24 years El Nino years, there has only been one strong freeze. In 24 years La Nina years, there were 6 strong freezes. In 54 "neutral" years, there have been 15 strong freezes.Freezes will affect citrus crops like Oranges, Grapefruit and Tangerines. Florida grows about 75% of the nation's Tangerine supply, and about 60% of the nation's Grapefruit crop. During winter months, Florida also supplies about half of the nation's supply of winter vegetables from Bell Peppers, Cabbage, Celery, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Green Beans, Lettuce, Squash and Tomatoes. From December through January, Florida's Plant City region also supplies about 80% of the nation's Strawberry supply. Freezing temperatures in Florida are causing vegetable prices to take sharp jumps upward. Watch the weather in Florida. It does affect the produce department around the country.
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