| Culinary Produce

Market Notes May 2nd, 2024

RAMPS IN THE RIGHT LANE We were halfway correct on last week’s assessment. There was plenty of rain and we cannot harvest when the ramps are wet as they remain wilted. That made the deal late this week and we were unable to ship until today. Good news is twofold. First, drier skies allow resumption of harvest in southern fields and second, we still have northern areas that are waiting for harvesters. At this stage of the ramp challenge temperature comes into play. If it gets too hot (over sixty degrees) we run the risk of wilt as well. It’s now a time, temperature and moisture deal but we are pretty certain that there are another two weeks, and we are positive there is at least one more week. So, signal right and switch lanes, before you know it we’ll be ramping off, but not before Mother’s Day orders are filled. In other foraged news, local morel mushrooms, They are ready to ship along with fiddleheads and ramps. Add the cattails, nettles, and lettuce for a special spring foraged tasting. ALMOST TIME TO GET STONED First of the season cherries and peaches are in the market as of yesterday. This is the first of the season domestic stone fruit and it is only for the “must have no matter what” customers. The cherries are light in color with little flavor and the peaches are quite firm with little color or juice as well. While these are not prime attributes of the existing fruit, they do represent the beginning of the domestic stone fruit season. This means new growers will begin harvesting regularly and within two weeks we will have quality cherries, and a week after that good quality peaches begin. Then, after we have been teased for a bit, June begins another amazing season in Morgan Hill, and y’all know what that’s about. MOTHER’S DAY Is it still the busiest restaurant day of the year? A pandemic changed all the rules a few years ago, but we are past that now. How ever you celebrate, a meal for mom, not by mom, is usually the rule of the day and Culinary is ready. From stunning micro greens and edible flowers to root veggies waiting to be cut to your specs, we’ve got you covered. From fruits to veggies and herbs there are no real shortages right now so let’s spread the bounty. While we can overnight deliveries will be available up to Saturday delivery, It will be a bit crazy as the day gets closer. Call early and often. NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – WHO AM I ??? I am the bud of a flower plant that developed from cardoon. During the Middle Ages I acquired a reputation for being an aphrodisiac that immediately made me popular with the Greeks & Romans. As a native of the Mediterranean region, I was introduced to America by French and Spanish explorers. I grow three to five feet high and can be eaten prior to flowering. We just adore fog, so the micro-climates in California are what we love best even though we are more prolific in Italy, Spain, France, and Greece. We have over a dozen varieties, most of which are round, many of which have thorns. We are usually green, but some wild ones arrive in purple just to be different. Our babies are often robbed from the cradle and eaten uncooked as can only be done at that age. Humans eat my vital organs, my bottoms, my leaves, and my bud, but if you wish to remain breathing avoid our midsection. We, in turn, nibble on their fingers when we can. We are steamed, baked, boiled, stuffed, used as dips, marinated, or added to salads. I am a good source of potassium, magnesium, folic acid, and vitamin C. As a pharmafood I stimulate the secretion of bile, act as a cleanser for blood, as well as being an antitoxin and a diuretic.

The answer to last weeks quiz is…STAR ANISE….Congrats to all winners Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa, Matty, or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702 Visit us at www.culinaryproduce.com “like” us @ Culinary Specialty Produce on Facebook