June 27th, 2024 | Culinary Produce

Market Notes June 27th, 2024

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE FOR YOU The traditional red, white, and blue creamer potatoes are available, but they don’t really shine that way when cooked. We can also pull off a red, white, and blue carrot which would be a more patriotic look as those colors shine through. But this year we have a product that is so USA outstanding, it will make you want to salute. The answer is orchids, edible orchids, that is. These come packed with two rows of red then two rows of white, then two rows of blue. Looks like a flag in a box. And you can use them that way as well. Plop the contents of the container on a sheet cake, add some candles or sparklers and you’re set for the 4^th. For décor, dessert, or dinner, there is no better color representation you will find than these tri-colored orchids. These are available in both 50 count and 100 count clamshells and Fed-Ex overnight to your dock or door. These orchids will also make a great gift for holiday parties. Minimum order is 1. Check with Lisa for photos. FUNGUS FESTIVUS Now that we are done with the “R” word, and everything related to it, we forage on. Seabeans and fiddlehead ferns await the addition of cattail shoots and garlic scapes for a solid choice of seasonal greens. The fungus among us right now is supreme. Morels, which appear to be quite abundant this year are down in price and up in appearance. They are dry and beautiful. Then there are finally domestic porcini and chanterelles. This is the trifecta of mushrooms, and it is rare that we have all the available at the same time. Prices on morels may well continue to drop but you will not have three varieties later on this summer. If you want a mushroom show now is the time. We can even add lobster and loins mane along with all the cultivated suspects for an awesome collection for your selection. We can ship via commercial air or overnight carrier depending on volume and often can ship out same day. Please check with your culinary rep for details. INDEPENDENCE DAY Culinary Specialty Produce will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in celebration of freedom. We are freeing ourselves from our office, but not our phones or our customers. If you call, we will answer, just might be from a remote location. Most of our shippers, growers, customers, are closed as well or have an abbreviated schedule for that day. Market notes will be something silly (surprise!), and along with weekly cost and promotion sheets, everything will be published on Wednesday July 3, 2024. Normal operations resume on Friday. From all of us at Culinary, we wish you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday sort of weekend. NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – WHO AM I ??? Pliny said I could prevent fatigue, but he didn’t know my prices and shelf life! Pilgrims in the Middle Ages put me in their shoes before long journeys on foot. Named after the French word for “little dragon” I can be strangled by my roots if not regularly divided. Due to my serpentine root system, I am a good treatment for snakebites. I am also considered to enhance the growth of most vegetables when planted among them. I will sweeten your breath and numb your tongue if chewed. I prefer France in the Spring and Russia in the Winter. Often associated with vinegar or fish, I am also good with mustard, chicken, fresh salads, lamb, potatoes, artichokes, cheeses, eggs and sour cream. As a pharma-food I am known to stimulate appetite, relieve flatulence, and help ease toothaches. I am able to protect foods as an antioxidant. As a useful antifungal, I am also an ingredient in perfumes, soaps and cosmetics.

The answer to last weeks quiz is…CARDAMOM….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