Market Notes Aug 20, 2020
CALIFORNIA FIRES
As the fires continue it is too soon to access anything definitive other than not good, very bad. Our office in Santa Cruz, though safe for the moment is surrounded on three sides by fires. Salinas to the south, Scott’s Valley and numerous other points north and eastern Gilroy to the east. Fortunately these were not caused by electrical fires or careless forest fires. Excessive dry heat and lightening are the cause here and at this writing, it will continue through the weekend. Many communities forced to evacuate, many homes lost. The sun rises and sets neon red and the sky is a hazy sort of sepia. Though we have not seen it, red hot embers have been reported to blow several miles away and ignite. When combined with the pandemic and the semi-shut down economy, the visual can be spiritually intoxicating, but we know better, we believe in science! A white layer of ash has settled on the houses and cars and the smell of smoke is in the air. Cooler temperatures are expected for next week throughout the State and hopefully this will slow down or even eliminate new fires. The agriculture effect has yet to be determined. We will report on that next week. Right now it’s a people and land thing.NEW CROP FINGERLINGS SHIPPING OUT OF MOSCA
While are San Luis Valley fingerlings are being killed as we write this and won’t even be out of the ground for another two weeks, we are packing new crop fingerlings at our facility in Mosca. Product is from Texas and northern Colorado and looks real good. We have all three colors for mixes or straight packs. The transportation has gone up significantly both getting to the packing facility and to points east and will probably remain that way through the holiday. Our forward distribution will have this new crop in stock as of Saturday but that will be for the yellow fingerlings only. Split pallets, mixes and straight packs are by pre-order only. You can call us for info or just sit tight as we will be reaching out to you.A HAPPY HAPPY HELLO
Last Wednesday we received notice that Friday, August 14th, would be the last day of operations for Scarborough Farms in Oxnard, California, a premier grower of frisee and other salad components. In this space last week we informed our readers of this sad, sad affair, wishing them the best and thanking them for their two decades of outstanding service. We wished them the best and hoped that they would find some way to continue growing and packing their superlative products. Well, our wish came true. We were informed this Monday that Scarborough Farms will remain in business. Obviously this entire situation is Covid 19 related as not only was Scarborough a national supplier they also supplied the now collapsed LA restaurant scene with salad greens and mixed. We are nosey enough to find out how, but either through increased sales, funding or both, they are not closing their doors. Needless to say we are thrilled, both for us and for them. They have persevered and we will continue to do all possible to support them. Hope you do to.NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – – WHAT AM I??
I am originally from the Middle East and Central Asia. I have been cultivated there for thousands of years. I am a member in good standing of the Umbelliferae family (you may have heard of my cousin hemlock, I know Socrates has). I am a biennial plant and have hundreds of varieties ranging in height, thickness and color. In fact my various colors almost cover the entire rainbow including, white, orange, red, purple, and if left out to long, black. I am produced globally but my largest crops come from the United States, China, England, France, Japan, and Poland. My uses are truly universal. Need to soothe a burn? Use me raw as a compress for immediate relief. Menstrual cramping got you bloated? Don’t run to the medicine cabinet, head for the refrigerator and munch out on me. Wanna make your wine more interesting? Use me in the fermentation process and cheer the results. On the culinary side you will enjoy me in crudités, soups, salads, sandwiches, juice, cookies, cakes, or classically glazed with brown sugar and butter. I am a dieter’s delight with low calorie counts, and as for fat? Ha! I have none! I am 87% water yet rich in vitamin A and Potassium. My slender shape also contains Vitamin C, Thiamin, Folic Acid, and Magnesium. My oil is rich in Vitamin E. These days you could very well find me skinned and topless, but don’t worry, that gets me to the plate more quickly. Children thrive on my babies, horses love the old folks. Why, with this many colors shapes, you can see why we are so popular.THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S QUIZ WAS …TURMERIC.…CONGRATS TO ALL WINNERS
Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702 Visit us at www.culinaryproduce.com “like” us @ Culinary Specialty Produce on Facebook© Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2015