www.theberryman.com Tuesday August 3, 2010 The Man, Inc. FIESTA: WEEKLY PRODUCE SCOOP

Fiesta begins this week which ARTICHOKES…Prices are high due to means that it is time again for one shortage. of the biggest parties of the year: Dignatarios. The annual Celebra- cion del los Dignatarios will be FIGS BLACK MISSION…prices are up, held the Santa Barbara Zoo this California crop now available. Thursday, August 5th 5pm-10pm. Soul City Survivors will again provide the music and BELL PEPPERS…. Green are California Grown. Red and Yellow still from Mexico. Prices coming food sponsors are as follows: Albertsons (Culinary Cir- down cle Skewars), Aldo’s, Arnoldi’s, Elks, Green Star (Hot & Iced Coffee & Teas), Neo Chase (Chicken Piccatta, ALL TOMATOES…. All Coming from Mexico and peppered white beans, porvako), Marmalade Café Ca. Prices are coming down and good color an all of ( TarTar), Pascucci, Mizza (Pizza), Rincon them. Catering (Mexican Wedding Cookies, Strawberries and Chocolate Fondue), State & A, Coast Restaurant, Ruth LIMES….. Coming from Mexico and some local Chris (Tenderloin Sandwich & Sweet Potato Casse- available, Prices are steady role), Crushcakes (Mini Cup Cakes), Joe’s, Zoo Cater- ing Services by Rincon (Grilled Corn on the Cob & CANTALOUPE… California Crop, Nice and Sweet. Churros), The Wave (Grilled chipotle chicken sand-

wiches, artichoke hearts, Baked phyllo pastry, Bacon RASPBERRIES…..California grown, Good Quality wrapped scallops). Wine is being provided by Beck- and prices are fair. man, Buttonwood, Carina, Carr, Consilience, Gainey, Hahn, Oreana, Toucan and Tre Anelli. LEMONS….California Crop available, Good Qual- Tickets are $85 in advance and $100 at the door. For ity. Prices up slightly. more information call 962-8101 or visit sbfiesta.org. ORANGES…NEW Valencia Crop California Grown, Navels still available.

ASPARAGUS …prices very high . California grown. Good Quality nice and Tasty. Mexican still available.

STRAWBERRIES…..Watsonville. Full Color and nice looking.

GRAPES….Some California available, Mexican Crop are available and better quality.

Market High: Artichokes, Rappini, All Corn, Brussels Sprouts, Golden Beets, green and red , green beans, cucumbers up in price. Yams and sweet potatoes high.

Good Value : Broccoli , Mangos,, Cauliflower, all tomatoes, blackberries

SEASONAL ITEMS : All Specialty Melons avail- able: Casaba, Crenshaw, Canary etc. Peaches and Nectarines, apricots California Grown, Tuscan Mel- ons, Passion Fruit, Starfruit, Cara-Cara Oranges, Ca

The Berry Man, Inc. (805) 965 3772 All About Produce, Corp. (805) 543 9000 www.theberryman.com Tuesday, August 3, 2010 The Berry Man, Inc.

CHAMPAGNE Black Summer Truffle…$150/lb

GRAPES Lobster Mushrooms….$24.75/lb

The champagne , also Chanterelles…..$25.95/lb known as Black Corinth or Zante Currant, is a variety Apricot Chanterelles……$28.90 of grape that is grown in clusters that produce very small diameter grapes. It is a seedless grape that pro- vides a very sweet flavor for TRIVIA salads, appetizers or as a snack with cheese. The stem, which is also very tiny and tender, is often consumed with the grape Please Call Cory @ 805.722.5212 rather than attempting to detatch the small connector from the main stem. This grape is very small, sweet and crisp. Wonderful When my coiled frond pokes through the soil as a garnish on cheese trays and a nice touch for fruit baskets. it is a sure sign that spring has arrived. I am Champagne grapes that are dried are referred to as currants, a only available to harvest for about two weeks named derived from this variety also being called the Zante Cur- in any area I am discovered before I unfurl rant grape. Although it may be confused with common black, into graceful yet inedible plumes. My harvest red or white currants that grow on bushes, it is similar only in spreads across the country, beginning in the shape and size, but is not the same type of fruit. The dried grape Pacific Northwest and migrating east where that becomes a currant is often used like as an ingredient our most popular specimens are found on when baking cookies and sweets. our prime terrain. Respectively, my centers begin gray and turn a lush green as the har- History: The first raisins were most likely sun-dried - 3,000 vest moves east. My taste is a cross between years ago, or so - grapes were harvested and laid in the sun to asparagus, green beans, and artichokes. I dry - a process that continues today. The Champagne Grape, provide all these wonderful flavors along Zante Grape or black Corinth Grape are enjoyed fresh as more with a very appealing chewy texture. I can growers offer this fabulous grape. The source of the dried cur- be steamed, simmered, braised, sautéed, or rant is the champagne grape food that was a precious trade item boiled. You will find me roaming around in in the ancient Near East and Rome. Currants and raisins were salads, standing tall and proud in vegetable brought to Mexico and California in the 18th century, and today medleys, or drenched in hollandaise, mal- the San Joaquin valley of California produces almost all of the taise, or butter sauce. Recently I have ap- commercially grown raisins, and represents about half of the to- peared in many a fine meal drizzled with tal world supply! The industry in California boomed in the some kind of ancient black vinegar from It- late 1800's after a severe heat wave dried the grapes on the vine. aly that’s over 100 years old. I am an excel- lent source of A and a reasonably Currants from the Corinth Grapes are seedless and very dark in good source of and fiber. color - about the size of other raisins. They are labeled "Zante Currants", which refers to the Greek island where the Corinth The answer to last weeks trivia was sorrel!! first grew. The name Zante is the name of a tiny island off of , and the black Corinth is named after the ancient city of Corinth

The Berry Man, Inc. (805) 965 3772 All About Produce, Corp. (805) 543 9000