From San Francisco through New York City, people of Chinese ancestry will be parading through the streets of their local "Chinatown" district for the most festive of reasons: the start of the Chinese New Year, which in 2007 is the "Year of the Red Fire Pig."

The forecast for the months ahead indicate change at all levels for most people, with the tourism and travel industries flourishing, although all modes of transportation will be subject to more delays and glitches.

"Eating is the utmost important part of life," said the great Confucius, and food plays a glorious part in New Year Celebrations. When visiting family and friends, specialty CITRUS FRUIT, including PUMELLOS symbolizing abundance, and TANGERINES and ORANGES, representing luck and wealth, are favored as gifts. Seafood and dumplings form the core of many dinners because they symbolize prosperity and good fortune. Ingredients like LETTUCE, representing rising luck and fortune, are popularly featured on New Year menus.

Get your Chinese New Year’s party started with a tempting selection of appetizers. Include honey-GARLIC spareribs and Hawaiian beef ribs made firecracker spicy using GINGER, GARLIC and 5-spice powder. Dumplings filled with ground chicken, NAPA CABBAGE and GARLIC or Shrimp and CILANTRO or WATER CHESTNUTS wrapped in bacon and baked will disappear quickly accompanied by a glass of PLUM wine.

Spring rolls are perfect party fare, filled with assorted chopped VEGETABLES, shrimp, pork or chicken. Offer LETTUCE wraps stuffed with chicken and PEANUTS or a vegetarian mix of BROCCOLI, SPROUTS, MUSHROOMS, ONIONS, GARLIC and CARROTS. Round out the main offerings with plenty of LEMON chicken, spicy Kung Pao Chicken with PEANUTS and Beef or Shrimp BROCCOLI.

New Year’s wouldn’t be complete without Fortune Cookies, surrounded by a platter of LYCHEE, KIWIFRUIT, ASIAN PEARS dipped in chocolate and roasted ALMONDS.

KIWIFRUIT is among this week’s best FRUIT values, delicious chilled and scooped right out the skin, with a higher Vitamin C content than ORANGES or STRAWBERRIES.

RED FLAME SEEDLESS GRAPES are in plentiful supply from Chilean growers at economical prices. Toss into FRUIT cocktail salad or enjoy munching them right off the stem. THOMPSON GREEN SEEDLESS GRAPES are also in steady supply.

Chilean STONEFRUIT is picking up the slack for some California favorites which are in tight supply, thanks to the January freeze. Look for continued good values on BLACK PLUMS, PEACHES and NECTARINES. Peel, slice, toss with sugar and white flour and top with steel-cut oatmeal and bake for a juicy dessert perfect with cream freshe or vanilla ice cream.

A baked APPLE is a delicious and comforting way to start off your day. GALA and GRANNY SMITH varieties are both excellent values. Simply core, stuff with RAISINS, WALNUTS and COCONUT and bake until tender.

ROMA TOMATOES as well as hot-house grown on-the vine TOMATOES are in good supply at moderate prices. Sliced TOMATOES are delicious brushed with olive oil, then sprinkled with fresh HERBS and grilled as a side dish for steak.

California PISTACHIO NUTS are in steady supply. Chop finely to use as a coating for sautéed monkfish, mahi mahi or halibut.

CANTALOUPE MELONS have increased in volume, with prices decreasing. A great source of beta-carotene, a slice works equally well for breakfast, as a dinner appetizer or a fat free dessert option.

HASS AVOCADOS continue in steady supply with small sizes the best value.

GREEN and RED D’ANJOU PEARS are in peak production with prices very reasonable.

BLACKBERRIES and BLUEBERRIES are steady at moderate prices, with very light supply of STRAWBERRIES holding at premium levels.

GREEN BELL PEPPERS are among the most plentiful VEGETABLE choices this week available at economical prices. Core, stuff with ground pork and bake and serve with MUSHROOM sauce.

GREEN BEAN prices are moderate; they make a good pairing with BELL PEPPERS baked into a casserole with ONIONS and HERBS.

RUSSET POTATOES are an excellent value. Make them a one-dish meal by microwaving, then topping with guacamole, salsa or chile con carne. FINGERLING POTATOES and YAMS are two other good values in the POTATO bin.

Pre-washed and packaged salad mixes continue to be the most economical salad option, including BIBB LETTUCE, BABY SPINACH and LEAF LETTUCES. Salad ingredients in steady supply include JICAMA, MUSHROOMS, SPROUTS, CELERY, RADISHES, GREEN ONIONS and CARROTS, any combination of which add color, flavor and texture to your base GREENS.

EGGPLANT is in good supply at reasonable prices. Try it Parmegiana style, added to lasagna or dipped in egg wash and cornmeal and fried as a side dish.

Asian stir-fry ingredients are in peak supply thanks to the Chinese New Year holiday, with BOK CHOY, DAIKON, GINGER and SNOW PEAS among the many ingredients ready to make a quick supper combined with chicken, beef, pork or shrimp.

FENNEL is in good supply. Enjoy its mild licorice flavor and aroma.

Volume continues plentiful on GARLIC.

FLORAL THIS WEEK:

Potted blooming TULIPS, ORCHIDS, MINIATURE ROSES and HYDRANGIA are all excellent values for brightening home living areas or to treat a shut-in. In cut arrangements, good values continue on ROSES, CARNATIONS, ASTERS, ALSTROMERIA LILIES and TULIPS.

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