FRESH FACTS

For the Week of March 24, 2008

Take a peek into the pantry of any kitchen in America and you’re likely to find canned tuna four out of five times.

Consumers’ love affair with tuna inspired consumer products expert Marc Neimec to introduce a flavorful new value-added product produced in Australia to the marketplace: G’Day Gourmet” wild tuna and wild salmon, (www.g-daygourmet.com), packaged at the Port Lincoln Tuna Processors, the last seafood cannery in Australia.

“Tuna and salon rank among the top five consumed seafoods” notes Neimec, “and our products are wild, meaning the fish is caught in its natural habitat, with no farming at all.

The resulting taste is richer and fresher than farm-raised. And this is one of the first flavored seafoods on the market.”

CHILI, LEMON Pepper, TOMATO BASIL, TOMATO Salsa, Mild Indian Curry and TOMATO ONION are the flavored varieties of tuna offered in the G’Day line-up, with LEMON Pepper, CHILI and Smoked varieties of Alaskan pink salmon.

Neimec suggests adding tuna flavor atop a salad of your favorite GREENS “to add protein and flavor or enjoy it as a roll-up sandwich. Tuna is also delicious mixed with hot or cold pasta. Our salmon make a fabulous spread that is so easy: simply blend it with softened cream cheese.”

As spring schedules get busier, when you have canned tuna available along with key PRODUCE items, you have all the fixings necessary for a quick and nutrition meal.

Use tuna to top a baked POTATO or spread tuna over tortilla chips with shredded cheese, JALAPENO PEPPERS, diced GREEN ONIONS, AVOCADOS and TOMATOES and heat in the microwave.

Make a casserole blending cooked fettuccine noodles, SWEET PEAS, tuna and chopped ITALIAN RED ONIONS in a white sauce, top with Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs and cook until hot.

Add tuna with MUSHROOMS or ONIONS as a filling for breakfast omelets.

Tuna salad is among the most popular sandwich filling. Blend drained tuna with mayonnaise, minced GARLIC and GREEN ONIONS, diced CARROTS, CELERY and JICAMA. Tuna also fortifies your favorite CABBAGE coleslaw recipe.

This week in Fruits

California STRAWBERRIES are decreasing in price as volume strengths and quality is excellent, making this BERRY favorite one of the best FRUIT picks of the week. Buy extra supplies to create jam that’s delicious on toast.

Other BERRY varieties in steady supply and rich in anti-oxidants are BLUEBERRIES and BLACKBERRIES, perfect for adding to breakfast French toast or oatmeal.

RUBY RED GRAPEFRUIT is among this week’s most economical CITRUS FRUIT choices. Squeeze and serve over crushed ice with a sprig of MINT for a quick naturally sweet pick-me-up cocktail.

PAPAYA is excellent for the digestive system and supplies from Mexico are plentiful, with prices at economical levels.

Good values continue on large sizes of TOMATOES, perfect for stuffing with chicken or shrimp salad or a mixture of cottage cheese seasoned with CHIVES or THYME.

PINEAPPLE from Hawaii is in steady supply. Dice and blend chunks with whipped cream, cooked white rice, maraschino CHERRIES and toasted COCONUT for a delicious dessert with a tropical flair that can be served in parfait glasses.

BANANAS are a PRODUCE department staple in steady supply. To help prevent darkening when using slices in salad recipes, dip BANANAS into LEMON juice.

Chile continues to send plentiful volume of PEACHES, NECTARINES and both RED and BLACK PLUMS.

CANTALOUPE MELON is gradually decreasing in price, but the best MELON value this week is seedless WATERMELON. Serve ice cold with a splash of vodka.

RED SEEDLESS GRAPES from Chilean growers continue to be in plentiful supply at very reasonable prices. Expect California’s harvest to kick in by May.

GALA and RED DELICIOUS APPLES are in steady supply at moderate prices. Slice and enjoy as a quick dessert course dipped in warm caramel or chocolate sauce or served with assorted soft cheeses and WALNUTS.

MANGOS are a tropical favorite in plentiful supply at economical prices. Pureed MANGOS make a delicious treat for toddlers or peel, insert an ice cream stick and let the kids enjoy a natural FRUIT pop.

California PISTACHIO NUTS are in good supply and make a convenient go-with anywhere snack that’s beneficial to your heart and kind to your waistline.

This Week in Vegetables

ARTICHOKE season has arrived and quality is very good on these tasty globes from the Castroville growing region, with prices steadily decreasing; large sizes are the best value.

ASPARAGUS, another spring favorite, is increasing in supply as prices drop to very reasonable levels. Toss spears into stir-fry or chop and add to salads.

ICEBERG LETTUCE is this week’s best pick for salads, with RED and GREEN LEAF LETTUCES, GREEN CABBAGE, SPINACH and ARUGULA also in plentiful supply.

JICAMA tops the list of most economical salad toppings, along with RADISHES, SPROUTS, GREEN ONIONS, CARROTS, CELERY and MUSHROOMS.

Very reasonable prices continue on RED ROSE POTATOES, great for baking or steaming skin-on to use in POTATO salads.

GREEN BEANS are among the most economical side dish choices. BEANS are an excellent source of fiber and can be enjoyed raw with dip on appetizer platters.

Make ONIONS a priority on your shopping list because of their versatility, with WHITE and SWEET BROWN both economically priced. GARLIC is another good kitchen staple that adds zest to salad dressings and marinades.

Fresh CILANTRO, PARSLEY and CHILIES are among salsa ingredients in plentiful supply, with prices decreasing.

BROCCOLI, one of the first PRODUCE items to receive an anti-cancer fighting designation, has decreased in price. Enjoy it steamed over rice with cheese sauce.

CAULIFLOWER is equally abundant at very reasonable prices. Its mild nutty flavor requires no dressing other than a little butter and LEMON juice.

ZUCCHINI SQUASH production is strong, with prices decreasing. This low-calorie VEGETABLE choice can handle zesty Italian sauces and spices.

This Week in Floral

The spring parade of cut FLORAL choices includes DAFFODILS, TULIPS, CARNATIONS, MINIATURE CARNATIONS, SUNFLOWERS, IRIS, DAISIES and ALSTROMERIA LILES. Best bet on blooming potted plants continues to be TULIPS, HYACINTHS and exotic and delicate ORCHIDS.