July 2015 - Produce Available

Oxnard: 910 Commercial Ave., Oxnard, CA 93030, 805-483-5292/FAX 805-486-2412
Santa Maria: 415 Russell Ave., Santa Maria, CA 93458, 805-925-4253/FAX 805-925-5417
Visit us on the web: www.produceavailable.com
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Order online: www.produceavailable.com
July 2015
In This Issue
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Customer of the Month
Product Spotlight
Cheese Board/Wild Things
Fruits of July
July Vegetables
This Month’s Happenings
BG’s Cafe
BG’s Café has been serving up traditional comfort food since 1971! The popular local eatery is accurately nicknamed the
“Favorite Downtown Hangout” for the years of loyal clientele that have made BG’s their second home, or second kitchen. From
Police officers to City Officials, retirees and local business owners, there is rarely a time that you can visit BG’s without seeing
someone you know.
Known for their giant cinnamon rolls and most recently for their killer Chilaquiles, husband and wife team, Jose and Veronica
Rodriguez, along with a loyal crew of staff, have worked arduously to give the customers more of the delicious food they want.
Their food is fresh and it has a distinct homemade flavor, with almost everything being prepared in-house. From chopping the
fresh fruit and vegetables that arrives from Produce Available every morning to roasting their own turkeys and roast beef, they
want customers to know that the food has the least amount of preservatives possible for a healthier and more flavorful meal. The
team of four cooks that work at BG’s get in to work at 5:00am to start prepping everything fresh for the day’s production.
BG’s has also won numerous awards and recognition over the years. They have made a name for themselves winning an award
for their salsa each year at the Oxnard Salsa Festival since 2005. The Oxnard Tamale Festival awarded them the Championship
three years in a row for best tamales. Their homemade chili beans have also gained recognition at a local Chili Cookoff! In
2009, they also received the honor of Downtown Business of the Year!
BG’s Café is open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch! Congratulations to BG’s for its 44 years in business, and we hope it
will be around for at least that much more!
From mixed drinks to pastries to sauces and dressings, Perfect Puree will sweeten
up your Summer!
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Strawberry:
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Key Lime:
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Papaya:
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Kiwi:
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Passion Colada:
This is luscious ripe strawberry at its best - perfectly sweet fruit with just a hint of
tartness. Our seedless Strawberry puree possesses a delightful fragrance, texture and deep berry red color.
Key lime is truly a distinct citrus fruit. More aromatic than the more common Persian
Lime, the fruit's popularity is attributable to its complex acidic flavor profile. Our Key Lime Concentrate
captures these sublime flavor characteristics without added sugar or artificial ingredients.
This bright orange, full-bodied fruit is common in the tropical regions around the world. Its
fragrant aroma is well balanced by the musky flavor that defines the delicious papaya.
This fruit's emerald green pulp is its most outstanding feature. Sweet-tart in flavor, our Kiwi
puree has both the fruit’s appealing visual characteristics and distinctive clean flavor.
With the addition of passion fruit concentrate to luscious pineapple and coconut,
the standard Piña Colada is taken to exotic heights.
New to Produce Available
Give your eggs, polentas, risottos and sauces that elegant essence of
White and Black Truffle Oils. State of the Art oils from Sabatino.
Their Balestra 1911 Reserva now in stock.
I Fruttati’ Balsamic Fig Vinegar. Yummy, syrupy sweetness in a
jar. Made from Trebbiano grapes, the must of which is cooked and
concentrated until deep, dark and rich and then aged to perfection. If that
isn’t enough the must of fresh figs is added to heighten it’s essence. A
limited stock is available, so please pre-order on your first order.
Mushrooms & Truffles
Feta
Mother Nature is in charge here….and the only
constant in life and produce is “change”….all
mushroom pricing and info is subject to change at
any given moment…
Fresh, Wild Mushrooms
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Feta cheese, the most famous of the Greek Cheeses, has a very
colorful history. According to Classical Greek myth, it was first
prepared by the Cyclops Polyfimos and there are cheese making
artifacts in the Museum of Delphi that date back to the 6th
century B.C. that reference the Feta making process.
On the whole, Feta is a white, “pickled,” curd cheese that has a
salty and tangy taste enhanced by the brine solution. The texture
depends on the age which can be extremely creamy or crumbly
dry. Feta is used as an appetizer, side dish, and as an ingredient
in salads, filled pies, and pastries. Its use in preparing and
serving Greek food is almost as imperative as the use of olive
oil.
Morels, USA
Maitake (Hen of the Woods),
USA
King Trumpet, IMP
Chanterelles, IMP
All Dried Mushrooms-Cultivated Mushrooms
 Organic “Chef’s Mix”
Truffles
Fresh/Frozen Truffles/Oils
 Fresh Summer Truffles, Italy
 Black & White Truffle Oils
 Truffle Peelings & Salt
Other Wild Things
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Finger Limes
Many countries in the Balkan and Mediterranean region have
their own variation of Feta cheese. But, to be considered a true
Feta it must have a minimum 70% sheep’s milk, with the rest
being goat milk. The rest are “Feta style” white cheeses. A prime
example is Danish Feta (also called Danish White) which is
made from cow's milk. Though it isn't authentic, the Danish type
of feta is sometimes preferred due to its mild flavor and ability to
be cubed and sliced without crumbling. Danish Feta is well
suited for salads and can also be served grilled.
Produce Available carries Crumbled Feta in 5 lb. units and
Domestic Feta Pails that are 9 lb. Danish Feta is also available as
a pre-order in a 6/1 lb. case or by the pound. A Refreshing
Summer Cheese!
*NOTE: Order all Wild Things Via Your Sales
Rep
With a 3-4 Day LEAD TIME
FRUIT Please know that the lists below are a “forecast” based on previous history/growing patterns. Enjoy the
possibilities! Fun Fact: Early Explorers used watermelons as canteens. Watermelons are grown in 96 countries now
with over 1200 varieties. The familiar pink-fleshed watermelon is a source of the potent carotenoid antioxidant,
lycopene. These powerful antioxidants travel through the body neutralizing free radicals.
Stonefruit….Local, CA-Grown!
Apricots CA var ieties coming to an end with sizing on
the small side, but good eating quality. We should
transition to Northwestern Apricots in another 2-3 weeks.
CA Nectarines/Peaches Yellow & White coming on
strong & likely available into September. The best of the
eating fruit is here! Have you tried a Mango Nectarine?
Season is short so you’d better hurry!
Saturn (Donut) Peaches also available.
Plums: Black, Red and Dinosaur Pluots (Plum
foreground/Apricot background). CA Sugar Plums due
mid-July.
Cherries The cherry market is steady with only 3 weeks
at most left in the Washington deal. The big unknown is
how badly the current heat will affect the remaining
harvest.
Melons Desert area, Mexico, Yuma & Arizona melons
all winding down, transitioning to Bakersfield and the
West Side….Canary, Galia, Hammi, Orange Honeydew,
Gold Honeydew, Santa Claus & Yellow Watermelon
available for the Summer.
The market value of
Watermelon will go sky-high due to 4th of July festivities.
Avocados Mostly California product this month.
Citrus CA Grapefruit is here.
Ventura Lemons are the main crop right now.
Meyer Lemons coming in fr om New Zealand.
Limes/Key Limes ar e fair ing much better than we saw
a few months ago.
Blood Oranges This cr op of Blood Or anges is done for
the season and we are looking to the end of July with
Australian product.
Grapes New cr op Mexico and CA gr apes have star ted
with red, green and black seedless. CA Champagne
Grapes just started.
Berries CA Strawberries/Stemberries coming mainly
out of Salinas and Santa Maria now. You may see
smaller berries at this point.
Raspberries ar e being har vested in Mexico, Oxnar d,
Salinas, & Watsonville growing areas.
Gold/Orange Raspberries ar e available under
Driscoll label on a sporadic basis.
Blueberries ar e coming fr om CA and Mexico
transitioning up to Oregon, WA, & British Columbia.
Blackberries ar e mostly out of Califor nia r egions.
CA Black Mission and Brown Turkey Figs are
available until September. We are likely to see other
varieties soon.
Pineapple Costa Rican, Maui Gold varieties available.
Apples Mostly “cold storage” product until late
Summer.
Pears Mostly “cold storage” product until late
Summer/ early Fall.
Exotics From Around the World New Zealand Gold
Kiwi, Dragon Fruit/Pitaya (from Vietnam/Florida),
Passion Fruit (transitioning from New Zealand to
Florida), Caped Gooseberries (Columbia), Lychee
(China then Mexico starts new crop), Rambutan (out of
Guatamala), Jumbo Taiwan Star Fruit (winding down to
start again until Sept.), Feijoas (done from New
Zealand with CA end of July), Young Coconut out of
Thailand (limited until August), South African Baby
Pineapple, Quince (Chile).
Vegetables Bell peppers are sometimes grouped with less pungent pepper varieties as “sweet peppers". Peppers are
native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America. Pepper seeds were later carried to Spain in 1493 and
from there spread to other European, African and Asian countries. Today, China is the world's largest pepper
producer, followed by Mexico and Indonesia. Green bell peppers are the most popular type of pepper in the United
States.
Artichokes continue to be short. Some sizing is still
unavailable. Artichokes are available year-round;
however, they flourish in the Spring.
Asparagus In J uly, you will find higher prices, gaps
& difficulties with sizing. White Asparagus is available
year-round with some gaps.
Beans Green, Yellow Wax, French, Dragon, Purple,
Romano, & Fresh Favas all CA-grown.
Bell Peppers are transitioning from Mexico to
California. More fields will be producing as we move
into July.
Broccoli Rabe (Rapini) peaks in late Summer/Early
Fall.
Brussels Sprouts Peak season late F all/Winter. We
are seeing some with intermittent gapping with less
product available to choose from.
Corn White, Yellow, Bi-Colored, & Red Corn
available.
Cauliflower
Large White, Orange & Purple
cauliflower. Baby with some gaps.
Romanesco Large & baby with some gaps.
Celery Root (Celeric) CA season starts early J uly.
Chards Green, Red, Yellow and Rainbow are CAgrown.
Cucumbers Persian and J apanese available along
with your standard cucumber varieties.
Eggplant Graffiti and White (from Holland) are
available in the Summer months. Italian, Japanese &
Indian available as well, along with your standard
purple eggplant.
Fresh Herbs & Flowering Herb Sorrel, Marjoram,
Lemon Thyme, Bay, Dill, Sage, Cilantro, Lemon
Verbena, Mint, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme…
Kale Lacinato, Purple F lowering, Red Boar and
Kale Sprouts (Lollipops) available.
Lettuces & Baby Lettuces Available, but Summer
heat can affect delicate CA lettuces.
Baby Lettuce available from Babe F arms in Santa
Maria.
Okra will run through early F all.
Parsnips will have gaps throughout Summer months.
Peas English Peas (some gapping), Snap Peas, Snow
Peas, & Pea Tendrils available.
Potatoes New CA crop Yukon Gold Bakers, White
Rose, Purple, Red and Fingerlings.
Radishes...all of the wonderful Babe F arm varieties,
i.e., Cincinnati, French Breakfast, Icicle, Purple Plum,
Rosas, Black and Watermelon Radishes.
Summer Squash is abundant. Varieties include:
Baby Summer Squash, Patty Pan, Sunburst, and Baby
Zucchini.
Squash Blossoms picked at its peak. Baby Zucchini
with flower attached available as well.
Tomatoes
Summer favorites include Heirloom
varieties. Locally-grown and great additions to your
summertime menu. Locally-grown Organic Heirloom
Tomatoes available as well (Lead-time required).
Mark Your Calendars
July 4: Independence Day (4th of July)
July 16-18: California Wine Festival - Santa Barbara
July 18 & 19: Santa Barbara French Festival, Santa Barbara
July 25 & 26: Oxnard Salsa Festival
July
1
The 22nd Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival will be held on July 25 and 26.
Community leaders will dance during the “2015 Dancing with our Community Stars Dance Contest and Charity
Fundraiser” on the second day of the festival at Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard.
Since its inception, the contest has raised more than $650,000 for local charities. The 2015 lineup consists of six
“stars” who will take to the dance floor to raise much-needed funds for their charity of choice
Spicy food, hot music and Oxnard's cool ocean breezes are on the menu for the Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival.
Plaza Park is the place for a two-day celebration of everything salsa -- the food, the music, and the dance. You can
taste it, you can dance it, and you can even take it home! Free admission and parking... it's Southern California's
“Hottest” Summer Event!