Tomatoes are an ancient crop, thought to have originated in Central America centuries ago. While the tomato has become associated with Mediterranean cuisine, they were are relatively late arrive to the European pantry, not arriving until the 16th century. Are they a fruit or are they a vegetable? Botanically, they are a fruit, but…
If ever there was a cross-cultural vegetable (or technically speaking–a fruit–but I’m not here to upset you,) it would have to be eggplant. While most countries have a beloved recipe featuring eggplant, they also have a variation on the vegetable itself. The more common types of eggplant Let’s begin with the American eggplant, also known…
Today we are going to talk about Produce 101: Cucumbers Cucumbers are how old? Cucumbers are one of the most ubiquitous items in the produce world, but did you know there are a few main types of cucumbers? Cucumbers originated in India and are believed to have been cultivated for over 3,000 years. Appreciated for…
Today we are going to talk about Produce 101: Stone Fruit Are you ordering or storing your stone fruit for maximum freshness and flavor? All stone fruit sold is picked ripe, but that doesn’t mean it is ready to eat. You have a little homework to do on your part. I love stone fruit, in…
Produce 101: Peas, Beans, and Corn This one is a little different. Today we are going to talk about three seemingly different items, but they are intertwined. How Peas, Beans, and Corn are connected The Three Sisters is an ancient, symbiotic growing method that has been utilized by Native Americans for centuries. Three different crops—corn,…
Dan talks to us today about Produce 101: Melons Throughout the season many varieties of melon are available—especially during the summer. Today we are going to just focus on the most popular: cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. Few things are as delicious as perfectly ripe melon, but the challenge is how do you pick the perfect…
Dan talks to us about Produce 101: Tropical Fruit Tropical fruits are an amazing family of produce items. So what designates a tropical fruit? The short answer is that they are any fruit that grows in the regions between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, though many varieties have adapted to sub-tropical regions as well. …
Produce 101: Banana Guide Bananas are one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world, and believe it or not, are actually a berry. Bananas are grown in over 150 countries, but actually don’t grow on trees. Fun fact: botanically, bananas are herbaceous plants, not trees. Trees have bark, these don’t. Most common variety…
Produce 101: Peppers — Let’s Start with Chile Peppers Chile peppers have long been used as a flavoring agent in cuisines around the world. Food anthropologists believe that the cultivation of peppers began in Central Mexico around 6,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest domesticated crops still in production. Peppers were not only…
Dan talks about potatoes–a vast category. Here he goes over the basics to get it started in Produce 101: Potatoes. History The potato is one of the most important agricultural crops in the world, ranking 5th. Long revered by ancient cultures in South America, it is believed that potatoes have been cultivated as a food…
Hi I’m Chef Dan with FreshPoint, and I often get asked how to use sea beans. I like ’em raw, thrown in a salad, or even as a garnish. It adds a bright crunchy texture with a vibrant salty flavor. They get their name legitimately It does taste of salt water and of the sea. More…
Produce 101: Cruciferous Vegetables Here, Dan talks about cruciferous vegetables–a vast category, also known as Brassica. Here’s the basics you need to know to get started. History Cruciferous, or brassica, vegetables are an amazingly diverse group of vegetables, ranging from stalky items such as broccoli, to leafy greens such as arugula and even root vegetables…
When you look at a restaurant menu, one word jumps off the page repeatedly— local. The local movement is supported by every generation from Baby Boomers to Generation Z. Regardless of the size of your company, local is important to consumers and they want to see it on your menu. Nothing Beats the Taste of…
Why work on developing leaders from within? Without a doubt, the most fulfilling part of my job at FreshPoint is coordinating our Leadership Development program. I feel that it is an obligation of top management in our company to grow leaders at all levels of our organization. A Structured Program At FreshPoint, we have developed…
Produce 101: Asparagus Dan spearheads a discussion on asparagus in this edition of our series, Produce 101. Asparagus History Asparagus is a true harbinger of spring, though these days, it is available year-round. Related to the onion, this member of the lily family has been grown for thousands of years, in fact, we have historical…
mixology noun mix·ol·o·gy | \mik-ˈsä-lə-jē \ Definition of mixology : the art or skill of preparing mixed drinks Culinary Cocktails Mixology and craft cocktails are currently two of the hottest trends in the restaurant industry. The bar is being treated as an additional kitchen, and mixologists are viewing cocktails as culinary menu items. Focus is being placed on seasonal offerings and…
Several years ago, I was on a customer call with a sales associate. The customer asked us for our price on 24ct iceberg head lettuce. When the marketing associate quoted the current price, the customer said that our price was about 20% too high. We both walked away from the call perplexed and wondering, “How…
“Did you know FreshPoint supports hundreds of organizations throughout North America? We give millions of pounds of produce, we participate in hundreds of fundraisers, and we are very active with charities and special causes in our communities during the year and holiday time. I feel it is very important to be involved in these causes…
When my mother was a little girl growing up in Ohio, the real treat in her Christmas stocking was not the peppermint candy canes, but rather, an orange. Land-locked Ohio was so far, far away from the swampy Indian River of Florida where she would one day move, that this edible gift was exotic and…
Our experts are pretty passionate about produce. Here’s what they have to say on a few 2019 Culinary Trends they are reading about, eating, and seeing in the industry. Targeting Specific Diets Lisa Pettineo, Digital Marketing Manager The healthy eating trend has been around for years. Like Dan says below, the momentum of whole food,…
