Back-To-School Essentials

One of our favorite snack trends is our bite-size CLEAN SNAX®. These delicious, wholesome bites are gluten-free, low-fat, low-sodium and contain no artificial ingredients. Many flavors are also vegan! CLEAN SNAX® comes in several addicting flavors, perfect for lunch boxes or after-school snacks! We have added a new line of organic Clean Snax®, too, making it easier than ever to eat a wholesome snack anywhere!
Fresh Papayas are popular in fruit salads, fresh salsa and smoothies. They are the perfect way to start the morning, packed full of vitamins and great taste. Try cutting one in half, removing the seeds and adding a scoop of cottage cheese with a sprinkle of chia seeds. Healthy and delicious!
Edamame is also gaining popularity as an anytime favorite. We offer them in the shell or out of the shell. Both delicious and nutritious. Our fresh pineapples are juicy and sweet, great for salads, grilling or just snacking. Fresh carrots and light ranch dip are always popular, as well as snap peas, broccoli pieces and full-flavored mini Marzano tomatoes. Try slicing some fresh baby cucumbers; they are refreshing and satisfying. Cut fresh fruit into cubes to make a perfect addition to lunch, as well as adding some natural energy to your day. Sliced apples with some low-fat cheese or even low-fat caramel are also a perfect snack.
Get creative with polenta, quinoa or couscous by adding fresh vegetables and a light balsamic vinaigrette for a filling, healthy and nutritious lunch. Whatever you prepare for yourself or for your school lunchbox, variety is key!

LABOR DAY
Labor Day originated in 1894 with President Grover Cleveland. Labor Day began as a protest with the railroad workers back in the day, because the workers wanted better pay. Since 1894 was an election year, President Cleveland believed making Labor Day a holiday would help win him votes — even though that did not happen and he was not re-elected. We still celebrate today.

Today, Labor Day is a nationwide holiday; generally, there is no school and the banks and post office are closed! This year, Labor Day is Monday, September 2nd. Fall is around the corner, and in some areas, the weather is already turning cold. Although, this year, Mother Nature has been playing with the hot/cold weather all year-long! If you are lucky enough to have barbecuing weather, be sure to try some of our favorite grilling items. Fresh peppers (possibly a few Hatch peppers left!), fresh fruit, including stone fruit, and fresh vegetables make wonderful grilling items to enhance your family barbecue. Try grilling a whole eggplant on low heat and it will come off the grill like butter.

FALL IS HERE!
September 22, 2024 is the first day of fall. It is also known as the autumnal equinox. This is when the sun aligns with the earth’s equator and causes the Northern Hemisphere to tilt away from the sun, resulting in shorter days and longer nights. For many of us, the arrival of Fall means trees turn beautiful colors, and the season of pomegranates, fresh apples and hard squash is upon us. Halloween is right around the corner, and cold-weather recipes are popular. Soups, casseroles and upcoming Freaky Fruits® will be enhancing dinner tables across the nation. Melissa’s Pearl Onions and Winter Squash will be abundant in retailers nationwide. Other colder weather cooking ingredients like our Steamed Lentils or Steamed Chickpeas are perfect for your comfort recipes. Make your favorite chili recipe using our Six-Bean Medley in a fraction of the time it would normally take. Be sure to check out some of our favorite fall recipes for soups and stews here.