July is the Official Start of Summer!
School is out, vacations begin and everyone is enjoying friends and family. And what goes best with friends and family? Delicious food, of course! Barbecuing, pool parties and beach fire pits are filled with fun, food and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables! Grilling is the hottest cooking trend and our fresh fruits and vegetables fit the trend perfectly! One of the latest cooking trends is grilling fresh sliced fruit for a delicious (and healthy) treat.
The biggest holiday of the summer is Independence Day, or the 4th of July. Independence Day in the United States is an annual holiday commemorating the formal adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, PA. On June 11, 1776, the colonies’ Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, formed a committee with the one purpose of drafting a document that would formally sever their ties with Great Britain. John Hancock was the president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first to sign the Declaration with his flourished lettering taking over the document. (Hence, the saying when someone asks you for your “John Hancock”, they are asking for your signature!) The custom of celebrating eventually spread to other towns both large and small, where the day was marked with processions, picnics, contests, games, military displays and fireworks. The final version was officially adopted by Congress on July 4, 1941 which is when it was declared a legal holiday.
The Fourth is traditionally celebrated publicly with parades, pageants, firework displays and even watermelon eating contests! Many cities have outlawed fireworks, hoping for a “safe and sane” holiday, making public fireworks shows very popular. Along the coasts nationwide, beach picnics and bonfires are extremely popular and filled with red, white and blue! Everyone will be enjoying picnics and parties…all filled with a variety of foods and drinks. This is the perfect time to enjoy barbecue and picnic items like baby potatoes for perfectly quick potato salad and our red, white and blue potato medley. Don’t forget the fresh fruit to lace onto the kabobs for another delicious treat.
For many, July 4th kicks off the grilling season. Items like organic stone fruit and portobello mushroom sandwiches are easy and trendy. Did you know the best way to preserve the nutrients in fresh mushrooms is to grill them? Try preparing vegetable skewers made with fresh mushrooms, organic bell peppers, organic potatoes and organic zucchini. Grilled fruit, such as organic peaches and nectarines also make a delicious side dish or dessert. Just slice in half and place cut side down on a lightly oiled grill… Another all-time favorite is grilled sweet potatoes or yams sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. Delicious and even lower in fat than potato salad!
Melissa’s has introduced some perfect-for-any-day pre-packaged items: cubed butternut squash, baby summer squash, baby zucchini and one of the latest trends in vegetables, brussels sprouts! All 6 of these items are conveniently packaged ready to use or cook. Be sure to give them a try. You will be happy you did!
Try some cucumbers, a great side salad item, along with fresh sugar snap peas, organic baby peeled carrots, roasted jalapeños, fresh edamame and Baby Dutch Yellow® Potatoes for potato salads. Our ready-to-eat beets make a refreshing salad tossed with rice vinegar and your favorite pasta or grain. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself while eating fresh!
