Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
June 21st is National Smoothie Day, the perfect occasion to blend up some delicious and nutritious smoothies! Whether you’re a fan of fruity, creamy, or green smoothies, or even a hearty smoothie bowl, there’s a recipe out there for everyone. Let’s explore some delightful smoothie recipes & helpful tips that will make your celebration truly refreshing.
Tips for the Perfect Smoothie
- Balance Your Ingredients: Aim for a mix of fruits, vegetables, protein, to create a well-rounded smoothie.
- Freeze Your Fruits: Using frozen fruits can help create a thicker, creamier texture without the need for ice.
- Sweeten Naturally: Opt for natural sweeteners like honey, agave syrup, or dates.
- Experiment with Liquids: Try different liquids like coconut water, almond milk, or oat milk.
- Don’t Overdo It: Keep an eye on portion sizes and the amount of sweeteners to maintain a balance.
home.grown. Farm Feature: Reeves Farms
Jack Gelok
Marketing Intern
A Berry Sweet Legacy: The Story of Reeves Farms
It all started with a young 18-year-old coming from Draycott, England to Jacksonville, New York. His name was Arthur Thomas Reeves the founder of Reeves Farm. Arthur started out working on his aunt and uncle’s farm, but by 1898, he and his wife Mary had saved enough to buy their own patch of paradise on what is now known as Reeves Road. With eight kids running around, the Reeves family was starting a farming legacy.
The Fast-Paced World of Farming
In the mid-1920s, Arthur’s son Edward, along with his wife Flossie, took the reins and moved the farm a bit further down Reeves Road. They focused on crops and milking cows. Their son Cecil, after a stint in the Navy during WWII, decided he’d had enough of cows and set his sights on crop farming. Cecil and his wife Dorothy juggled raising nine kids and growing vegetables and grain, proving that farming really is a family affair.
60’s Expansion
By the 1960s, the farm was expanding faster than you can say “strawberry shortcake.” Cecil and Dorothy bought more land, growing fresh market vegetables and berries. Their hard work laid the groundwork for the farm’s next big leap.
The Reeves Farm Today
In 1990, Cecil and Dorothy handed the keys over to their sons Bruce, Mark, and Brian. After Bruce left the partnership in 1992, their brother Andy joined the team. Today, two of Mark’s children, Nolan and Karin, are also part of the farm’s management, making Reeves Farms a true multi-generational operation.
The Reeves Family Looking into the Future
What makes Reeves Farms extra special is their commitment to sustainability. They use Integrated Pest Management, reduced tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, and organic production to keep the soil and water healthy. It’s all about farming smart to ensure this land can keep producing mouthwatering berries and veggies for generations to come.
We are reeling in the shrimp recipes this week! Enjoy the tropical taste of shrimp, mango, and avocado with each bite! Let’s dive in and check out this week’s meal ideas, shall we?
Shrimp & Mango Skewers
1lb. Market 32 Cooked Shrimp (Buy one get one FREE this week!)
2 Mangoes
2 Peppers
1 Vidalia Onion
1 bag PICS Rice
Shop for Shrimp & Mango Skewers here!
Shrimp Tacos
1lb. Market 32 Cooked Shrimp (Buy one get one FREE this week!)
1 bag PICS Tortillas
1 jar PICS Salsa
1 bag (8oz) PICS Shredded Cheese
1 Avocado (optional)
Shop for Shrimp Tacos here!
Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
‘Tis the season for fresh veggies! June 16th is a date to mark on your calendar with a splash of color and a burst of flavor—it’s National Veggies Day! This vibrant day isn’t just about eating more of this food group; it’s about embracing the joy and creativity that vegetables bring to our lives. From their stunning colors and intriguing shapes to their endless culinary possibilities, veggies offer a feast for the senses. Here’s how you can celebrate this delightful day with enthusiasm and creativity.
- Create a Rainbow Platter: Assemble a colorful platter of fruits and vegetables. Think red bell peppers, orange slices, yellow corn, green cucumbers, blue blueberries, and purple grapes. This not only looks stunning but also adds a festive touch to your dining table.
- Food Photography: If you’re into photography, fruits and vegetables make excellent subjects. Their vibrant colors and unique textures can inspire beautiful food photography.
- Fruit and/or Veggie Infused Water: Enhance your hydration with fruit or veggie-infused water. Add slices of lemon, cucumber, strawberries, or mint leaves to your water pitcher. It’s a simple yet refreshing way to enjoy the essence of fruits throughout the day.
- Try a new recipe: Incorporating more veggies into your diet does not have to be a hassle. This can be as simple as tossing in some chopped up veggies in your rice. Check out some summertime recipe ideas below!
Check out more recipes here:
Old Croc Grand Reserve Cheddar is aged two years for an extra sharp, rich flavor. The texture is creamy yet crumbly, with noticeably crunchy crystals. Imported from Australia and crafted with all-natural, grass-fed cow’s milk, no hormones added. Experience Old Croc Grand Reserve with smoked sausage, crusty bread, and dried fruit.
Pair it with a crisp sparkling wine, NYS cider, aged Zinfandel, dark chocolate, or honey butter.
Brighten Up Your Summer with home.grown. Outdoor Floral
The beauty of summer is now surrounding us. From the full, bright green trees to colorful flowers planted on the lawns of our neighbors and local businesses, there is so much to smile about. If you are interested in adding some summer fun to your lawn, you have come to the right place. We have a few tips on how to make the outside of your home look fabulous, one plant at a time. While this will require some work and patience, you will be thrilled by the outcome.
- Do Some Research: What type of flowers or plants are you interested in having outside your home? Hanging plants? Flowers that must be physically planted? Having an idea of what you are looking for will help before you go shopping.
- Clear the Ground: If you chose hanging flowers, then water them and you are all set! However, if you bought potted plants, it is time to get started. Make sure all weeds and rocks are fully removed from the ground.
- Measure Where to Plant: It is important to set the plants down to get an idea of where you want your plants and how far apart they should be placed.
- Start Planting: Smooth soil with a rake before planting. Once completed, dig a hole the same length as the container the plant was in. Once the plant is in, fill with the soil you just dug out.
- Time to water: Water at the base of your plants and then add bark mulch. This will help retain the water moisture.
We’re proud to partner with local greenhouses to bring you quality, fresh floral. This summer, decorate your home with the best our region has to offer!
Casertano's Greenhouse and Farm - Cheshire, CT
If you ever find yourself in the state of Connecticut, you may stumble upon the multi-generational Casertano’s Greenhouse and Farm. Originally founded by Presco (Louie) Casertano, this family owned business has been passed down through the decades creating a successful and well-loved name for itself. Deeply rooted in family values and wonderful products, Casertano’s feels immense pride for their wide selection of plants and greenery. What started as a humble farm market, has grown tenfold in the last few decades as the Casertano team has, collectively, over 400 years of nursery and greenhouse experience.
The Casertano family has dedicated their lives’ work to creating a workplace that will allow their greenery to flourish, while gaining experience from across the globe. This thriving New England farm has undergone several transformations, while actively diversifying its offerings. What started as a veggies and flowers market has now encompassed various gardening realms such as ground covers, perennials, grasses, annuals, wreaths, roping, and an extensive selection of embellished Christmas products.
Kurt Weiss Greenhouses Inc. - Moriches, NY
Nestled in the beautiful state of New York the multi-generational Kurt Weiss Greenhouses have grown highly successful for their tightly knit family values and beautiful greenery and flowers. Originally created by German immigrant, Otto Muller, Kurt Weiss Greenhouses have trickled through the care of various generations in his family. The entire operation is now run by third, fourth and fifth generation family members and continues to power on strong!
What started out as a humble florist shop, has now developed into a multi-faceted greenhouse that offers “foliage, flowering potted plants, bedding plants, perennials, annuals, mixed combination planters and much more.” Through the decades, the Kurt Weiss Greenhouses have seen different phases of optimization, and now ranges over one million square feet and has beautiful, updated facilities to aid each location’s differing geographical diversities.
As the temperature rises, our cravings shift towards lighter, cooler meals that refresh and invigorate. Whether you’re planning a casual backyard picnic, a beachside gathering, or simply looking to beat the heat with a deliciously cool meal, these summertime recipes will become your go-to favorites. Let’s check out what’s on the menu…
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
1 package Perdue Ground Chicken
1 pack Iceberg Lettuce
PICS Lite Soy Sauce
1 Lime
1 Avocado
1 Pack Knorr Pasta or Rice
1 bottle (8oz) Chili Garlic Sauce
Shop for Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps here!
Homemade BLTs
1 package PICS Bacon
1 pack Iceberg Lettuce
Glorys Cherry Tomatoes
1 loaf Market 32 Peasant or Sourdough Bread
Sweet Corn (6 for $4 this week!)
Shop for for BLTs here!
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN
June 7th is World Food Safety Day, set to create awareness and good practices that keep us all healthy and enjoying good food. This is the 6th World Food Safety Awareness Day, created by the World Health Organization and the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) to highlight the need for good practices that help us prevent, detect and manage food safety concerns.
We have a global food supply, whether produce and other commodities travel across the county, or around the world before reaching our stores and homes. Food safety practices and traceability are critical to keeping us all safe.
Why is this so important?
Food-borne illness is almost completely preventable. Children, elderly, and those with chronic illness are at the highest risk for adverse outcomes in any emergency, so it pays to be prepared for unexpected emergencies. Being prepared, especially during times of crisis or emergency, reduces the risk of encountering bacteria, viruses, parasites and contaminants that cause over 200 different illnesses. Many of these concerns are on the radar and actively managed, but there is no replacement for the most important protection, your own healthful food safety habits. Check out the top 5 tips to prevent food safety issues on this video here.
Helping our customers feed and care for their family is part of our mission. That is why we have shared these important resources. Food safety is everyone’s business!
Check out some great information and guides shared by The Partnership for Food Safety Education:
- Food Safety During Severe Weather (PFSE)
- Food Safety for Power Outages (CDC)
- Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods (FDA)
- Emergencies and Food Safety (USDA)
Find more resources at World Food Safety Day 2024 (who.int) and Partnership for Food Safety Education (fightbac.org)
National Cheese Day
There’s nothing like gooey, yummy, melted cheese. Essential for burgers, quesadillas, and of course mac & cheese. Today we are celebrating National Cheese Day and to do so, we are taking a deeper bite into melted cheese. Let’s break it down.
The science behind how cheese melts
Melted cheese is a science. Cheese is made up of protein and this protein is the key difference between good melting cheese and bad melting cheese. When cheese is heated up, the protein breaks and some hold their shape better than others. For example, younger, high-moisture cheeses like mozzarella, Taleggio, brie, Gruyère, Emmental, and Jack are the most reliable melters. Drier grating cheeses, such as Parmesan and Pecorino-Romano are not.
What are the best cheeses for melting?
The best cheeses for melting are called process cheeses. These products are designed to be easily meltable and difficult to break. Start with real cheese, usually a young cheddar, and blend it with extra milk, extra milk protein, and melting salt to prevent proteins from sticking together. A good example of this is American cheese, where they have so much extra liquid added to them, they have very low melting points, allowing for extra-gooey melted cheese.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are acid-set cheeses. Impossible to melt no matter what type of tweaking you implement. Fresh goat cheese, quick farmers cheese, paneer, queso fresco, and ricotta just can’t melt. When heated, the acid in these cheeses lose water, but not proteins. Water will continue to be cooked off, but the proteins in the curd are only going to tighten, holding the cheese together. These cheeses won’t melt, but you can cook or even grill them!
What are the best cheeses for mac & cheese?
Well, good melters with quality taste, like sharp cheddar. Sharp cheddar is the most common, and it works great, and if you’re using a cheesy blend we recommend cheddar as the base. Now, you get to mix in some fun, flavorful cheeses. Gruyère is common, it melts just as beautifully as cheddar, but brings additional tasty flavors to the table. Gouda, Muenster, fontina, Havarti, and Monterey Jack are also excellent options.
Enjoy National Mac & Cheese Day with a melty, flavorful blend of your own. For whichever cheese you choose to call upon, stop by your local Price Chopper/Market 32 to pick it up or shop with us online!
Written by our friends at the American Dairy Association
National Dairy Month is celebrated annually during June to recognize the contributions of the dairy industry and the hardworking dairy farmers behind the milk and dairy products making it to your grocery store shelves every day. This year, we want to focus on real milk and yogurt tubs to make a delicious, filling smoothie. What better time for an ice cold drink than summertime?
A smoothie made with real, wholesome milk or yogurt is a delicious way to get high-quality protein and other essential nutrients that your body needs to help fuel your day.
Use Real Dairy as the base of the smoothie.
- Milk makes an excellent base for any smoothie. Milk has a significant amount of protein as well as a powerful package of 13 essential nutrients including calcium, protein, phosphorus, vitamin D, vitamin A, and several B vitamins. Add more or less milk depending on how thick you like your smoothie.
- Yogurt also makes a great base for a smoothie. Yogurt is another excellent source of protein and 9 essential nutrients. Most yogurts are made with live and active cultures, and some also provide probiotics – or good bacteria – that may help maintain digestive health, boost immunity, fight infection and protect against diseases.
Are you a dairy lover interested in learning more about the history of Dairy Month? Check out more here!
Where does your milk come from?
Click here to meet dairy farming families in the Northeast.
Click here to meet dairy farming families in New England.
Learn more about dairy farming in the Northeast at AmericanDairy.com and in New England at NewEnglandDairy.com