Stores_both – Page 12

The Bio-Engineered (BE) Food Labeling Law

September 28, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

The Bio-Engineered (BE) Food Labeling Law is going to take effect in January 2022. This infographic from The Non-GMO Project gives you some solid information about this new law and why The Natural Grocery Company supports stricter labeling standards like the one The Non-GMO Project provides. In our stores the shelf tags that are green indicate products that are certified Non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project. Products with blue labels still go through a process of verification conducted by our buyers and staff and we do our best to keep GMOs out of our stores but the best labeling program continues to be The Non-GMO Project Verification. We think it is important to “Follow the Butterfly”.

Organic Warren Pears

September 22, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

Organic Warren Pears from Frog Hollow Farms

Season: August to November in Northern California

Flavor: Sweet, juicy but mild.

Storage: Look for fruit that are unblemished and are slightly firm when you purchase them, unless you plan to eat them right away. They also smell fragrant. You can allow pears to ripen by leaving out at room temperature, uncovered, for a day or two; or you can stall the fruit’s ripening by keeping it in the refrigerator. In either case, don’t suffocate the fruit for long with airtight plastic. Without oxygen, pears will degrade faster and their natural moisture may encourage mold.

How to use: Pear ripen from the inside out; if the outside looks fully ripe then the inside may be too ripe! What pairs with pears? The answer seems to be endless. Fresh pears can be enjoyed on their own, as a snack, or in multitudes of ways. The refreshing sweetness of pears adds complexity to savory foods well, like a charcuterie or cheese board. Serving pears fresh showcases their crispness, which is lost in cooked preparations.

Like apples, though, pears can be cooked in baked goods like pies and tarts. They can be canned or turned into preserves and take on additional flavors in the process. Simply poached peeled pears in wine or brandy, until meltingly soft but still retaining their shape and serve with chocolate sauce.

Nutrition: Pears are an excellent source of dietary fiber and carbohydrates. It offers a sampling of essential minerals, including copper, iron, magnesium and calcium, although much of this nutrition is found in the fruit’s skin. The flesh alone is a good source of potassium and Vitamin C, although pears are not as strong of a source of antioxidants like higher-acidity fruits and leafy green vegetables.

Organic Hard-skin “Winter” Squash

September 12, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

Organic Hard-skin “Winter” Squash

Season: September to December in Northern California, but available year round.

Flavor: There are so many shapes, colors and sizes of winter squash that it’s a real treat to see them start to show up at the market each fall. Winter squash specifically refers to a wide variety of squash species that have matured long enough so that their skin is hard and their seeds are larger and tougher to eat than Summer Squash.

Storage: The best way to store winter squash is in a cool, dark and dry spot, where it will hold up for at least a month, even longer depending on the variety and if your storage space is well ventilated. Store cut squash in a tightly covered container and refrigerate for up to five days. You can also freeze raw squash for up to 6 months; cube first, then freeze in a single layer on a rimmed sheet tray and transfer to a freezer-safe container once frozen.

How to use: What can’t you do with winter squash? It’s wonderful roasted, stuffed, and pureed.

Thin-skinned cultivars like delicata squash cook quickly and are great combined with other vegetables or served as a side dish on their own. The skin can be eaten!

Nutrition: That beautiful orange and yellow flesh is the source of uber-powerful disease-fighting antioxidants that protect against cataracts and stroke, for starters. It’s rich in Vitamin A, B-6, C, potassium and fiber, for starters, and some heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids as well.

Organic Seedless Grapes

September 11, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

Organic Seedless Grapes

Season: July to December in Northern California

Flavor: Sweet & Juicy.

Storage: Fresh grapes should be as dry as possible when stored in the refrigerator, as moisture accelerates decomposition. Fresh grapes will keep in the fridge between one and two weeks.

How to use:Grapes and raisins both make great additions to a whole bunch of different dishes, both savory and sweet. Fresh grapes are, of course, delicious eaten out of hand, but also make amazing additions to pastries, salads and braised poultry.

Nutrition: Grapes are good sources of Vitamins C and K, but not much else. What they lack in vitamins, they make up for in containing a number of potent antioxidant compounds that may provide cardiovascular benefits, lower blood sugar and have anti-cancer properties. (It should be noted that the scientific verdict is still out on many of these claims, however.) The fruit with red or purple skins contain the most of these compounds.

Organic Red Bell Peppers

August 25, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

Organic Red Bell Pepper

Season: May to December in Northern California

Flavor: Bell peppers turn red as they ripen and are sweeter than when they are green or yellow.

Storage: Can be stored for up to a week in the fridge but make sure the peppers skin is completely dry. Moisture causes rapid deterioration.

How to use: Raw, roasted, stewed, stuffed, or grilled.

Nutrition: Red Bell Peppers are very high in Vitamins A and C and are a good source of folate.

Organic Lil’ Gem Lettuce

August 23, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

Organic Lil’ Gem Lettuce

Season: Year round in Northern California

Flavor: Little Gem lettuce, botanical name Lactuca sativa, is an annual plant of the sunflower family, Asteraceae, also called Sucrine (French for sugar), or Sugar Cos. . Little Gem, the sweet, compact lettuce that resembles romaine after you you strip away the flimsy outer leaves. the best of both worlds! sweet like butter lettuce and crunchy like romaine.

Storage: Keeping it cold and preventing excess moisture build-up is the key to extending its crisp freshness. Try to put it in the fridge as soon as possible. It will not store well in bio-bags and should be used quickly. You can get a little longer life by putting it in a plastic bag or container.

How to use: Vinaigrettes love getting lost in the Gem’s nooks and crannies, and even grill time can’t subdue its crispness. There’s no waste on this lettuce. It’s perfect for individual salads, sandwiches and lettuce cup appetizers.

Nutrition: Like romaine, this green is packed with vitamins A, C, K, and folate, as well as minerals phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Organic Yellow Peaches

August 20, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

Organic Yellow Peaches

Season: May to October in Northern California

Flavor: Yellow peaches tend to have an appealingly tart edge beneath their juicy sweetness for a well-rounded flavor. Frog Hollow offers several varieties. Taste them all and find which you like best. O’Henry and Cal-Red are year to year favorites and are here right now!

Storage: Peaches are highly perishable! If it needs a little time to soften up then keep it out of the refrigerator and out of direct sunlight. To buy a little time for a ripe peach go ahead and refrigerate it but keep in mind it might shrivel.

How to use: Fresh, baked, grilled (yes grilled!)

Nutrition: High in Vitamins A, C and E and dietary fiber.

Organic Sweet Corn

August 16, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

Season: June to October in Northern California

Flavor: Sweet, succulent and crisp.

Storage: The fresher the better! Try to cook fresh corn the same day you purchase it. Despite the advances in new varietals, it still holds true that the longer corn is in your fridge the more starchy and less sweet corn becomes. When choosing don’t worry about dryer husks or brown silks but if the kernels start to dimple that is a sign it is going to be starchy.

How to use: Raw, steamed, boiled, pan fried- just about any way you can imagine!

Here’s a link to a “No-Pollo” Verde Soup with Sweet Corn on our site:

https://naturalgrocery.com/2021/08/14/no-pollo-verde-soup-with-sweet-corn/

Nutrition: Fresh corn is a good source of vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, magnesium, iron and a number of other important minerals. Eating corn with beans provides all the amino acids humans need.

“No-Pollo” Verde Soup with Sweet Corn

August 14, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

“No-Pollo” Verde Soup with Sweet Corn (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Total Time: 30 minutes (5 minutes prep time 25 minutes cooking time)

Yield: 2 quarts (4x16oz portions)

This bright, slightly tart soup tastes just like the chicken version but is completely free of animal products! It’s also a quick pull together that tastes like it has been cooking on the stove all day.

1 cup chopped yellow onion (aprox 1 medium yellow onion)

1 cup chopped carrots (aprox 2 large carrots)

1 cup chopped celery (aprox 2 large stalks celery)

1 cup diced yellow creamer potato (skin on)

2 cups corn (aprox 2 ears of corn)

1 box Imagine No-Chicken Broth (32oz)

2 cans Herdez Salsa Verde (7oz cans)

1/3 cup olive oil

salt & pepper to taste

Use a food processor to chop first the onions, set aside, then the carrots, set aside, then the celery, set aside. I pulse my machine about 20 times to get the size I like. Take the corn off the cob with a sharp knife and then using the back side of the knife squeeze the “milk” from the cob, set aside. This contains the germ of the corn kernels and will help thicken your soup. Wash your potatoes and dice them, set aside. I like to leave the skin on because there’s a lot of nutrition in it.

Put the olive oil in your soup pot and set your heat on medium/high. Add the onions and cook until they start to color a bit. Add the carrots and cook a little longer. Finally add the celery and cook until slightly soft. In total the veggies should take 5-8 minutes. Add the Imagine No-Chicken Broth. Add the diced potatoes. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. After 10 minutes add the Salsa Verde and the corn. Cook until the potatoes are soft. If it is too thick then add a little water until it has the broth/veg ratio you prefer. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe courtesy of Wilted Made.

June 15th, 2021 – Happy Re-Opening Day California!

June 15, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

Thanks to everyone who has made the sacrifices necessary to get us to this point! You will notice some changes in our stores the next time you visit.

Hand sanitizer will be available at the door for anyone who wishes to clean their hands before and/or after shopping. It is no longer a requirement but it is strongly encouraged.

We will no longer be limiting the number of customers who can enter the store at any given time but please be respectful of other shoppers personal space and don’t crowd anyone.

Customers who are vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks while shopping but are encouraged to do so until they are comfortable sharing indoor space with un-masked patrons.

If you are not vaccinated for Covid-19 you must wear a mask while inside any of our locations. This is for your safety, the safety of others and the current California requirement. By entering our stores without a mask you are self-attesting that you have been vaccinated.

The board of California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, voted on June 17 to approve new rules, which now allows fully vaccinated workers to go without masks at work. Governor Newsom has signed an order, which makes Cal/OSHA’s new rules take effect immediately. Our Natural Grocery Company rules will change to follow the new Cal/OSHA rules, starting Friday, June 18. Fully Vaccinated employees have the option to not wear a mask. Of course, any fully vaccinated employee can continue wearing a mask. Employees who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a mask.

Self-serve Bulk is back! Our Bulk Departments have been given the green light to re-open self-serve bins. Things will look a little different and it will take a bit of time to transition the entire department. Our plan is to have items that are traditionally cooked in open scoop bins while foods eaten as-is will be in the gravity feed dispensers. Dried Fruits will remain pre-packaged. You may bring your own clean containers to fill. Please have a cashier weigh your clean, empty container before you fill it!

The Annex will now have indoor and outdoor seating available! Our menu is expanding and a separate announcement will be made about all the changes you will see there.

Thank you,

The Natural Grocery Company

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