Get It While It's Fresh; Use It While It's Fresh - Jersey Fresh Information Exchange

If you have had the pleasure of buying Jersey Fresh produce this summer, you probably are already aware of what makes it special. You've tasted, smelled and seen the difference in produce that was picked at the peak of ripeness and available to you not long after picking. In contrast to its out-of-state counterparts, which were picked at a stage adequate for shipping, packed and sent on the long haul cross-country, Jersey Fresh really is "fresh off the farm".

Unlike my regular shopping routine, where I stick with a shopping list or have planned meals in mind, I am like a kid in a candy store when I spot Jersey Fresh in my supermarket or when I'm let loose at a farm market. There goes the shopping list out the window. The allure of local produce is what comes in and goes out with the season. Some items are standards for the season, but you often come across some unanticipated finds and can't resist the temptation of those luscious looking leeks, that aromatic basil or that exotic squash. So much for planned meals.

Or, you may share my over-enthusiasm where you think you can't get too much of a good thing. I don't just want Jersey peaches - I want a basket of them. And while I'm at it, I'll pick up some blueberries, watermelon, and who could resist that Jersey cantaloupe? Those peppers look great - so I have to get one in each color - green, red, yellow, orange and who knew they came in purple? The summer is so short and you can't have enough of those Jersey tomatoes!

So, if you are an over-enthusiastic consumer of Jersey Fresh produce like me, now that we have all that stuff, what do we do with it when we get home? Here is my downfall - in my excitement to buy fresh off the farm produce, I don't figure out what to do with some the stuff until it is limp, wilted or starting to rot. Hmmm. isn't the point of buying fresh is to use it fresh? Time for a new plan.

Improvise

The beauty of many fruits and vegetables is that they don't need a whole lot of preparation to be eaten and it's easy to get your "5 a Day". Boil up some corn, grab a peach and a napkin, slice up a watermelon, grab a tomato and a saltshaker, or slice up the tomato, drizzle some olive oil and add some fresh basil leaves. But what about some of those things that need to be incorporated into a recipe, like eggplant, peppers, or leeks? If you've got a fresh item that is an add-on to your planned menu, or want to drum up a menu from your farm fresh finds, then swing buy the supermarket to make sure you've obtained all the ingredients so you can cook them up not long after you've gotten them home.

Medley

If you bought a variety of items and are wondering how to use them up throughout the week, use ideas that will use up a few items at a time: Dip - slice up those raw veggies - cukes, peppers, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, etc. and whip up some dip or hummus. Got fruit? A good way to use up an overabundance of fruit or fruit that has some bad spots is to cut up those peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe and throw in some blueberries, pour on some orange juice and you've got fruit cup. Serve it for dessert or as a snack for the kids. Want your fruit to last past the summer? Make a fruit compote and freeze it in small portions.

Recipes

Check out our Recipes for other great ideas for using your Jersey Fresh produce.

Cindy Rovins, Agricultural Communications Editor