We're All Just Kids At Heart

When I think of the holidays, I think of children, family and friends. OK, and good food. Lots of good food.

This year, Peddler's Son Produce celebrated the holidays by hosting a pot luck with our employees. We also accepted toy donations for the West Valley Child Crisis Center which provides a safe haven for children who have been victims of or at risk of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. They also happen to be a customer. The food was delicious and it was fun to hear the stories behind the gifts that were donated. Games, balls, stuffed animals and action figure/toys. They all held special meaning and memories for those that donated.

I learned a few things too. Sergio makes great guacamole, Bill's wife has a killer pasta recipe, Bridge has the sweetest mother, I'm ordering apple crisp from Amanda's father next year and Aliza should make chewy chocolate chip cookies every week.

So my 2008 holidays did not disappoint. There were memories of children, family, friends and good food. Hope you enjoyed the holidays as much I did and hope your 2009 is even better!

Vacation Time Has Finally Arrived

This post is coming from home this Monday morning. I am on my annual vacation. I'm not travelling anywhere but my parents are in town to visit for the Christmas holiday. It's been six months since I last saw them so I am looking forward to spending some quality time with them. My parents and I are also looking forward to visiting some of Peddler's Son Produce's customers like: La Piccola Cucina and Cafe Eden. I have a whole week to spend with my parents, with my family, that means a whole week of eating.

Also coming up this week is the Peddler's Son Produce's annual Christmas party on Tuesday. Ted and Joe really take the time to show their employees how much they appreciate the hard work that everybody has turned in for the year. This year we have added a toy drive for the West Valley Children's Crisis Center. Anybody is welcome to come on down and drop off a toy for the kids.

Don't forget Tuesday December 23rd is Festivus!!! Yea!!!

As always, I welcome any feedback. You can contact me, the Produce Guru, at 602.253.3577 ext. 113.

Thanks to all of my followers and have a festive week.

The People Behind the Produce - Ray

Ray has been with Peddler's Son Produce for about a year. Those of you in the North Scottsdale area will be familiar with Ray, but he also helps fill in on other random assignments. He was born in Bellflower, CA which is just outside of Long Beach. He grew up in Tolleson, AZ on a 40 acre dairy farm. A Marine for 4 years, he worked as an aircraft mechanic on the A6 Intruder. Later, he attended Arizona State University West where he completed his degree in Accounting and even holds most of his credits for an MBA. He is divorced, has 4 children and even two grandkids!

So Ray, what is your.......

Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride anything SciFi

Favorite Music: Kid Rock & Country

Favorite TV Character: Brandon Fraser

Favorite Food: Meat & taters and Chinese

Favorite Quote: You know, a couple of years ago, this would have seemed really strange to me Brandon Fraser from The Mummy Returns (2001)

First Job: Feeding milk cows on the dairy farm when I was 13

People Person I'd most like to have dinner with: Nixon and JFK

What I like to do in my leisure time: Go dancing at Fort McDowell and spend time my girlfriend

Something you may not know about me: Parents were green card aliens and100% Dutch. Ray is a first generation American. So when you see Ray, you may just hear him say 'Goedemorgen!' (Good morning!)

Joyous Mondays

It has come to my attention that my faithful followers (Thanks Mom) look forward to my Monday morning musings. It seems that my designated Monday morning slot has been invaded by the Evil Jilska. I tune into the blog this morning and I see Dwizzle giving me the "jinkies" sign. I have to fight fire with fire. This picture is of me and one of our new drivers, Obbi Cooper, who used to play wide receiver for the Oakland Riaders.














I love Jilska's idea about featuring a different Peddler's Son employee every week, but on a sacred Monday?

Well, Ted and Joe's parents, Joe and Mary, are back in town after following the other migrating snowbirds. Joe aka Papa Joe will soon be starting work on our famous friut baskets and boxes. These make for great gifts and the health benefits are an added bonus. Talk to your sales representative and order yours today, or call our order line at 602.253.3577.

For anyone looking for something to do on New Year's Eve, T Williams (our General Manager) and his band, Borderline, will be playing at American Legion Post 61 Avondale to ring in the new year. If you like country music, you'll enjoy their steroid pumped renditions of old and new country favorites. If you're out and about in Avondale from 9:00pm to 12:30am, check T out and buy him a beer.

I also want to say hello to a new follower of the blog, Amber Lee, from Shamrock Farms. I hope I spelled her name right.

The People Behind the Produce

A company is made up of people. People with likes and dislikes, quirks and interesting bits of information. Let's face it, we have some pretty colorful people around here and I thought it would be fun to share some of the various personalities at Peddler's Son Produce so you can see who's behind the produce. So, each week or so I'd like to profile one of the employees. Let's start with Dwight Wintringer, our Director of Sales. I've asked him to answer some questions that may give a little more insight into the 'inner' Dwight!

Background: Married to Leeanne and they have two daughters, Rachel and Kaitlyn. Dwight lived in Ohio until 6th grade and is a big fan of The Ohio State University football. He then moved to Chicago and later joined the Coast Guard.

Favorite Movie: Sweet Home Alabama, Rocky, The Sting, The Dark Knight (Batman)

Favorite Music: The Who, Neil Young, Harry Chapan, Neil Diamond, Stix, Zucchero

Favorite TV Character: Tony Soprano, Starsky & Hutch

Favorite Food: Italian

Favorite Quote:“In each of us, two natures are at war, the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our hands lies the power to choose, what we want most to be we are” Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

First Job: Tortino's in Chicago. I made sandwiches.

People/Person I'd most like to have dinner with: Escoffier, Woody Hayes

What I like to do in my leisure time: Ride motorcycles. I have a '90 Road King.

Something you may not know about me: I was invited to try out for the '84 Olympic hockey team. (Jill's note - the team that beat the very favored Russian team)

So, now you know more about Dwight. Maybe you know other things about Dwight and would like to share them with us. 'Lett'uce' know! We'd love to hear from you.

Santa Ted Has Saddled Up Again

It seems that Ted has donned the Santa Claus outfit again this year. Donations have already started to leave our warehouse for worthy causes in the Valley of the Sun. Boxes of produce were sent to the American Legion Post 1 Phoenix for their Children's' Holiday Party. Ted might look like a big old grizzly bear but he has a heart of gold. In the time that I've been in his employ, I have never seen Ted turn his back on a worthy cause. Ted's brother Joe is also a big softy when it comes to helping out in the community.

Today at the warehouse we were busy cleaning and straightening everything up. We have a big meet on Monday with a powerhouse buying group. Wish us luck.

Hot Beverages on a Cold Winter Day

It seems that the mornings are getting colder and colder each day that I awaken. I've gradually gone from just a t-shirt, to a sweat shirt, and now to my Big Dog heavy jacket. Mornings on the way to work sometimes consist of a stop at Circle K where I go in and get me a big cup of their delicious Pumpkin Spice Coffee. On that note, I've compiled a list of Peddler's Son employees and their favorite hot beverages for cold winter days...

Ted Palmisano, President - French Vanilla Coffee

Robert Garcia, Specialty Buyer - French Vanilla Coffee (Bootlick)

Dwight Wintringer, Sales Manager - Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate with Little Marshmallows

Sergio Palayo, West Valley Sales Rep - Ovaltine with Little Marshmallows

Amanda McLachlan, Scottsdale Sales Rep - Homemade Hot Chocolate with Whipping Cream

Sal Balestreri, Inside Sales - Circle K Homeless Cup of Coffee

Mark Damato, Vice-President Retail Sales - Circle K Cinnamon Coffee

Susie Filardi, Credit Manager - Hot Chocolate with a Shot of Bailey's

T Williams, General Manager - "Cup of Coffee That You Can Float a Horseshoe On"

Carolyn McHone, Office Manager - Hot Chocolate with Little Marshmallows

Jill Allen, Marketing - Non-Fat Latte

Bill Kroener, Facilities Manager - Starbuck's Mocha Frappuccino, with an add shot of espresso. (There's always one person amongst us)

Susan Berry, Produce Guru's Mom - Hot Cup of Lipton's Decaf Tea

As you can see we all have a little personality served up with our favorite hot beverages. If you would like to find recipes for healthy hot beverages check out http://www.nubella.com/component/option,com_recipes/Itemid,94/task,detail/rid,6374/s,1/r,hot/. This is a recipe for a delicious sounding Hot Mulled Cider, check out the other recipes too.

For the music buffs that read this blog, today in music history is...
Anniversary of John Lennon being shot
Birthday of Jim Morrison

PRODUCE CHRISTMAS SONG

(To the tune of “Silver Bells”)
Snow is falling, vendor’s calling
Says the trucks are snowbound.
In the air there’s a feeling of panic.
Taters sprouting, buyers shouting
“Put them back in the ground!”
And from every receiver you’ll hear:

Where’s my freight? That’s too late!
What did I do to deserve this?
Ring-a-ling, sell your bling,
Just get me my produce on time! Frisee has tip burn, yellow beans turn
Into winter nightmares.
In the air, planes will just fill up with mail.
Cans are grounded, airlines hounded,
Seems like nobody cares.
Oh, what can we do to prevail?

Where’s my freight? That’s too late!
What did I do to deserve this?
Ring-a-ling, sell your bling,
Just get me my produce on time!
Heirlooms no show, favas won’t grow,
Where did the artichokes go?
In the air ice is falling like golf balls.
There’s no online, lost our phone time.
How will the customers know
When we can’t even make our phone calls?

Here’s your freight, it’s not too late –
We are sorry for the delay.
Ching, ching, ching! Registers ring.
Relax, have a great holiday

Tis the holiday season

Happy Wear Brown Shoes Day!!! Do work boots count? If they do, I'm being trendy today. Another holiday today is (Inter)National Dice Day. If you like dice check out this video, Happy (Inter)National Dice Day!


I love the holiday season.

As we head into the first weekend of December, let's think about our favorite dishes for the Christmas holiday. Bill Kroener, our Facilities Manager, thinks fondly about all the Prime Rib with mashed potatoes that he's enjoyed during the holiday seasons past. Our Vice-President of Retail Sales, Mark Damato remembers a long lasting family tradition that started with his great-grandmother, his family makes homemade ravioli during the holidays. (Funny, I've been around Mark for three Christmases now and I've never tasted his family's homemade ravioli. I think he's been holding out on me!) T Williams, our General Manager, made my mouth water when he told me about his favorite holiday dish, roulade. It seems that you take some pounded out round steak, fill it with bacon, roll it up, brown it in a skillet, put a little water in to make a gravy out of the drippings later, serve it up, and enjoy. Doug Kaufman, one or our beloved warehouse guys, has fond memories of his mother-in-law and her green been casserole. Green bean casserole is a classic dish found on many holiday tables but Doug says that he has never tasted anything better or as good as his late mother-in-law's. Amanda McLachlan, our sales representative for the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area, tells a tale of a squash pie that her father makes. It consists of Grand Mariner and homemade whipped cream topping. I apologize, I didn't mean to drool through your computer monitor.

Now it comes time for my favorite holiday dish...homemade pork tamales. My family has been making homemade tamales since I can remember. My late grandmother's recipe is the best that I've ever tasted and I'm not just being biased. It seems that the matriarchs of my family, starting with my great-grandmother Acosta, have been tweaking the same recipe for generations, but what they all have in common is that each individual tamale contains two raisins. Now that you know my family's secret recipe, I will be knocking on your doors to silence all of you. (Insert evil laugh here.)

If you would like to tell the Produce Guru about your favorite holiday dish, post a comment to this blog or email me at bridge@peddlersson.com. We will also be posting more holiday recipes and goodies, so come back and check us out.

Welcome

We would like to welcome Jimmy’s of Chicago as a new partner to Peddler’s Son Produce. Jimmy’s is located at 3107 S. Gilbert Rd in Gilbert. This great family style eatery will be opening the week of December 8th. Its warm inviting atmosphere complete with a fire place and unique windows with views of Chicago that will take you back to the “Windy City” for dinner minus the air fare. They feature all the Chicago classics such as Italian Beef sandwiches, Pizza, Baked Mostaccioli, Linguine Shrimp and Broccoli, Braciole and my all time favorite Chicken Vesuvio, guaranteed to erupt on your taste buds like Mount Vesuvius itself.

We look forward to a great partnership and wish all the best to Tony the Chef and there team.

Buona Fortuna

Blood Oranges & Cara Cara Oranges

December marks the beginning of blood orange season and they've just arrived here at the Peddler's Son. The flavor is stronger and the aroma is more intense than a normal orange. While there are lots of good recipes for blood oranges in drinks (mimosas, martinis) they are great to eat by themselves. For a quick and easy recipe, melt a couple of tablespoons of orange marmalade in the microwave and tumble in one peeled, diced blood orange for a quick and exotic sauce.

Did you know that Cara Cara means 'beloved' in Italian? Cara Cara oranges are a mix of orange combined with undertones of sweet grapefruit and cherry. It is mostly seedless and very delicious. Store these oranges in temperatures between 45° and 48° F and they will keep for up to two weeks. Room temperature Cara Cara oranges will stay for three or four days.

Do you have any other favorite seasonal produce? Let me know and I'd be happy to find them for you or answer any questions.

Enjoy the holidays from your 'Cara Cara' specialty produce buyer!

Holidays

I hope the Thanksgiving holiday was as good for my faithful followers as it was for me. My Turkey Day was spent with the lovely Miss Susie (Peddler's Son Produce's Credit Manager) and her family out in Queen Creek. The meal was fantastic! The crowning piece was the dessert provided by Jean-Michael. All I know is that it was delicious and came from a restaurant on Indian School and Miller.

December not only includes Christmas and Kwanzaa, but a host of other holidays as well. The most important of these days would be today, December 1st. Today is World AIDS Day. Today we try to bring even more attention to this terrible disease. From the United States to Africa to Australia, this disease knows no bounds. Check http://www.worldaidsday.org/ to see what you can do to help fight AIDS.

Being totally reciprocal today is also the Anniversary of Playboy. Who knew?

The warehouse is back to normal. Doug just returned vacation and is ready to get back to work. We've been doing a lot of housework in the warehouse these past weeks, everybody should come down and check it out. We also have some new drivers. One of them is a Canadian Football League star, Terrell Jurineack. I thought our old driven London was big, Terrell is huge, a good 6'5" and (he says) 285lbs. If you bring your trading card of Terrell I promise an autograph for you, and for the ladies if you come down, I bet Terrell wouldn't mind giving you a personal "body" autograph.

Thanksgiving Ghost? or pre Christmas Scrooge

Thanksgiving Ghost:
The last piece of apple pie is gone;How did it disappear?The bowl of delicious stuffing Has also vanished, I fear.
It happens each Thanksgiving,When leftover goodies flee, And each of us knows the responsible one Couldn’t be you or me.
The only way it could happen Is readily diagnosed; It must be the crafty, incredibly sneaky,Still hungry Thanksgiving ghost.
By Karl Fuchs
Ghost? I think not! you see at my house the weekend after Turkey Day the Christmas decorations go up. And with out my Thanksgiving leftovers there will be no decorations and the scrooge gets an early start. So for me its all about the days after and that sandwich piled high with cold turkey and stuffing with a nice dose of mayo, and lets not forget the cold creamed onions! I'm not the ghost but I get the most of my leftover goodies.

More from the open air market and World Toilet Day

Good morning to all of our friends and followers. It's a very crisp morning in the Peddler's Son Produce's warehouse. My temperature gun is registering a cool 53 degrees.

We had another great Saturday at the open air market. Many of our customers have came back 3 or 4 weekends now. They all have good things to say about the quality of the produce they've purchased. Being the good eater that my grandmother made me out to be, I've asked our customers about the different recipes they've used our produce in. Just listening to them describe the dishes makes me hungry. My favorite has been the chili rellenos made with our poblano chilies.

Upcoming Events

Today is Homemade Bread Day. I just love the smell of just baked bread. Here in Phoenix there is a bread bakery located by Van Buren and Grand Avenue. Driving by there at the right time of day, I just close my eyes and sniff. The only better smell than fresh baked bread is when you peel the seal off a peanut butter jar. Actually, both aromas might be tied for 1st place on my list of favorites.

This week includes a very special day. Wednesday November 19th is World Toilet Day. The World Toilet Organization is very serious about delivering sustainable sanitation to everybody. To get involved all you have to do is visit the WTO website at www.worldtoilet.org.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner and having no family in town, the Produce Guru is accepting invitations. I'm scheduled to visit 3 feasts so far. I'll be starting my day out in Queen Creek with the lovely Suzie (Accounting Department) and her family. My second stop will be in Gilbert with Robert (Specialty Buyer) and his family. Rounding out the festivities, I'll be in Phoenix with Ted (Owner), Joe (Owner) and their family. If you would like the Produce Guru to visit your table, just send me an invite at bridge@peddlersson.com.

Happy World Random Acts of Kindess Week!

Holidays on the Net, is a site I bookmark and check out whenever I am able. It lists various anniversaries or holidays that are celebrated each day. Yes, every day is a holiday of some sort.

This week, November 10-16 is World Kindness Week. Thursday, November 13 is World Kindness Day. Today, Monday, is the Anniversary of the Sesame Street Premier. Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day is marked for Friday, November 14th.

Sounds like a good week. Let me know how you celebrate!

Peddler's Son Produce's Open Air Market

For those of you who do not know, Peddler's Son Produce has been participating in an open air market in Desert Hills. The market is located at 1112 East Carefree Highway, inside the parking area of El Encanto Dos Restaurant. We have set up a great selection of produce for the past three Saturdays. Peddler's Son Produce employees who have participated include: Ted and Joe Palmisano (Owners of Peddler's Son Produce), Mia (Ted's fiance, sorry ladies), Jill Allen (Marketing Director), Bill Kroener (Facilities Manager)& Mike Kroener (Bill's Son), Robert Garcia (Specialty Buyer), and the Produce Guru (that's me, Bridge, Peddler's Son Produce's HACCP & Inventory Control Manager).

We have had quite a good turn out, with a lot of repeat customers. With a loyal customer following we are hoping to continue with the market through December and maybe into the Spring. I have personally met a lot of nice people while working at the market. There are also other vendors at the market, with arts & crafts, as well as tasty fare.

Christine from El Encanto Dos Restaurant has been the event coordinator. With help from her and her staff at the restaurant, the event has been successful. We at Peddler's Son Produce would like to give special thanks to Cassandra from El Encanto Dos for putting up with us after the event each Saturday.

It's National What Week?

November 1st - 7th is National Fig Week? That's correct and did you know that figs are thought to be one of the oldest cultivated fruit, containing 30 to 1000 seeds and dating back over 6000 years, so it seems fitting that they should have a week to themselves and National Fig Week would be a great time to celebrate there qualities with your guests and friends. These flowers, Yes, figs are indeed inverted flowers are full of nutrition and minerals and have been popular with ancient Greeks and Cleopatra. The first California figs were planted in 1769 in the gardens of the mission at San Diego, that is were the term "Mission Figs" came from. Enjoy your Fig week whether it is fresh, frozen or dried, it will be a sweet week.

Names are all the same...

You can call me the Produce Guru or the Veggie Buddha, just make sure that when you have a produce related question, you call me. I can be reached at 602.253.3577 x113 or you can send me an email at bridge@peddlersson.com.

“A blog for thought” – as we celebrate National Egg Day (10/10)

“A blog for thought” – as we celebrate National Egg Day (10/10)

“I have had, in my time, memorable meals of scrambled eggs with fresh truffles, scrambled eggs with caviar and other glamorous things, but to me, there are few things as magnificent as scrambled eggs, pure and simple, perfectly cooked and perfectly seasoned.”
James Beard, 'On Food' (1974)

So eloquently stated by the one man in our industry who can make a scrambled egg sound like a symphony.

However, when I think about scrambled eggs, it reminds me of my days in boot camp when a stool was provided next to a stainless steel table and five cases of eggs laid waiting for cracking. That’s right folks, 150 dozen eggs, 1,800 shells to crack and the sting of 4:00am to keep me company. That was only the eggs that were used for scrambling or making omelets. There were another 3 cases (90 dozen) of eggs made to order. Oh, did I mention….this was an every day occurrence. Trust me, there were no truffles and no caviar within miles of that stainless steel table.

With all of that being said, whether you like them scrambled, staring at you, boiled or deviled, the incredible, edible egg will certainly hold a special place in our everyday culinary experience.

Dwight

Welcome to Lettuce Talk

Welcome to the Peddler's Son blog site, LettuceTalk. This is the Produce Guru checking in with all you vegetable heads. This is the first official blog entry. Feel free to contact us whenever you have a produce related question. Our managerial, sales, and warehouse staff have over 250 years of experience in the produce industry. Our website is currently going through some upgrades but our phone operators are always fielding your calls, 602.253.3577 ext. 113.