In this issue:
Introducing
Pomegranates
Contact us
Past issues online
Pomegranates
In recent weeks, we've
talked about well-known fall fruits like organic apples and
pears. But this week, we'd like to introduce you to a
unique fruit that you may not be familiar with -
pomegranates.
Pomegranates are
semi-tropical fruit, usually vibrant red to red-purple in
color, harvested in the US (mostly from central and southern
California) in October through January. The fruit
contains many seeds, surrounded by soft and very juicy red
flesh. Unlike an apple or pear, where you eat the
flesh of the fruit, the edible part of the pomegranate is a
sac containing the seed (these sacs are also called arils,
but we call them seeds - even though it is not BC -
botanically correct).
Pomegranates are known
for two things - exotic flavor and exceptional health
benefits.
How to
use
While there are many ways
to use pomegranates in your diet, the most popular way is as
a fresh snack. While we adults are often too busy to
sit down, cut open a pomegranate, pull out the seeds and pop
them into our mouths, our kids are not. Kids simply
love pomegranates as snacks, enjoying both the bursting
flavor and the challenge of getting every seed.
(A personal note: My
partner Erin fondly remembers pomegranates from her
childhood. When visiting her father in Redlands,
California (near LA), she would climb the pomegranate tree
in the backyard, sit on a limb, pick the fruit and enjoy the
pomegranate seeds. The scolding that she got when she
went into the house, for the red juices on her clothes,
didn't diminish her joy of the experience. She also
tells me that it is common to see pomegranate trees as
ornamentals in backyards in Southern California.)
Here are a few other ways
to use this unique fruit:
Sprinkle the seeds
over a salad for an exotic look and taste,
Top ice cream with
the seeds,
Sprinkle the seeds
on oatmeal or other cereals,
Mix the seeds with
yogurt,
Use as a garnish
on chicken or rice dishes.
A quick way to get all of
the seeds out is to cut off the top, score the sides and
break apart the sections, roll out the seeds with your
fingers into a bowl of water and then drain out the water.
Pomegranates are also
popular in many decorations, including fall and winter
holiday displays.
Nutrition
Pomegranates are loaded
with health benefits. They are an excellent source of
vitamin C. They are also low in fats and salts and are
rich in polyphenols, some of the most powerful
anti-oxidants.
These anti-oxidants
combat free radicals, which are unruly molecules that can
cause disease like heart disease, Alzheimers and cancer.
The anti-oxidants also work to improve cardiovascular health
and combat the effects of aging.
Note: On the Indian
subcontinent (where this unique fruit originated),
pomegranates are used in many medicinal preparations.
How to
buy and store
Pomegranates are a
seasonal fruit, becoming available this week and lasting
through the early winter.
When selecting
pomegranates, don't be overly concerned with some variations
in color or with a few blemishes. These common
variations do not affect the internal quality or flavor of
the fruit.
Give the fruit a
"heft-test" - the heavier the fruit, the more juice there is
inside.
Pomegranates are usually
harvested when ripe, so you can use them as soon as you get
them home from the market.
You can store fresh
pomegranates at room temperature for a week or two or you
can refrigerate them in a vegetable drawer for about a
month. You can also store fresh seeds in an airtight
container for a few days or freeze them for longer storage.
Contact
us
You can find
organic pomegranates, along with a rich variety of
other organic
fruits and vegetables, many grown by local and family
farmers, from Goodness Greeness at your local market.
Email us
at
newsletter@goodnessgreeness.com if you can't find them and we'll help you
locate them.
Past
issues online
As you know if you've
been reading this weekly newsletter for awhile, there is a
lot of information provided on organic fruits and vegetables, their
nutritional qualities, availability, shopping and
preparation tips, as well as some recipes.
You can now access most of
the past issues of Organics for you on our web site (www.goodnessgreeness.com).
Click on the Newsletter link at the top of any page on the
site. There you'll find a quick index of all past
issues. Select the back issue you want, click on the
issue # and you'll find that tip that you were looking for.
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