Posts tagged “local produce”

Here in the Pacific Northwest, fall vegetables are some of the best. The mostly mild winters mean a variety of cold-weather vegetables grow well. Squash like pumpkins and root vegetables like sweet potatoes are nutritious and tasty. And cooking during the cooler months usually revolves around warm comfort food! These veggies are easy to cook up for a healthy and satisfying meal or snack any day.

Fall Vegetables at Tacoma Boys

Fall vegetables like butternut squash, brussels sprouts, and potatoes might be first to come to mind. But there are a variety of other related vegetables to choose from. As far as cooking goes, “tubers” is a term for root vegetables like carrots and potatoes. These vegetables grow from the plants’ roots and otherwise underground. Many fall vegetables like tubers are hard and need to be cooked to a softer texture to be enjoyed. Gourds are similar: This species of vegetable includes squash like pumpkin. But some gourds are much too tough to eat — Decorative pumpkins in funky shapes might come to mind when you think of gourds. You can find these funky decorative gourds at Tacoma Boys, too!

Shop for an assortment of fall vegetables at Tacoma Boys, such as:

• Whole carrots
• Parsnips
• Sweet potatoes and yams
• Russet and red potatoes
• Brussels sprouts and cabbage
• Radish
• Beets
• Several varieties of squash

Squash Season

We all love a good summer squash like zucchini or crookneck squash. But the fall and winter seasons bring with it much more fall and winter squash! Cold weather squash has a hard exterior and can be cooked whole or peeled and chopped. Most squash is loaded with nutrients and have a sweet, nutty flavor. Many varieties contain vitamins, fiber, and protein. Depending on what you cook it with, squash can be quite a healthy side dish or snack. Same goes for squash seeds, too! Roasted pumpkin seeds are a popular snack after the carving is said and done. But any squash seed will roast well. Try roasting the seeds with Tacoma Boys Everything Bagel Seasoning or a basic blend of salt and black pepper.

Find these varieties of fall and winter squash at your local Tacoma Boys:

• Spaghetti squash
• Butternut
• Danish or acorn
• Delicata
• Kabocha
• Carnival

Pumpkins, including sugar pie pumpkins and Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins are considered squash, too!

Fall Recipes

There’s something comforting about getting cozy and cooking fall recipes. Rainy afternoons or holiday celebrations are perfect for such hearty food. Made with seasonal ingredients, fall recipes can consist of anything you want. From familiar favorites to creative new recipes, it’s a great time to get in the kitchen. While there are an infinite number of ways to cook fall vegetables, these basic fall recipes can get you started:

• Baked Sweet Potato Fries by Cookie and Kate
• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup by Cook It Real Good
• Maple Roasted Acorn Squash by Love and Lemons

Roasted Root Vegetables

While any of these fall vegetables are amazing when roasted, root vegetables are one of the simplest to prepare. This recipe for roasted root vegetables brings out the natural sweetness and flavors.

Ingredients

• 2 cups root vegetables, diced: This could be a mix of carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, beets, and more.
• 1 tbsp Chosen Foods Avocado Oil
• 2-3 tsp Tacoma Boys All Purpose Seasoning

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Alternatively, lightly grease the baking sheet with extra avocado oil.
2. Add the diced vegetables to a large bowl and drizzle with the avocado oil. Toss with a spatula to coat. Sprinkle with seasoning and toss again to coat. Spread the diced root vegetables in an even single layer on the baking sheet.
3. Transfer to the oven and roast for 25-30 minutes, flipping/tossing the vegetables halfway, until fork tender and browned. The amount of time will vary depending on the thickness and type of vegetable.

Autumn Harvest Salad

Try a new spin on your classic cold salad with warm roasted squash. Sliced apples and pomegranate are also in season. Plus, you can make use of any squash seeds you may have!

Ingredients – serves 2 

• 1 small squash of choice: Butternut, acorn, delicata, or kabocha.
• Lettuce of choice: Spinach, spring mix, butter lettuce, etc.
• 1 honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced
• Arils from 1 pomegranate
• ⅔ cup roasted pumpkin or squash seeds
• Apple cider vinaigrette

Directions

1. Roast the squash as directed in the roasted vegetable recipe above. Let cool for 2 minutes.
2. Assemble the salad: Lay a bed of lettuce on two serving plates. Top with the roasted squash and sliced apple. Sprinkle with pomegranate arils and pumpkin seeds. 
3. Drizzle with desired amount of dressing just before serving and enjoy!

Celebrate the commencement of the fall season with Tacoma Boys selection of fall vegetables and more. Stop by any time to check out an assortment of squash, gourds, tubers, and more! To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

As the days shorten and cool off, it’s easy to assume that your gardening days are done for the year. However, there are plenty of plants that thrive in these exact conditions. Tacoma Boys Markets are here to help you stretch your growing season. Check out what you can plant this week to set up your edible Fall and Winter Garden.

What to Plant Now & How to Enjoy Eating It…

Arugula

Arugula is a sprinter in the garden world. It takes less than a month to grow from seed to harvest. Sow some now then cut it back to enjoy in salads, pizza, or in your sandwich. It will grow right back after you cut it, so you can enjoy another crop. 

Three ways to enjoy Arugula:

Arugula Pesto

Arugula Salad with Olives, Feta, and Dill

Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza

Carrots

Though you won’t be able to sow and reap full sized carrots this late in the season, you can still enjoy baby carrots throughout the winter. Sow seed generously and thin baby carrots throughout the fall and winter. Remaining carrots will have more room to grow and you can harvest full sized carrots later in the spring. 

Three ways to enjoy Baby Carrots:

Root Vegetable Salad with Thinned Carrots

Grilled Carrots with Maple Tahini Drizzle

Roasted Carrot Tart

Mustard Greens

Mustard greens add a nice, peppery punch to salads and are rich in Vitamins A and K.  Mustard seeds germinate and grow quickly, making them a great addition to your fall and winter garden. Sow mustard seeds through September to produce a fall crop for your enjoyment.

Three ways to enjoy Mustard Greens:

Southern Mustard Greens with Smoked Turkey

Mustard Greens and Bulgur Wheat Salad

Mustard Greens with Chorizo and White Beans

Radish

Radishes are another sprinter of the garden world. They take less than a month to grow from seed to maturity. Plant a crop now and again in two weeks to squeeze two crops in before freezing temps arrive.

Three ways to enjoy Radishes:

Roasted Radish, Zucchini, and Shallot Asiago

Spicy Quick Pickled Radishes

Radish Butter on Toasted Baguette

Shallots and Chives

Both of these plants in the allium family can be planted until early November and remain in the garden to be harvested as desired. If you already have them growing, you can also divide them and multiply the areas they are grown in your garden. 

Three ways to enjoy Shallots and Chives:

Herby French Shallot Soup

Balsamic Caramelized Shallot Pasta

Chive Butter

Garlic, Onions, Spinach, and Kale

These can be planted in the fall to overwinter and enjoy next spring and summer. If you are the type that likes to plan ahead, get these going so you can feel proud of yourself in several months when you begin harvesting.

Three ways to enjoy Garlic, Onions, Spinach, and Kale:

Lemon Garlic Kale Salad

Wilted Spinach with Bacon

French Onion Soup

If you’re lamenting the coming of winter, planting a garden can help change your outlook. Harness these remaining days of sunlight and relative warmth and you’ll reap a reward on those cold days ahead. We still have a great stock of plants, seeds, compost and gorgeous ceramic pots. You can find everything you need for your edible Fall and Winter garden–including the help of knowledgeable staff–here at Tacoma Boys Markets.

At last, the season is here and it’s time for pumpkin picking at Tacoma Boys! Pumpkins in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors are available at Tacoma Boys. While most pumpkins are edible, some are better for baking and cooking than others. Whether you want to leave it as decoration, carve it into a jack-o-lantern, or cook the pumpkin, there are plenty to choose from. 

Pumpkin Picking

When pumpkin picking, you’ll find that there are so many varieties to choose from! The versatile squash can have different characteristics and flavor: From smooth and white, to bumpy orange and green, and everything in between. Whatever kind of pumpkin you’re looking for, you’ll find your pick of the patch at Tacoma Boys. Sugar pie pumpkins are great for pumpkin pie or homemade pumpkin puree, which you can then use in other pumpkin recipes. Considered “baking pumpkins,” these are usually small and round. “Carving pumpkins” are ones that can be easily cut into and may have less edible flesh on the inside. Decorative pumpkins and gourds are firm, fibrous, and widely vary in color, size, and shape.

Check out these varieties of pumpkins and more when pumpkin picking at Tacoma Boys:

• Jack-O-Lantern: Your classic carving pumpkin, these pumpkins are large and have little bruises or marks.
• Knucklehead: These are the funky, bumpy, and multicolored pumpkins that are generally just for decoration.
• Cinderella: Round, flat, and deep orange in color, Cinderella pumpkins look just like the coach from the fairytale. 
• Ghost: Ghastly white, ghost pumpkins are often carved into jack-o-lanterns, left as autumn decor, or cooked or baked.
• Sugar Pie: These ones are the best for baking and cooking. They’re small and can be treated just like any other winter squash, like butternut.

How to Pick a Pumpkin

If you’re wondering how to pick a pumpkin, first consider what you are going to use the pumpkin for. You might leave it as is for decoration, carve it into a jack-o-lantern, or cook with the pumpkin. This will determine what type of pumpkin or gourd you go for when shopping for pumpkins. Assorted squash are often labeled with the best use for that particular squash. The labeled names of pumpkins can also hint to what the pumpkin is best used for, like jack-o-lantern or sugar pie pumpkins. Pick a pumpkin that is just right for you with these few tips:

• Look for blemishes, nicks, and bruises: These cosmetic damages mean its fitting for a decorative pumpkin, but should be avoided if you want to cook with it. Any signs of rot should be avoided, too.
• Check out the stem: Green pumpkin stems mean it’s still fresh and ready to be carved or cooked. Pumpkins with brown or dried out stems, rather, are best for decoration.
• Knock for hollow space: Knock on the pumpkin like you would with a watermelon. If it sounds hollow with echoes, it’s best for carving. Less hollow pumpkins mean edible flesh on the inside. Either way works just fine for decorative pumpkins
• Consider lopsided pumpkins: If you want to carve the pumpkin, try to envision what it would look like as a jack-o-lantern. If it falls to one side or is drastically uneven, opt for a smoother pumpkin.

Pumpkin Recipes

Get creative with pumpkin recipes this year! While it’s easy to go for a basic pumpkin-spiced baked dessert or soup, there is so much more to explore in the world of pumpkin. From sweet, to savory, to somewhere in between, you can make pumpkin recipes with pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin. You can also use pumpkins to present or decorate your dishes — Check out Tacoma Boys’ Buffalo Chicken Dip served in a mini pumpkin!

Cooking and baking with pumpkin puree is convenient because the pumpkin is ready to go. Pumpkin puree is best cooked into sauce and soups or baked into spiced desserts and treats. While most people are familiar with using pumpkin puree in pumpkin recipes, it’s quite simple to cook with a whole pumpkin, too!

Cooking With Whole Pumpkin

A whole pumpkin can be cooked as is or peeled and chopped, like other squashes. It’s actually quite simple to roast a whole pumpkin! For a basic roasted pumpkin dish, all you need is salt and pepper to let the flavors shine through. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cut a small sugar pie pumpkin in half. Scoop out the seeds and insides. Place the pumpkin halves cut-side up on a baking sheet and drizzle with about a tablespoon of Napa Valley Naturals Avocado Oil. Sprinkle with ground Spice Hunters Black Peppercorn and sea salt. Roast in the preheated oven for approximately 45-50 minutes, depending on the size of your pumpkin, until fork tender. From here, you can scoop it out and blend it into a puree or use it in any other way you’d like! 

Or, try one of these other recipes using a whole pumpkin:

• Roast Stuffed Pumpkin by A Virtual Vegan.
• Vegetable Pumpkin Quiche by Eat the Grains
• Swap butternut squash for roasted pumpkin in Tacoma Boys’ own Butternut Squash Alfredo. Just follow the above directions to roast your pumpkin before blending it into that creamy sauce.
• Whole Pumpkin Cheddar Gratin by Teaspoon of Spice.

Tacoma Boys has a wide selection of pumpkins in various shapes, sizes, and colors! You can also find a variety of pumpkin products, like Califia Farms Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk Creamer, Cucina Antica Tuscany Pumpkin Pasta Sauce, and Spice Hunter Pumpkin Pie Spice. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

As the last blooms of summer flowers drop and September begins, it’s time for some fall cooking. Labor Day specifically is a good time to send off summer and welcome the fall season! The holiday falls on the first weekend of September and calls for celebration: Not only for the end of summer, but as an opportunity to celebrate American laborers. The labor union movement of the 19th century led to the progression of worker’s rights and ultimately a celebration for such in the form of Labor Day. Now, Labor Day is a celebration of summer and an easy transition into fall.

Fall Cooking

For Tacoma Boys, the autumn season means getting ready for fall cooking with seasonal snacks and dishes. It’s a great time to get cozy, prepare for the holidays, and enjoy fall produce and herbs: Think squash, apples, Brussels sprouts, sage, thyme, and more! Labor Day is a good chance to transition into fall cooking because it represents the end of summer. Fall cooking can be so tasty with hearty, savory dishes and sweet baked goods. Specifically, a good pie in the fall is so simple and delicious–– Check out our blog post for a guide on Tacoma Boy’s favorite fall pies and treats!

Celebrating Labor Day

The long weekend surrounding Labor Day means celebrations can last for days. There are plenty of things to do and tasty foods to cook to celebrate the holiday. The transition into a new season means it’s one of your last chances to cook your favorite summer foods: Cook up your remaining summer zucchini and corn on the grill to say goodbye to summer! Backyard barbecues and picnics are common on the holiday. Same goes for parades, parties, and special events like speeches. Plus, many workers have the day off in honor of Labor Day. This means extra time to relax and enjoy the (hopefully!) warm summer weather. 

Foods To Eat and Things To Do

Celebrate the end of summer with your picnic favorites like potato salad, chips, and fresh fruit: You can also grill your favorite summer and fall foods to mark the change of seasons. Then, get active and maybe you’ll try something new while you’re at it! 

• Find a Labor Day parade near you and join in to celebrate.
• Play sports like disc golf, tennis, kayaking, and bicycling. 
• There’s nothing like one last camping trip to wrap up summer!
• Grill up Johnson’s Smokehouse Pepperjack Cheese Bratwurst and serve them in Tacoma Boys’ Hoagie Buns.

• Try a BLT Salad: This dish is light but hearty with crunchy romaine lettuce, Hempler’s Uncured Applewood Bacon and Drew’s Organic Rosemary Balsamic Dressing.
• Grill some of Tacoma Boys Pork Baby Back Ribs, then slather them with Mr. Texas BBQ Sauce.

Seasonal Recipes for Autumn

If summer must end, then seasonal recipes for autumn are something to look forward to! Comfort food in general is a good go-to when relaxing on chilly days or spending time with family. A series of holidays include Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas— all great times to have fun cooking and use seasonal ingredients. Get ready for pie season and use the last of your summer berries in a pie or crumble. For a super quick and easy dessert to transition into autumn, try Tacoma Boy’s peach cobbler. 

Labor Day is a good time to mix and match summer and fall recipes because there is a wide variety of produce available. As we transition into fall weather and food, it’s nice to get cozy with some seasonal recipes for autumn. While Labor Day is usually considered the last-hurrah of summer, move on into autumn with these season recipes to celebrate the beginning of fall:

• One Sheet Pan Autumn Chicken featuring seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs.
• Vegetable-loaded beef stew featuring Cal-Organic Farms Rainbow Carrots, Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes and Orrington Farms Organics Beef Stew Seasoning.
• Squash pasta: Butternut squash in fact makes a deliciously smooth and savory pasta sauce. Try this recipe by Savory Simple with Marella Organic Pasta in your shape of choice for a fun autumn recipe. 
• Savory root vegetable galette featuring seasonal root vegetables like beets, turnips, and sweet potatoes. Hint: Spice Hunter Poultry Seasoning is a great substitute for fresh herbs and spices in recipes like these!

Shop For Labor Day at Tacoma Boys

When you’re ready to get cooking for Labor Day and the beginning of the fall season, Tacoma Boys is ready for you! The specialty grocery store routinely provides seasonal produce for any time of year or special occasion. Stop by to see what’s new and tasty. And to stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

Around this time of year, most people are looking for no cook recipes to beat the heat. When hot weather hits the Pacific Northwest in the summer, it can be challenging to find the motivation to cook. Many people do not have air conditioning, and cooking means slaving over a hot stove. But there are certainly several alternatives! You can easily prepare and eat a week’s worth of food with little or minimal cooking. All it takes is a little innovation, fresh ingredients, and preparation: Think fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and meat or other protein. 

No Cook Recipes

When you’re exhausted from the heat and busyness of everyday life, no cook recipes are life-savers. You don’t always have to use the stove, oven, or even grill when cooking— and when it’s as hot as this summer, you probably want to stay away from any extra heat. You can cool off and still feel satisfied with your meal easily with no cook recipes like these.

Sandwiches With Variety

Get creative with your usual meal! That means trying something new to you, like a bahn mi or pita wrap. Try to mix and match a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and spreads like:

• Tacoma Boy’s own deli Smoked Turkey Breast
• New York Style Pastrami
• Green bell peppers
• Zucchini
• Microgreens or sprouts
• Avocado
• Tillamook Cream Cheese
• Mustard and Co. Ballpark Black Pepper Mustard

Fresh Cut Vegetables and Dip

Veggies and dip is a healthy and light no cook recipe that is easy to customize to your liking— You could try Simply Organic French Onion Dip Mix or Gnarly Garlic Dip with freshly cut cucumber, carrot, celery, and cherry tomatoes. Serve them with potato chips, too, for an extra salty edge.

Salads

Pasta salad is an especially great no cook recipe! But any type of salad, served cold, can be filling and delicious for a summer go-to dish. And while pasta salads do require a small amount of cooking via boiling water, the payoff is worth it! Pasta salad is generally served cold and can be loaded with vegetables, beans, meat, cheese, and more. Try Great Low Carb Bread Company Orzo as the pasta base. Or for a quick and easy option, Tacoma Boys offers a variety of premade and packaged pasta salad. For other salad ideas, try:

• Garden salad (loaded with vegetables)
• Fruit salad
• Taco salad
• Cucumber radish salad (with a creamy dressing)
• Caprese salad (with fresh heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and balsamic vinegar)

Tacoma Boy’s Favorite Summer Recipes

Summer recipes are light, refreshing, and utilize the best seasonal produce. Tacoma Boys boasts a wide selection of local fruit and vegetables to choose from. And why not get creative and use the season as a chance to try different tasty recipes? These no cook summer recipes are just right for the weather. 

Zucchini Noodles

Also known as zoodles, zucchini noodles are spiralized zucchinis: Try tossing the zoodles with Napoleon Basil Pesto or Stonewall Kitchen Sundried Tomato Pesto and serve cold for a refreshing dish that is full of summer flavor.

Stuffed Avocados

These are the ultimate hack to a protein packed summer recipe! You could stuff avocado halves with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Then drizzle it with Delallo Balsamic Glaze for a caprese-style stuffed avocado. Check out this post by Simple Veganista for more inspiration on how to stuff avocados.

Vegetable Spring Rolls With Peanut Sauce

Try Tacoma Boy’s recipe for spring rolls with chicken, shrimp, or tofu, and an abundance of assorted vegetables wrapped in Blue Dragon Spring Roll Wrappers. Serve them with Thai Fusions Peanut Sauce as a dip. Or, whip up a peanut sauce at home with the ratios in the recipe.

How to Stay Cool

It’s important to understand how to stay cool in the summer and year-round. Other than light and refreshing no cook recipes, there are several ways to make sure you’re staying safe in the summer. Mainly, be sure to keep hydrated! Remember to drink plenty of water when it’s hot out and throughout summer activities. Otherwise, get adventurous and head to the lake or beach: Relaxing and having fun in the water is an easy way to stay cool. Pack a cooler full of hydrating foods and tasty drinks to bring along on your summer adventures.

Opt for partially shaded areas if you head to a park or outdoor event, especially if you’re with young kids or older adults. For more tips on how to stay cool and safe in the summer, check out this guide by the CDC. Then, stop by Tacoma Boys for hydrating drinks and ingredients for summer no cook recipes! To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

Refreshingly sweet and tart, strawberries are delicious all year round. But there’s something special about strawberries in the summer. Juicy, sun-ripened, homegrown red berries picked right from the plant when they’re still warm… Nothing tastes more like summer! It’s no wonder they’re a summer favorite around here. Strawberries grow very well in gardens here in the Pacific Northwest— The gorgeous pink and white flowers are present throughout the spring and end up as ripe fruit by mid-summer. You can enjoy your own homegrown strawberries or those from local farmers as there is an abundance available every year.

Growing Strawberries

Strawberries are easy to grow and tasty to enjoy. In fact, wild varieties of strawberries are sometimes considered weeds: The prolific plant grows “runners” and additional strawberries out from the mother plant. This means wild strawberries grow far and haphazardly— You may find yourself trimming your own strawberry plants back at home.

Scarlet Belle strawberry plants at Tacoma Boys grow strong and produce pretty pink flowers that become the berries. The edible hanging basket berries are both aesthetically pleasing and deliciously fruitful. Scarlet Belle’s are known for their dual beauty and ease of care. They also go dormant in winter and come back when spring returns. When growing strawberries at home, there are just a few things to keep in mind:

Watch For Birds, Bunnies, and Other Critters

Sometimes right when the strawberries are ripe and ready, other animals will get to them first! Harvest early and often and consider something like bird netting.

Give the Plants Room to Grow

Remember, strawberry plants grow like weeds! You’ll need room for the leaves and flowers of the plant as well as its offspring. For those Scarlet Belle strawberries, avoid overcrowding the container. That means clipping off the runners and baby plants, too, which may instead allow for more nutrients to the fruit of the plant.

Compost and Fertilizer Can Be Beneficial

If you’re comfortable with using such additions, compost or fertilizer can help your strawberry plants grow even more fruit. Check out this guide for information on fertilizing strawberries.

Choose an Appropriate Spot for the Plants

Strawberries like a good amount of sun, so make sure they’re not directly under a porch or somewhere else overly shady. Put the plant somewhere you can see it often to enjoy its beauty!

Local Summer Fruit at Tacoma Boys

Local summer fruit like strawberries are tasty to eat all season long. Fresh fruit is such a good healthy snack and tasty to enjoy on its own. But there are plenty of different dishes and things to make with strawberries. Desserts are a sweet and simple go-to. For a savory summer fruit recipe, salads are delicious and fun to make. Try this Strawberry Peach Spinach Salad with Montchevre Goat Cheese and Annie’s Organic Dijon Mustard to highlight the local summer fruit. Whipped ricotta toast is another popular choice for savory strawberries: Try toasted Essential Baking Company Organic Sliced Fremont Sour White with whipped Organic Valley Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese and balsamic-marinated strawberries.

Aside from strawberries, other summer fruit in Washington includes:

• Berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
• Peaches and nectarines.
• Bing and rainier cherries.
• Cantaloupe, honey dew melon, and watermelon.
• Rhubarb: Tacoma Boy’s recipe for Apple Rhubarb Crisp is seasonal and scrumptious.

Local Produce

Summer fruits like strawberries are just a fraction of the local produce available in the summer. The Pacific Northwest is rich with vegetables and herbs throughout the year, but summer is a great time for local produce. The ample soil, shining sun, and sprinkle of rain yields an abundance of vegetables. Summer season for produce means copious amounts of tomatoes, zucchini, different lettuces, and more. And bonus: Enjoying this produce from local farmers and markets means you’re shopping seasonally and locally. 

In addition to summer fruit, local produce is available at Tacoma Boys, including:

• Zucchini and summer squash
• Several varieties of tomatoes
• Peppers
• Beets
• Radishes
• Peas and beans
• Cabbage

And much more! Buying seasonal, local produce like strawberries is good for you, your community, and the environment. Local produce is in season, fresh, and supports your neighbors: Read more about shopping local and seasonal here. Delicious, sweet fruit and hearty vegetables are available year-round and especially in the summer. Summer is also a good time to head to u-pick farms for summer fruit like berries! Harvesting your own food is fun, rewarding, and connects you closer to the source of common sustenance. 

Shop for Strawberries at Tacoma Boys

Tacoma Boys stays stocked with a selection of strawberries and summer fruit— local and otherwise. That includes those stunning Scarlet Belle strawberry plants so you can get started on growing your own! Stop by to check them out or grab the necessities for your meals all summer long. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

Here in the Pacific Northwest, there is an abundance of summer fruit harvested all season long. As we move through June, July, and August, different fruits will be ready for harvest. Early fruits like cherries are ready now, while melons or nectarines take just a bit more time. Deliciously sweet and refreshing, summer fruit thrives in many parts of Washington. And it’s so easy to eat with little preparation and minimal or no cooking required!

Seasonal Summer Fruit

Many people look forward to summer fruit all year long! There’s something about the sun-ripened, juicy produce that’s just hard to resist. While Washington is famous for its autumn apples, there are several varieties of other fruits to enjoy. When shopping locally and eating seasonal, it’s great to have the option to enjoy fresh fruit. And there are so many ways to eat it! Think fruit salad, charcuterie boards, homemade breakfast buffets, and much more.

While vegetable gardens are a bit more common, growing summer fruit in the Pacific Northwest is fun for many gardeners. Some varieties of fruit, like melons, may be a bit trickier to take care of. Meanwhile, strawberries grow like weeds in some backyards! If you’re interested in growing fruit, this guide by Swanson’s Nursery may help you get started. By next season, your garden will be overflowing with sweet summer fruit!

Pacific Northwest Local Produce

Tacoma Boys boasts a wide selection of local produce throughout every season. But during the summer, you’ll find a variety of even more locally grown produce. Local, seasonal fruits and vegetables are fresh, ripe, and reliably tasty. And buying local produce supports your community and Pacific Northwest farmers! Local summer fruit here in the Pacific Northwest includes:

Berries 

Raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries all thrive when grown in Washington. Sometimes, you can find local boysenberries, marionberries, loganberries, and huckleberries. There are several different varieties of berries that grow here— You’ve probably even seen salmonberries if you’ve ever ventured for a hike through the woods in the Pacific Northwest!

Stone Fruit

Nectarines, peaches, and apricots are a late summer harvest. Plums and pluots are stone fruits that grow in the Pacific Northwest, too— You might even have a plum tree in your own backyard or neighborhood! And did you know that cherries are not berries, but stone fruits? Rainier and bing cherries are very popular early in Washington summers. 

Melons 

Melons have a short growing period later in the summer, like stone fruits. They need hot, dry weather to thrive, like that in Eastern Washington. This includes cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is different from most other Pacific Northwest fruits because it’s quite tart and not eaten raw. The stalky plant is usually cooked down with other fruits, like strawberries or raspberries. If you want to cook with local produce like rhubarb, try our recipe for Apple Rhubarb Crisp!

Easy Fruit Recipes 

When you don’t feel like cooking in the summer heat, easy fruit recipes are helpful to rely on. While you can certainly just cut the fruit and eat it raw, it’s fun to get creative! Fruit can be incorporated into sweet and savory dishes. It can also be grilled or otherwise cooked before enjoying. These easy fruit recipes can work for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dessert. During the summer, it’s both convenient and hydrating to snack on fresh fruit: This makes it easy and tasty to eat healthy and consume enough servings of fruits and vegetables.

Breakfast

Oatmeal bowl topped with fresh strawberries, raspberries, and apples. Or, Zoi Honey Greek Yogurt parfait with fresh fruit and granola.

Lunch

Try a peach or nectarine in this Summer Peach Salad by Ambitious Kitchen. Or, throw together some nectarine blueberry toasties on sourdough bread on top of President Brie Cheese and fresh basil.

Snack or Appetizer 

Bites of fresh fruit alongside just about any Boars Head Cheese is a great mini-charcuterie style snack! Or, grill up some fresh watermelon and serve it with fresh mint and Stella Crumbled Feta Cheese for something a little different.

Dessert

Making a dessert out of fresh fruit, like berries or peaches, is popular because of the fruit’s natural sweetness. A quick and easy fruit recipe for dessert can be as simple as grilled peaches topped with Acme Valley Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. You could also try a homemade berry sorbet, like this recipe by Clean Food Crush!
Now that you’re ready to start snacking on the Pacific Northwest’s best summer fruit, check out the produce section at Tacoma Boys! We have a wide variety and selection of ripe local fruit and all the specialty food ingredients to go along with it. Also visit the weekly specials page regularly to see what’s new and fresh now. And to stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

Since different colored fruits and vegetables provide a variety of nutrients, you should aim to eat the rainbow everyday! You should always aim to eat a variety of colorful produce that provide various nutrients for the whole family. Plus it can be fun to plan what different colored produce you will cook throughout the week! When you get creative with it, half of your plate can be a beautiful bright rainbow. These fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients and ready to boost your immune system.

Eat The Rainbow

Eat the rainbow by making sure you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and in different colors. Think dark leafy greens, purple cabbage, blueberries, and an assortment of bell peppers. These different colored vegetables and fruits contain different vitamins and minerals. The colors also provide phytonutrients, which means extra antioxidants and immunity, too! Get the kids involved with the beautiful colors and they will be happy to eat the rainbow: One way is to give them a plate of colorful vegetables and have them build an edible rainbow. For more tips on how to get your kids to eat more vegetables, check out this blog by Crystal Karges.

When shopping to eat the rainbow, fresh or frozen produce is fine. The nutrients are there either way! Same goes for canned fruits or vegetables (just watch out for additives like sugary syrup or extra salt). Most of your grocery basket should be fruits and vegetables, so go for local, seasonal produce when you can. Learn more about how and why to eat local and seasonal on our blog here.

An Array of Colorful Produce

Step out of your comfort zone and try a variety of colorful produce to reap a variety of benefits! Enjoying multiple servings (5-10 servings daily is often recommended) of colorful produce every day is the foundation of healthy eating for many. They’re low in calories and can be cooked and eaten in so many different ways. The vitamins and minerals of multicolored produce are vast: Continue on to read about the nutritious benefits found in each color.

Red

Foods that are red in color are known for properties that may reduce cancer risk. They’re also associated with cardiovascular health and maintaining blood pressure. Look for red bell peppers, red berries, tomatoes, and beets.

Orange and Yellow

Eating carrots just might make you see better! Orange and yellow toned fruits and vegetables provide nutrients that support eye health. They’re also rich in vitamin C. Look for carrots, sweet potato, orange and yellow bell pepper, squash, oranges, and stone fruits like peaches and apricots.

Green

Greens are well known as being healthy and loaded with various nutrients. The phytonutrients in green produce support cell function and brain health. Look for broccoli, brussels sprouts, asparagus, avocado, kiwi, peas, and leafy greens like kale and spinach (rather than lighter colored greens like iceberg lettuce, which has much less nutritional value).

Blue and Purple

Antioxidants in dark blue and purple fruits and vegetables help prevent blood clots and build immunity. The acai berry comes to mind as one of these purple fruits that is rich in antioxidants: Also look for blueberries, blackberries, plums, eggplant, red cabbage, and more. Blue and purple produce also comes rich with nutrients that support heart health and reduce inflammation. 

White and Brown

White and brown fruits and vegetables might not look as exciting as other brightly colored produce. But they’re still full of wholesome nutrients and part of a well-rounded diet. Some of these nutrients are anti-inflammatory and overall important to human health. Look for onions, garlic, mushrooms, cauliflower, parsnips, and potatoes.

Colorful Meals are Delicious and Doable 

It’s easy to eat an abundance of colorful meals when you incorporate various fruits and vegetables into your diet. Even if you’re not used to eating colorful meals, it’s as simple as shopping for produce in every color. Nature makes it easy for us to get various nutrients in this way. Planning nutritious, colorful meals makes healthy eating enjoyable. Get creative with different colors and cooking methods! 

One way to ensure you’re eating the rainbow is to eat plenty of raw cut fruits and vegetables. Cut up a bunch of carrots, celery, cucumber, bell peppers, and cauliflower: Serve with your favorite dipping sauce like Gnarly Garlic Dip or Tessemae’s Avocado Ranch and you’ve got every color of the rainbow covered! Same goes for snacking on raw fruits like apples, bananas, and berries. Keep it on hand for whenever you need a quick bite to eat. 

Try building a loaded salad with fresh spinach, red cabbage, cucumbers or other vegetables, Mezzetta Sun Dried Tomatoes, and your favorite Tacoma Boys salad dressing for a colorful, healthy meal. Salads are a quick route to eating the rainbow because you can customize it with whatever produce you have on hand. Same goes for a Simple Greek Pasta Salad: This recipe is loaded with colorful ingredients!

Shop the Rainbow at Tacoma Boys

Next time you’re looking for a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, stop on by Tacoma Boys. The specialty grocery store offers an assortment of fresh produce for nutritious meals. And an array of dressings, dips, seasonings, and ingredients available at Tacoma Boys ensures your meal will be tasty and complete. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

Eating naturally fermented foods has long been beneficial to one’s overall health, but your gut especially reaps the benefits. Fermentation is the result of sugars and starches in a food naturally broken down by bacteria and yeast. This changes the structure of the food and allows it to be preserved longer. What results is “good bacteria” that takes care of your stomach and helps with digestion. Fermented foods are fun to eat and popular for their distinctively acidic taste and health benefits.

Fermented Foods

Consuming fermented foods is beneficial because they contain live cultures that live in your gut and help support your immune system. One thing to note about fermentation is the difference between such and pickling. While some traditional pickles are naturally fermented, many are not. Therefore they’re not considered fermented foods (rather, they are simply cucumbers pickled in vinegar). For more information on the difference between the fermenting and pickling, check out this guide by WildBrine.

Yogurt and Kefir

One of the most popular fermented foods is yogurt because it is simply fermented milk! It’s known for containing probiotics that are helpful to your gut and digestion. If you’re unfamiliar with kefir, it’s a dairy product similar to yogurt. Kefir is a great addition to smoothies and granola! One of Tacoma Boys’ favorites is Grace Harbor Farms Plain Kefir. This drinkable yogurt is known for assisting digestion and even improving bone health, making it a great addition to your daily routine!

Kombucha

Kombucha has become quite popular in recent years, but do you know what this fermented tea actually is? Scoby, a colony of yeast and bacteria, is what makes the tea fermented. Depending on the brand and flavor, kombucha may taste slightly sweet and sometimes vinegary. But not in a bad way! Kombucha is flavored with herbs and fruits that are added during the fermentation process. If you’re a first-timer looking for a good option, Bellingham-based Kombucha Town Blueberry White Kombucha is one of the many kombucha brands offered at Tacoma Boys.

Kimchi

Kimchi is a traditional Korean blend of salted and fermented vegetables. Cabbage and radish typically makes up the base of kimchi, followed by many seasonings and spices! If you’re looking for a tasty way to get more probiotics and vegetables into your diet, kimchi is the perfect option! Try Britt’s Kimchi made by local Britt’s Fermented Foods.

Sauerkraut 

Sauerkraut is familiar to many for its presence on various sausages and its crunchy, sour bite. This comes from the fermentation process when the sugars in the cabbage break down into lactic acid. Flavoring and seasonings like garlic, ginger, peppers, and other vegetables are often present. OlyKraut and WildBrine Sauerkraut are available in many flavors at Tacoma Boys.

Sourdough

This may come as a surprise to many, but sourdough is actually a fermented food! This means it contains those good bacterias that help support your gut. Naturally occurring yeast and lactic acid bacteria make up a sourdough starter. While making bread, the starter ferments the sugars in the dough. This is what yields such a nice sour taste, such as in Seattle Sourdough Baking Company Bread.

What are the Benefits of Probiotics?

Fermented foods contain live cultures called probiotics, which live in your body, too! What’s amazing about probiotics is that they’re constantly fighting the “bad bacteria.” And to top it off, this all leads back to your overall health and taking good care of your body and immune system. There are different strains of probiotics that are beneficial for different reasons. Some fermented foods contain dozens of different helpful probiotics that contribute to the “good bacteria.” Moreover, for people who prefer to take supplements over fermented foods, there are options like this spore probiotic that contains many unique bacillus spores providing broad-spectrum support for the gut and thus helping to maintain a healthy bacterial ecosystem.

Realizing that fermented foods contain several live microorganisms may gross some people out. But there’s no need to worry! You have hundreds of millions of live bacteria living in your gut right now. Probiotic microbes simply add to the good bacteria in your gut that fight disease and infection. Many people even take probiotic supplements to improve their gut health. For more information about probiotics, check out this webpage by the Cleveland Clinic. 

Cooking With Fermented Foods

Cooking with fermented foods can be as simple as snacking on kimchi or yogurt! But there are a few things you can do to make cooking with fermented foods part of your everyday diet. When you add fermented foods to your diet, you’re making an effort to maintain your gut health and immune system. You can simply use the fermented foods as you would with its non fermented counterpart: 

• Throw kimchi (cabbage and radish) in a stir fry or pile some sauerkraut (cabbage) high on your sandwich.
• Try kombucha (sweet tea) as an afternoon refreshment.
• Swap plain white bread with sourdough on your next homemade sandwich.
• Toss some kefir (cultured milk) into a smoothie.
• Build a charcuterie board with raw cheese, kimchi, sourdough bread, and salami. 

The options are endless! Get creative with cooking with fermented foods to make it a regular part of your diet. 

Shop Local at Tacoma Boys

Tacoma Boys selection of speciality foods and ingredients makes it easy to find the fermented foods you love. Just stop on by to browse a wide array of sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurts, and more! And to stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

The Pacific Northwest is ripe with produce all year round, but there’s something special to be said about spring produce. Think of all the bright fruits, earthy herbs, and hearty vegetables. Plus, the anticipation of more sweet fruits coming in the summertime. It’s easy and delicious to make simple healthy meals and snacks using fresh spring produce. And it’s a good idea to think about shopping locally and seasonally year round!

The Best Spring Produce

Spring produce in the Pacific Northwest includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and legumes (like peas). Apricots, rhubarb, asparagus, and mixed greens are well on their way. Green peas, radishes, and watercress are also growing and ready for a spring produce harvest. The variety makes it that much easier to get creative when you cook all year long. 

This spring produce can be used in so many different ways and perfectly seasoned with tasty herbs. Chives, oregano, and thyme grow strong in the spring. Mint, rosemary, and sage are solid herbs that keep on growing all year round. Look forward to nectarines, berries, squash, and tomatoes coming next in the summertime!

Pacific Northwest Produce Tastes Delicious

This is a time of year when many home gardeners will start to spend more time growing and harvesting more Pacific Northwest produce. Spring gardening is a hobby that pays off in a tasty way. If you’re interested in growing your own spring produce, try starting with herbs! It’s a small and simple way to reap the benefits of gardening in the Pacific Northwest: Take a peek at Tacoma Boys guide to herb gardening here. 

How to Cook With Pacific Northwest Produce

Now that you’ve got your Pacific Northwest produce in hand, you may be wondering what to do with it all. When cooking at any time of year, think about how to use what’s in season: Take advantage of the freshness of the Pacific Northwest produce. Here are a few ways to cook with Pacific Northwest spring produce:

• Make a salad using mixed greens, sliced radishes, watercress, and tomatoes. Top it off with your favorite Terrapin Ridge Farms Salad Dressing and Fresh Gourmet Garden Herb Croutons for a refreshing appetizer. 
• Sauté vegetables in a stir fry with legumes and Westbrae Natural Organic Mellow Miso in a flavorful sauce. Stop by the Tacoma Boys deli counter for an already prepared cheese stuffed chicken breast and you’re on your way to a satisfying dinner in almost no time!
• Get grilling with those vegetables and herbs. The weather is warming and it’s the perfect time to have an outdoor barbecue dinner! Throw some asparagus on a hot grill next to one of Tacoma Boys Angus Tri-Tip Steaks. Then leave a sprig of rosemary on the grill for a minute to bring out some smoky flavors and make it into an herb butter for the steak.
• Cook a soup with fresh herbs to season and legumes and vegetables at the base. Though we love soup to warm in the winter, it’s delicious and nutritious any time of the year!

However you decide to enjoy your favorite Pacific Northwest produce, Tacoma Boys has everything you need to get cooking. Try your favorite go-to meals with a swap for spring produce this week! And even if you’re not one to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you’ll surely appreciate the freshness of it all. 

Shop Local for Spring Produce

You may have heard that it’s important to shop local. But why? First, it stimulates and supports your local economy! This means your neighbors and your friends’ businesses. When you shop local, you support local farms and help them keep the crops coming for next season. There’s something new and tasty to look forward to every few months!

It’s also sustainable to shop local and eat what’s in season near you: Products don’t have to travel long distances over time to get to you. And when local seasonal produce doesn’t have to sit around for a long time, it’s fresh and bright in color when you get it.

When you shop local and enjoy food products that are in season and nearby, you’ll consume a variety of nutrients. The Pacific Northwest is ripe with so many different kinds of fruits and vegetables! Produce is constantly being harvested from farms across the state and nearby regions. What are you looking forward to cooking next? Get creative!

Shop Seasonal at Tacoma Boys

Although enjoying local spring produce is a good idea, Tacoma Boys is able to provide fresh produce from all seasons. Whatever fresh fruit or vegetable you have in mind, just come on by and ask if you don’t see it. We’re happy to help! To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!