The FruitGuys Almanac
Happy Holidays! December 2011
GOODWORKS
Paying it Forward
FruitGuys Donations are Backbone of Some Food Pantries
By Pia Hinckle
“I have a deep-seated belief that if you have been lucky enough to succeed in business that you have a responsibility to try and make the world a better place and help those in need,” says Chris Mittelstaedt, The FruitGuys founder and CEO. “I’m very thankful for our customers whose business with us allows us to grow our GoodWorks program and fulfill this mission. But there is always more to do.” Our GoodWorks program has two core missions: to help farmers become more environmentally sustainable and economically secure and to give fresh produce to those who otherwise would not be able to get it. The company has two main programs that fulfill these goals: Donations & Farm Steward. Learn more about our GoodWorks program here.
GOODWORKS
More than A Meal
St. Anthony’s Dining Room Nourishes the Needy
By Pia Hinckle
Three times a week the St. Anthony's Dining Room picks up donations of fresh fruit, much of it organic, from the South San Francisco warehouse of The FruitGuys, a farm fresh produce delivery service. Founder and CEO Chris Mittelstaedt says St. Anthony’s was the first group to receive donations in the company’s early years and set the tempo for its expanding GoodWorks philanthropic program. Read more about St. Anthony's here.
GOODWORKS
Growing Home
FruitGuys Helps South Philly Refugee Service
By Kim Jordan
Every Monday morning Adam Forbes travels to The FruitGuys Philadelphia warehouse to load his pick-up truck. Apples? Check. Bananas? Check. Citrus? Pears? Check. Adam brings the fruit, and any other produce that wasn’t used in customers’ crates that week, back to the Growing Home Community Garden, an urban farm project and food assistance program run by the Nationalities Service Center (NSC), a Philadelphia-based nonprofit group founded in 1921 to aid recent immigrants and refugees in the Philadelphia area. Read about the Growing Home Community Garden and its effect on residents here.
NUTRITION
The Most Important Meal
Breakfast May be Key to Weight Loss
By Rebecca Taggart
Did you eat breakfast today? Some 90 percent of Americans say they believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and yet more than half report that they skip it at least once a week. And yet multiple studies have shown that people who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight, have superior nutrition, and do better in school than those who don’t. Why you need a good breakfast here.
FITNESS
The Many Names of Yoga
Which Yoga Fits Your Fitness Goals?
By Rebecca Taggart
From Ashtanga to Viniyoga, there are a bewildering number of yoga classes out there: Hatha, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Anusara, Ashtanga, Flow, Viniyoga, Bikram, and many more. What is the difference between these styles? Are they related? What can you expect in these classes? Here we provide an overview of the most common styles widely offered at gyms and yoga centers.
FARMS
What Does a Farmer Do in December?
By Judith Redmond of Full Belly Farm, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop
Each season on the farm has its own tempo. The harvest overwhelms everyone’s attention for most of the year. The lambing season in February is another high point. Paperwork and regulatory reports flood through the door at year’s end. Animal chores are a constant every day of the year. See what the Full Belly farmers are doing during the next couple of months here.
FOOD
Objet d’Art – Pomegranate
By Heidi Lewis
At the Still Life Modeling Agency, the pomegranate gets call-backs all the time. You can see why—it’s such an intriguing fruit. The beautiful maroon color, the little calyx crown, and the skin, which looks like a worn, burgundy leather suitcase packed full of mysteries, perhaps even love letters. When opened, it reveals a hive of jewels—ruby and garnet arils filled with crimson juice. A beautiful fruit you can spend time positioning “just so” when staging your kitchen counter. History of the pomegranate and how to work with this supermodel here.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Hachiya Persimmon Scones
Make sure the Hachiya persimmon is ripe before using it in this recipe. Wait until it is custard-soft, with a jelly-like consistency. Free recipe for these delicious Hachiya Persimmon scones here.
Not sure how to tell a Fuyu and a Hachiya apart? See the different types of persimmons here.
FRUITLIFE
Good Works
By Chris Mittelstaedt
The FruitGuys has always been a mission-driven business that attempts not only to have a positive impact on people’s health, but to offer support on two specific fronts: First, to help small farmers become more sustainable; and second, to help people in need with donations of healthy food. As our business grows, we think about ways to expand these programs and how to involve our clients who wish to help. Here’s how you can get involved.
Ask The FruitGuys
Q: How can I donate my box to charity?
A: All you have to do is call 877-FRUIT-ME.
Office closed for the holidays? Vacation? It's easy to put your box on hold OR you could help those in need by donating your box to a local food pantry or charitable organization in your community. Our Donate-A-Crate Program makes it easy to give. We have a list of wonderful organizations in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Phoenix regions. Have a specific charity in mind? Just let us know the name and address and we will get it there (shipping charges may apply depending on location). Just contact FruitGuys customer service at 1-877-FRUIT-ME (877-378-4863) or info@fruitguys.com and say you want to "pay it forward." Donations to 501c3 non-profit organizations are tax deductible.
FIELD TRIPS
EAST
Farmer's Ball NYC
Brooklyn, NY
Dec15
WEST
For Kids: The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming
San Francisco, CA
Dec 18
CENTRAL
Dance it Yourself Nutcracker
Evanston, IL
Jan 7-20
SOUTHWEST
Phoestivus Market
Phoenix, AZ
Dec 14 & 21
More fun things to do here.
HEALTHY GIFT IDEAS
Prices start at $17.75 with free delivery to many areas.
Personalize your order with a handwritten card in each gift crate at no extra charge.
Holiday Harvest – The classic – locally grown fruit and nuts. Great gift for a group.
Farmer's Kitchen – Regional fruit and two specialty items, varies by locality. Perfect for home cooks.
SmileSnack – Fruit with granola and trail mix. An affordable and healthy gift, buy individually or a pack of five.
www.fruitguys.com/gifts
877-FRUIT-ME (877-378-4863) info@fruitguys.com
Free delivery to many areas. Shipping charges may apply.
WHAT'S IN SEASON?
We work with local growers in multiple areas of the United States and our fruit mixes vary by region. Mixes can change quickly due to weather and other farm circumstances. To find out exactly what's available for you, go to our mix page and select your delivery region and box variety.
Enjoy and be fruitful!
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