Pia is The FruitGuys storyteller in chief. She is married to CEO & founder Chris Mittelstaedt. Her favorite fruits are Blenheim apricots and fresh-picked blackberries.
In 1962, Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan became the first woman to own a wholesale produce business in the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. She introduced American consumers to such exotic produce as kiwis, mangoes, blood oranges, ginger, shallots, jicama, habanero peppers, brown mushrooms, purple potatoes, spaghetti squash, alfalfa sprouts, and more than 200 other items […]
Winter is the peak of the citrus season. Officially beginning on the winter solstice (December 21), the bright shades of orange, red, pink, yellow and green of citrus add brightness and light to the darkness of this time of year. Nature gives us what we need when we need it mostāeating winter citrus naturally boosts […]
The FruitGuys has been named a 2022 Best for the Worldā¢ B Corpā¢ in recognition of its exceptional positive impact in the Community category.Ā Best for the World is a distinction granted to Certified B Corporations (B Corps) whose impact scores rank in the top 5% of all B Corps in their corresponding size group. The […]
A diverse group of women farmers dominate the 2022 class of grantees for The FruitGuys Community Fund, the nonprofitās 10th year of providing grants to small farms and agricultural nonprofits that have big impacts on their sustainability and their communities. A majority of these 17 farms are owned or led by women who are Black, […]
Fruit World is famous for its extraordinary Sky Ranch Mandarins, a clementine grown on farmer Bianca Kaprielianās grandfatherās ranch, which sits atop one of the areaās tallest foothills and is named for its sweeping views of the San Joaquin Valley.Ā āThe topsoil is less than two inches and then solid granite, with a very high […]
Leticia Velazquez, The FruitGuys Midwest Operations Manager, was one of four people chosen for the prestigious Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program for 2021.Ā The program provides scholarships for representatives from family businesses to participate in the United Fresh Washington Conference (held Sept. 20-22, 2021) which brings participants to the nationās capital to learn […]
Rebecca North, The FruitGuys Senior Buyer and chief Fruit Detective, has been awarded the prestigious 2021 Golden Pliers Award from the Ecological Farming Association (EcoFarm).Ā According to EcoFarm, a non-profit based in Soquel, CA whose mission is to ānurture safe, healthy, just, and ecologically sustainable farms, food systems, and communities,ā the Golden Pliers Award is […]
2020 was a terrible year and yet the generosity of our community allowed us to bring healthy food to nearly two million people: neighbors in need, frontline healthcare workers, and public school kids and families. Buying your fruit from us on a regular basis helps our B Corp business support the small farms we partner […]
āI had a terrible dream one night,ā says Vince Bernard, founder and farmer of Bernard Ranch, who has watched the COVID crisis cut into his sales so much that he may not be able to afford to water all his trees. āI dreamt that I asked my neighbor to bring over his bulldozer and together […]
Each August, Sebastopol holds its annual Gravenstein Apple Fair to celebrate the county’s treasured heirloom apple. FruitGuys Founder Chris Mittelstaedt was a judge at Sebastopol’s 2009 Gravenstein Apple Fair pie contest alongside the previous year’s winner, Sonoma county resident Kayleigh Stump. Below you’ll find her prize-winning Gravenstein Apple Pie recipe as well a delicious Gravenstein […]
Summer is the perfect time for peaches and wine! Peaches are harvested across the U.S. from late May to early September, with local varieties having their own special windows of availability. No matter what kind of wine you prefer, red, white, rose, or bubbles, and no matter what the quality of the wine, I guarantee […]
Chia seed pudding topped with blueberries is a powerhouse breakfast packed with fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats. And it couldn’t be easier to make overnight so it’s ready to enjoy in the morning. Watch how it’s done in our Blueberry Chia Seed Pudding video. INGREDIENTS 1 cup coconut milk Ā¼ cup chia seeds 1 tsp […]
Trying to eat healthier snacks while remote working? Try this quick and easy carrot snack salad that will satisfy your munchie-crunchie-salty cravings with something healthy. Carrots get their color from beta carotene, an antioxidant that provides your body with Vitamin A. They are also rich in Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, biotin, and potassium. INGREDIENTS 1-2 […]
Tips to stay safe from ticks this summer Knowing how to protect yourself from ticks and the diseases they carry is more important than ever during the COVID-19 crisis. The urge to get out in nature has never been stronger, but even if youāre only in your backyard or walking your dog at a local […]
Frittata are a delicious and versatile Italian baked egg dish that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Perfect for when you donāt know what to cook but have some eggs on hand. You can add virtually any vegetable or meat ingredients to the basic recipe for a comforting meal.Ā This potato frittata makes […]
Soffritto is the Italian version of the French Mirepoix and is the base for many soups, sauces, stews, and braises. Use this as a base for our Easy Lentil SoupĀ or any braised meats.Ā Soffritto (mirepoix) 1 Onion (medium) 2 Carrots 2 Celery stalks2 tbsp Olive oil Salt to taste Wash and scrub carrot and […]
What are you baking? I found this old The FruitGuys recipe for Lemon-Lavender Soda Bread and made it for Easter and it was delicious. No yeast needed. You can find lavender buds in well-stocked dried goods aisles or order them online (search “dried lavender buds for cooking”).Ā If you can’t find buttermilk, just add […]
āComfort foodā gets its name for a good reason and I’m a big fan of making easy, comforting soups like this Lentil Soup, that can feed a crowd.Ā Even if you are a crowd of one, it’s handy to have the leftovers for lunch or freeze portions to heat up when you canāt think of […]
As concern over the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) grows, what steps can you and your workplace take to stay healthy? Health officials say the best thing businesses can do is promote good hygiene practices for the regular cold and flu seasonāespecially regular hand washing and letting employees stay home if theyāre sick. The U.S. […]
If youāre looking for a way to cut down on your single-use plastic items, why not swear off disposable pens and discover the old-school delights of the fountain pen; fountain pens feel better in the hand, improve retention, and are perhaps the most eco-friendly writing tools available for your home or office. Disposable plastic pens […]
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