The weather report indicates that the last week of February will be a wet one and serves as a reminder that it is still winter for several weeks.The most interesting and exciting produce at the moment is the continued variety of items arriving from Del Rio Botanicals, the Produce Express farm..This week, a Del Rio sample box contains an amazing array of winter greens with a decidedly California and Mediterranean theme- Braising Mix,
two kinds of Arugula, Mixed Chicories, Red and Green Mustard, Rapini and Fava Greens. Rapini, also know as Rabe’ in Italy and Broccoli Rabe’ in America is the traditional Italian variety and represents an interesting additon to the farm’s repertoire. The stems are tender with light green leaves and small flower buds. Rapini is a member of the Brassica family-Broccoli and Cauliflower- but more closely related to turnips than to broccoli. This explains the assertive flavor as the cooked vegetable has a
pronounced mustardy bite. Several varieties of Del Rio Braising Mix are available and the varying ingredients in each mix create different flavor profiles from mild to wild. Two types of Arugula are available- Sylvettica, a smal leaf variety for use in salads and Broadleaf, also for salads but large enough for a brief saute’. Both varieties exhibit the ‘peppery’ flavor associated with this Italian staple. Mixed chicories includes four varieties- individual leaves cleaned and tossed together-and add excellent flavor to salads and entrees. Fava Greens are the leaves of the young Fava Bean
plant and Red and Green Mustard are fresh, pungent greens from the Mustard plant.
   For those of you still unfamilar with Del Rio, let me explain. Del Rio Botanicals is located in the Sacramento River in Yolo County a few miles southwest of the Sacramento International Airport. Produce Express and Del Rio have created a project designed to supply local restaurants with high quality, seasonal produce at reasonable prices. The concept of farms supplying produce to restaurants is hardly a novel one-however, Del Rio is doing what few have done before: (1) In our first full year of production,
Del Rio has been able to harvest and supply restaurant accounts with produce every week of the year-including the rain soaked months of December and January. (2)The connection between Produce Express and Del Rio creates a system that delivers product to restaurants within 24 hours of delivery. (3) Del Rio offers a product list of both conventional and specialty items, allowing restaurant chefs a variety of choices when ordering. (4) The produce offered is not available anywhere else- we are growing for, and counting on, local restaurants to support a local grower. (5) The farm is involved in all aspects of sustainable agriculture- an extremely relevant concept-as well as providing
an excellent work environment for a dedicated crew of workers. We at Produce Express are convinced that no other small farm, local or otherwise, is offering the variety that Del Rio offers in the dead of winter or any other time of year. More information is available on the del rio page. The Del Rio link on this site will provide you with a complete list-click on ‘currently available.’ If you are interested in the sample box or any other items, please contact our office.

     Spring Garlic- spring or green garlic is the very first arrival of

     what will soon be an influx of seasonal crops. Spring garlic is 

     the young or ‘immature ‘bulb with stem attached, now 

     resembling an oversized scallion-the bulb will continue to grow 

     as the plant matures. Spring garlic has a mild garlic flavor

     without the ‘heat’ of the finished product. Available by the

      pound.
     Epic Roots Mache-we recently received a letter from the

     grower that Mache will be unavailable for up to three weeks

     due to “ cold weather conditions and soil temperatures’ in our

     Southern California fields. They predict that the product will

     again be available around March 8. The alternative is the

     hydroponic variety, which immediately became hard to get as 

     soon as Epic Roots ran out of their product.
     Specialty produce-as the arrival of spring crops is easily a

     month away, restaurant chefs might wish to consider the  

     category of ‘specialty ‘produce from our product list. Included 

     in this list you will find such items as Micro Greens, Mizuna.

     Frisee, Chicories, Tatsoi, Varietal Lettuces, Baby Mixed

     Carrots and Baby Mixed Beets, Broccolini, Thai

     Papaya and Baby Bok Choy. The complete list of all our  

     Specialty produce (over 150 items) is available upon request.