CSA Fair this weekend The eighth annual Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) fair will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the new Seward Co-op, in its bright green new digs at 2823 E. Franklin Av. in Minneapolis, just a few blocks east of its old location. More than 20 farmers will be there, representing the produce, flowers, meat, honey and more that will be available for CSA members. The grand re-opening celebration for Seward Co-op is from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and will include local musicians, children's activities, giveaways, cooking demonstrations and food samples. There's an exhibit about the history of co-ops by local co-op enthusiast Marty Brown, and drawings will be held to receive garden rain barrels at a significantly reduced rate. The event is free and public.
The power of experience Finally, the answer to whether those in-store food samples really work. Better Homes and Gardens took a nationwide survey of women's attitudes and behaviors about food and shopping. Turns out that 28 percent reported buying a new food after they had a store sample. But coupons are even better: 1 out of 3 tried a new food because they had a coupon for it. Other findings: Six in 10 women still shop at their regular grocery, and only 10 percent go to discount supermarkets, most making the call based on product selection and store appearance. (A warehouse full of deals is still a warehouse.) More than half are buying more store-brand or private-label brand foods because they perceive better value. On average, women are spending $34 a week more than they did two years ago.
Cooking for chemo, diabetes patients Preparing meals to satisfy special diets is difficult, but crucial to your wellbeing or that of a loved one. Two new cookbooks from Kyle Books may help. "Healthy Eating for Diabetes" was developed by a British chef, Antony Worrall Thompson, after he was diagnosed with a pre-diabetic condition. Working with a nutritionist, he came up with more than 100 recipes, from pumpkin risotto to steamed chocolate pudding. "Healthy Eating During Chemotherapy" came about when London chef José van Mil's husband became ill with cancer. Working with a radiologist, she developed recipes with a special focus on texture, temperature and nutrition. Each book is $16.95.
Contest alerts For mushroom lovers, the Mushroom Council's "Every Day, Every Way Recipe Contest" seeks recipes for using the luscious fungus as a meat substitute, main ingredient, appetizer, or in a category they call Fun Fungi that showcases an unusual way to use mushrooms. Top entries in each category win $1,000, with the grand prize winner getting an additional $1,000. Entry deadline is May 18. For details, go to www.mushroominfo.com and click on recipe contest. There are recipes there as well.
The Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest from Ocean Spray features a grand prize of $25,000 for one of four home cooks chosen as finalists from the submitted recipes. Each of the four will receive a trip for two to New York City in early October and a year's supply of Ocean Spray products. Food recipes must have at least 1/2 cup of any Ocean Spray product. Deadline is May 29. For details, go to oceanspray.com. Recipes from 2008 winners are there too.
Text by KIM ODE
