Produce
EFC Produce Department
For one of the freshest experiences on Central Avenue, take a stroll down the EFC produce aisle!
A great produce department should please your senses and inspire your menus--two goals that our produce team strives to achieve every day. Manager Jean Eilers stocks the department with select fair-trade and organic fruits and vegetables from around the world, as well as seasonal, sustainably-raised foods from farmers we know and trust.
Welcome to the Local Produce Season!!
While we here in the city wait for our gardens to grow, the diligent farmers who grow our great food are making the most of the limited growing season in the upper midwest and already taking up first harvests! Get ready for delicious, fresh, local produce!
Interesting Tid-Bit:
Many of our farmers are located in the Driftless region, which includes southeastern MN (Cannon Falls and eastward), northeastern IA (Dubuque and northward), northwestern, IL (Rockford and westward) and most of the southwestern quadrant of WI. What is the Driftless Region? The term driftless indicates a lack of glacial drift, in other words the region that wasn't flattened during the last ice-age. The upper midwest driftless region covers 16,203 square miles, includes hilly landscapes with elevations ranging from 603' to 1719'. The region is filled with beautiful river valleys and steep cliff faces.
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VEGETABLES
Broccoli (Organic - Gardens of Eagan, MN) |  |
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PEPPERS
Sweet Mini Peppers 1 Pint (Organic - Driftless Organics) |
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SUMMER SQUASHES
Zucchini (Organic - Keewaydin Gardens, WI) |
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WINTER SQUASHES
Spaghetti Squash (Organic - Wisconsin Growers) |
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TOMATOES
Tomatillos (Organic - Driftless Organics, WI; Earthen Path Organic Farm, MN) |
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ONIONS
Cippolini Onions, Red or Yellow (Organic - Keewaydin Gardens, WI) |
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ROOTS
All Blue Potatoes (Organic - Keewaydin Organics, WI) |
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APPLES!!!
State Fair Apples (Organic - Earthen Path Organic Farm, MN) |
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PEARS
Summer Crisp Pear (Organic - Earthen Path Organic Farm, MN) |
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BERRIES
Ground Cherries (Organic - Wisconsin Growers) |
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STONE FRUIT
Yellow Nectarines (I.P.M. - Barnard Orchards, WI) |
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MELONS
Galia Melon (Organic - JPS Farms, MN) |
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LETTUCE
Romaine Lettuce (Hydroponic - Labore Farm, MN) |  |
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GREENS
Rainbow Chard (Organic - Keewaydin Gardens, WI) |  |
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HERBS
Fennel (Keewaydin Gardens, WI) |  |
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SPROUTS
Clover Sprouts (Hydroponic - Pyramid Sprouters, MN) |  |
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MUSHROOMS
Chicken of the Woods (MN) |  |
The Great Apple Sale!
Wonderful Apple Sale = Fresh Homemade Pies!
Organic Braeburn Apples on Sale ONLY .99/lb.
Organic Fuji Apples on Sale ONLY .99/lb.
Cheese of the Week
Mountain Gorgonzola
This gorgonzola comes from the Lombardy region of Italy, where lowland pasture cows' milk produces one of the country's most well-known cheeses. Spicy and earthy, and slightly creamier than France's crumbly, salty Roquefort, this is an extremely versatile cheese, making it more than suitable for both eating and incorporating into your favorite recipes.
Recipe of the Week!
Brown Rice & Goat Cheese Cakes
Medium-grain brown rice has a toothsome texture and nutty flavor that complement creamy, earthy goat cheese in these elegant cakes. Serve over salad greens as a main course
6 servings
Total Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
Got Lots of Garden Veggies?
Weapons-Grade Ratatouille by Francis Lam
Makes a boatload, nearly half a gallon, of very intensely flavored stuff
Jean Eilers, Produce Manager
Jean started working one shift a week in our produce department in July of 2004; in April of 2005, she was hired as produce manager. Prior to her experience at EFC, Jean was the deli and bakery manager at Linden Hills Food Co-op for 16 years; she left LHC to take a general manager position with D’Amico Inc., a fresh foods restaurant and catering business in the Twin Cities. Jean left D’Amico within the year, as the corporate environment was not a good fit for her, and pursued a life-long love of produce at Valley Natural Food Co-op in Burnsville for two years.
