Whole Story

Two of my favorite ways to celebrate spring are eating lots (and lots) of organic strawberries and searching out exceptional seasonal produce at value prices. Whole Foods Market is making it possible to do both this Friday. Come to your local store to stock up on luscious, ripe, organic strawberries priced at $1.99 for a whole pound. Available while supplies lasts. Our delicious sale strawberries originate in southern California, where the crop is currently at peak ripeness. Beyond taste and price, do you need a few more good reasons to indulge? Strawberries are superstars on the nutrition front. Just eight berries can provide as much Vitamin C as an orange, and you won’t have to peel anything. They are high in manganese and fiber and low in sodium. In addition, strawberries are packed with antioxidants and plant compounds that help keep cholesterol levels in healthy ranges. I’m already plotting my strategy to take advantage of delicious strawberry bounty at value prices on Friday. Shall I gorge on berries straight from the package during a morning break? Maybe I’ll serve them with goat cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar for dessert at lunch, or take several pounds home to slice and freeze for use in morning smoothies. Maybe I’ll do all of the above. Over the weekend, I’ll also test a few new recipes that sound perfect for a weekend brunch, such as Spring Salad with Strawberries and Creamy Orange-Avocado Dressing, or Mixed Greens with Strawberry Vinaigrette and Edible Flowers, so that I can use up the last of my home-grown nasturtiums in a festive manner. For Sunday dinner, I’m considering Baked Salmon with Spinach and Strawberry Salsa. What recipes do you like to use when you come across a great deal on summer fruit? Do you have a great recipe for strawberry lemonade or a favorite no-bake strawberry pie recipe? I grow my own organic strawberries at home and this year it has been a race to harvest the ripe ones before the birds get to them. But no worries; now I can get my fill! And with berries at this price, I may just pick up an extra pound for the birds, too. Color me happy (with a berry-red stain on my lips)!