Strawberry Fields Forever

I don't think I ever wrote about the outcome of the Strawberry Fields Forever bicycle ride I did on May 16th. It was a 100 km bike ride in Monterey County.

There were three stops along the way for food and drinks.

At stop number one: fruits, trail mix, biscotti, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...

... and a barista making espresso or pouring coffee...

We stopped at the warehouse of Bamboosero...

Bamboosero is a custom bike company run by frame designer Craig Calfee. His bikes are primarily made of bamboo, which grows in the developing countries where most of his bikes are built. If I remember correctly, he teaches people in developing countries HOW to build the bikes, and then they take over and build them all. It helps the struggling communities because now people have jobs, they can better support their families, there is more money flowing through the community, it makes bamboo a more valuable resource, etc.

... just keep pedaling ...

... world class unicyclist in our midst ...

... second stop: lunch!

... fruit, make your own sandwiches, cookies, crackers ...

.... third stop: Gizdich Ranch!

Summary of what you can find on the Gizdich Ranch website:

• Pick your favorite fruit of the season right off the tree or vine
• Purchase a jar of fresh jam, a delicious fresh-baked pie, or an antique/craft
• Pick up apples (pay by bushel or pound) during the apple season, September through December.
• They seriously have so many apple varieties!! I've never heard of half of these.
• Pick yourself is for 3 weeks only 9 - 5 daily (Red Delicious, Newton Pippins, and Golden Delicious are pickable - Other varieties available for sale only)
• All Gizdich berries are grown, harvested and packed at the ranch
• Call to reserve a flat of berries ahead of time (frozen available all year round)
• The pie and baked goods shop will tantalize your senses!
• Gizdich sales pies, shortcakes, pastries, deli sandwiches, etc
• Walking tours available

PIES:
Strawberry, Strawberry Rhubarb, Apricot and Pumpkin (seasonal) Boysenberry, Verry Berry, Apple, Olallieberry, Apple/Raspberry, Dutch Apple, Double Berry Dutch, Apple Olallieberry, Raspberry, Lemon Meringue, and No Sugar Apple (special orders)
SHORTCAKES: Strawberry and Olallieberry (seasonal)
APPLE DUMPLINGS: Smothered in a decadent apple dessert topping.

They had a live band there!

... one of the final hills ...

Final stop! Back at Watsonville High School. Whole Foods catered an amazing dinner!

Let's not forget the strawberries! 

What a good group!

... my dinner plate ...

... dipped the juicy strawberries in chocolate ganache and whipped cream ...

The ride was really pretty. We bicycled through lots of strawberry fields and other crops. I remember it being freeeeezing but luckily somebody lent me a jacket. The 63 ish miles was long, but definitely do-able with all of the food stops.

Attention Anyone:
Let me know if you want to go next year!

Fumigants on Monterey County soil

What would you like in your salad? Some methyl iodide? Methyl bromide? Both are pest and disease fumigants that farmers in Monterey County use on goods from leaf lettuce to strawberries. Methyl bromide hurts the Earth's ozone layer, so it has been used less and less over the past 5 years (the federal government frowns upon its use).

Because the government is phasing out methyl bromide, farmers might start planting fewer acres of veggies and fruits, most notably strawberries. First the rain ruins strawberry crops, and now this?? Do you realize what the economic impact of a reduction in strawberry crops would be? Loss of many, many jobs. Think about your drive through Salinas along Hwy 101. Growing and picking strawberries employs a lot of people!!

Farmers use fumigants to "clear the soil of pests, diseases and weeds, especially in commercial nurseries and the strawberry industry." Methyl iodide was intended to be a safer version of the bromide version.... intended being the key word. The eight member committee assessing the fumigant decided that the risk outweighs the reward. Methyl iodide, a known carcinogen, poses health risks to workers and the general population.

When working with fumigants, just one mistake can cause a lot of damage - we are talking thyroid cancer, respiratory tract lesions, and neurological effects (in lab animals). Last year alone pesticides were applied 120,000 times in Monterey County - just 1,183 were inspected via a 45-line checklist. A bit of a disparity, huh?

So what to do? Limit methyl iodide use, restrict crop production, prices go up, people become unemployed.... or ignore the science and expose farmers to a potentially harmful toxic chemical?

Full Article

Strawberry Prices Going Up!

When it comes to growing strawberries, California's Monterey County has the perfect combination of foggy nights and mild temperatures. However, due to all of the rain and El Nino storms, strawberry farmers have lost about 70% of their fruit! El Nino is going to keep the rain coming for about 2-3 more months (oh how swell). The strawberry growing season starts up in 5 weeks! This means you should expect to see darker strawberries at your local grocery store in the upcoming months. More expensive too... simple economics crushing my hopes of making strawberry cupcakes for Valentine's Day.

Luckily for me, I have a great friend who just got a job with a wildly popular fruit company in Watsonville! Hopefully he can find spare fruit baskets to bring to his cheap, strawberry-loving friend in Seaside!