The Produce Box

But you already knew this right? Here at The Produce Box, we've been encouraging our members for years to get past the look of the produce and straight into the heart of what they are purchasing and where it comes from. You sometimes will find "the uglies" in a Produce Box and we've learned that these little guys are just as healthy and tasty as their more popular counterparts. They all come from the same North Carolina dirt in our case! For all our newbies and maybe some of our seasoned TPB members who just need a reminder, here are a few reasons why you should be eating those cosmetically-challenged fruits and veggies: 1.   Ugly produce may actually be more nutritious ! Ugly produce grows under more stress and the plant responds by feeding more nutrients to the fruit. In fact, a study published in The Journal of Horticulture Science and Biotechnology in June 2010 found that apple peels with those "ugly" brown hard spots you sometimes find on apple...

THIS IS A REPOST FROM LAST YEAR -- AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE!!! Our Charlotte area manager, Meaghan, recently shared her tips for easy back-to-school lunch and snack recipes on Charlotte’s WBTV. Delicious (AND EASY!) recipes featured: Caprese Salad Kabobs What you need: Tomatoes, basil, mozzerella balls and optional balsamic vinaigrette. Preparation : Cut tomatoes in half. Put basil in between tomato and mozzerella ball on a toothpick. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette if desired. BLT Salad What you need: Bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese. Preparation: Mix lettuce (or spinach) with toppings, and you’ve got a BLT salad! No dressing needed (I know mine are not fans of it!) Vegetable Snack What you need: Cucumber and peppers. Preparation : Cut up cucumbers and peppers and put on skewers. Pack individual hummus or ranch packs for dipping! Fruit Snack What you need: Apples and peanut butter (or almond butter). Preparation: Slice apples horizontally. Scoop core out. Spread p...