New Years Resolutions: Just Do It

New Years resolutions - something we can all relate to. Every year we decide to raise our glasses and make a declaration of something new or improved we wish to accomplish. We always say, "this year is going to be different" or, "this year, I'm going to try something new". This year, we all need to take a step back and genuinely say, "this year, I'm going to actually do it". Believe it or not, this is actually a very simple philosophy. We put it to the test by instilling this idea into our own practices this past year. As a small and growing business, we've put a lot into solidifying our mission, and then putting our goals into action.

For 2010, we felt that sustainability was a good word to use to consolidate our goals into one solid idea. Once we sketched that out, we set out to the field to carry out our mission. As each month passed by, we were able to accomplish tasks that had an impact on our business, and on our environment. From recycling methods and energy efficient equipment, to organic snacks and local ingredients we've done alot to come this far. We even teamed up with multiple charities and non-profits to extend an even longer hand.

So I'd say, it's been a pretty good year. We did a lot in 2010, and now it's time to do even more. It's always gratifying when you can set out to do something and then actually, well, do it. Let's keep this mentality for 2011. Make your New Years Resolution a reality. Besides, we all only have one year left to live right? At least according to the ancient Mayan calander and that unnecessarily epic 2012 movie. 

Farm Fresh Friday Dec. 17th: Organic White Button Shrooms'

Today's the day for a shroomy farm fresh Friday! We've got some Organic White Button Mushrooms from Madura Farms, who specialize in mushroom farming. And if I do say so myself, they sure are cute as a button!

Native to grasslands in Europe and North America, Button Mushrooms are one of the most commonly consumed mushrooms. When mature, the button is known as the Portobello Mushroom - making this mushroom pretty unique as it's name changes as it matures. Button mushrooms are high in vitamins B3, 5, and vitamin C - eat up, shroom on!

Charity:Water

​Charity: Water is a non-profit working to bring clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. And essentially, it all started with a birthday party.

​A couple of years ago, founder of Charity: Water Scott Harrison was working quite successfully as a professional NYC club promoter. At age 28, he suddenly had an epiphany and decided to volunteer for nine months on mercy ships as a photo-journalist. And so, he embarked on his journey to India and Africa where his ship had 3,000 available slots to offer health aide to those in need – 7,000 showed up. As difficult as this was to deal with, he continued to travel from town to town, continuously becoming more and more affected by the situations at hand. Once he returned home to the states, he decided something had to be done – he wanted to  make a  d i f f e r e n c e. He had an exhibition of his photos from his voyage and then, he started planning his birthday party.  Being that he used to do this professionally, gathering a crowd for his big day was a simple task, but this time, it was for a much bigger purpose. Instead of asking for gifts for himself, Scott asked that each person donate a mere $20. 700 people showed up, and everyone donated. He was able to build six wells in Uganda to bring clean and safe drinking water to the people. It was that very moment that Charity: Water, was born.

​We’ve teamed up with Charity: Water because we believe that water is a basic human right. Clean and safe drinking water is something that no one should be deprived of, so we’ve decided to do something about that. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

​For every $20 we raise, Fresh & Co can build a water pump for a village in Africa. In Africa, the people say that “water is life”. Help give life to those who suffer without it. Please, donate $1 today.

Farm Fresh Friday Dec. 10- Carrots

Hey everyone! Sorry about the lack of video for todays Farm Fresh Friday! We had some issues uploading the video so today we'll have to rely on the power of words.

We'll be serving Carrots (yellow,white,orange) from Migliorelli Farms in Tivioli, NY

Today seemed like a good day for some good ol' Betaceratine :) stay warm everyone!

New Store Opening!

To Our Fresh Following:

As a small and passionate business, it is our goal to grow to be accessible to all sorts of neighborhoods with all sorts of people. Tomorrow, we'll kick off the soft opening of a new addition to our list of locations! Coming to you on West  57th Street & 6th Avenue, a new Fresh & Co will be born.

Some cool things to expect will be our newer products such as the Wai Lana Yogi Chips as well as the Kopali Organics. Our menu will continue to rock on with it's current dishes but something completely new to expect will be Hint water! The newest edition to our fresh item list. You'll notice a slightly more relaxed look for our frontline employees with new fresh t's and awesome aprons - custom made, and wonderfully embroidered.

But my personal favorite part of this new store will be our social media podium. Equipped with an iPad, we'll be able to be plugged-in to social networks such as twitter and facebook from an in-store level. Also, if anyone is curious about what Fresh is up to as far as twitter, blogging, etc. they can be easily shown right then and there!

We hope everyone gets a chance to check out the new store, and we hope to see some new fresh faces!

From,
The Fresh & Co Team

Farm Fresh Friday Dec. 3rd - Scallions

Hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving! For todays Farm Fresh Friday we've got fresh, and vibrant green Scallions from one of our favorites, Migliorelli Farms from Tivioli, NY

Harvested for their taste, scallions are milder than most onions, making them an excellent choice for a delicious, yet suttle flavor for your salad!

Farm Fresh Friday Nov.19th- Red Onions HD

Another beautiful Farm Fresh Friday! Today we'll be serving these lovely organically farmed red onions from Madura Farms located in Orange Co, NY . Although this farm does not bare the USDA certification, they do in fact use organic farming practices. Attaining USDA Organic certification is quite expensive and not always accessable to small farms - so we support them! 

Support your farmers - GO LOCAL!

A Local Thanksgiving with all the fixins' - Including Martha Stewart!

Animal Friendly™, No Antibiotics, Veggie Grown™, Heart Lite™

I’m sure everyone feels as lost in time as we do over here – thanksgiving is a week away! The holiday hustle and bustle is in full swing as everyone picks and chooses what they’ll be bringing to the table on Turkey Day. So, what’s on your menu? Imagine if all items in your cornucopia of food could all be locally sourced, free range, antibiotic free, all natural, and even some organic. Well, it can!

When it comes to eating healthy, it’s not necessarily all about veggies or tofu. It’s about the whole life of everything you put into your body. On Turkey Day, the main focus of the meal is well – TURKEY! When shopping for your perfect Turkey, I’m not suggesting going out and buying a football shaped tofurkey to try and start off this holiday season with a spongy excuse for a main course. This goes for all dietary preferences – I’m a vegan, and I do NOT suggest a tofurkey. For my fellow veggies, bring something to the table that will make the rooted food stand out – don’t be the one munching on sculpted soy.

Now, for those of you on the hunt for your savory centerpiece, it’s incredibly easy to purchase a local, antibiotic free, veggie grown Turkey. For our fellow foodies, many of us would ask ourselves: What would Martha Stewart do? Well, she would do exactly what we here at Fresh & Co. do everyday – order your turkey from Plainville Farms. Thanks to their team effort, Martha and Plainville Farms have joined forces to provide us with humanely raised and antibiotic/growth hormone free turkeys, tips on how to spruce up your turkey and easy access for ordering guaranteed in time for the holiday! Compliment that with produce from your local farmers market (organic wherever possible!) and there you have it. The perfect, local, and sustainable Thanksgiving Dinner. GOBLE UP!

Farm Fresh Friday Nov 12: Low Acid Yellow Tomatoes In HD

Because we love em' so much, we went  back to Migliorelli Farms from Tivioli, NY for some fresh Low Acid Yellow Tomatoes - EAT UP!

Quick Fact: Low acid tomtatoes are great for people with sensitive bladders as well as those with acid reflex problems. They're gently disgested and will serve you with a pain free meal :)

Interview w/ Kopali Organic Snacks - KOPALI PT II

HEAR IT, SEE IT straight from the man's mouth - Zak Zaidman, Co-Founder and CEO of Kopali Organics

FarmFreshFri Nov.5th- Rainbow Carrots in HD

**This video was shot on Nov.3rd in anticipation of the weather for Nov.5th when we met with the vendors from farms we were choosing from. Have a great weekend!**
FARM FRESH FRIDAY for November 5th, bringing to you Rainbow Carrots just pulled from the ground. These carrots were born and raised at Paffenroth Gardens in Warwick, NY.

Some rainbow carrot facts:

•  The yellow ones get their color from the pigment xanthophylls, which is also found in spinach, and is known to promote good eye health.

•  The purple vegetables have anthocyanins to thank for their deep color- a pigment rich in vitamins C and E that feed and nourish the brain, and are a powerful antioxidant.
• White carrots may lack pigment, but contain other health-promoting substances called phytochemicals, which can aide in reducing the risk of prostate cancer. (eat up boys!)
• Orange carrots get their color from beta carotene with a hint of alpha carotene - a pigment the body turns into vitamin A. This is vital for healthy skin and vision in low light.

Saving the Land That Sustains Us

New York City – a place with over 12,000 restaurants all serving dishes equipped with some amount of produce. Local farms surrounding this metropolitan area are the root source of produce and other foods for majority of our cities restaurants, and THE source of produce, plants, milk etc. for our cities farmers markets. Chefs rely on these farms for getting everything they need fresh, and we civilians rely on them as our only direct source of farm fresh food. In fact, without these farms, our entire nation wouldn’t have farm fresh food at all. Without these farms, we would have to rely on imported food. Not exactly what I would call environmentally friendly.

America is losing 1.2 million acres of farmland annually, much of it the best and most productive farmland near where most Americans live. Farming has been a vital part of our nation’s culture since it was founded. It’s a part of our history, and it’s a part of our everyday lives.

We’ve decided to do our part in supporting these farmers by buying their produce directly from them every Friday down at the Union Sq. Market to provide food that serves a larger purpose than simply satisfying appetites. Everything about it helps us lead our mission in sharing what we love and believe in with the public – quality, fresh, and local sustainable food.

Join us in our strive to keep our nation’s farms alive – support your local farmers.

                     

visit FarmLand.org to learn more about how to get involved! 

Farm Fresh Friday Oct 29th- Broccoli in HD

Hey Guys! It's Farm Fresh Friday! Today we're featuring Broccoli from Van Houten Farms in Orangeville, PA. Just picked this morning, we got these bright, lush Broccoli heads with the stalk leaves still in tact so we can do all the trimming ourselves :) Right off the bush, still looking like a bush. That's how we like it - FRESH. Hope everyone has a safe, and happy halloween!

Farm Fresh Broccoli from Van Houten Farms Orangeville, PA. Photo taken by me this morning - right in the market :)

Farm Fresh Friday Oct 22: Cortland Apples In HD

Cortland Apples in season September - March! We got our apples from Migliorelli Farm, located just 100 miles away in Tivoli, NY. Apples are one of those fruits that are a delicious representation of autumn. Cortland apples have a sweet taste with a hint of tartness - GO STICK YOUR SALAD FOR IN EM'!

Soup's On

    With temperatures running steadily in the 60’s, it finally feels like fall is officially here. Rich vibrant pumpkins and colorful squash fill store windows in celebration of autumn, while patrons enjoy their favorite warm comfort foods. Steaming hot cauldrons of hearty loaded soup fill your eyes with excitement, and your mouth with salivation. As the intriguing steam dances above the pot with the inviting smell of hot sustenance you make your way to the soups to sample and pick which one you want.

  As you know, our priority with our food is the quality of our ingredients married with our support of our community. And just like everything else on our menu, our soups are equipped with local market fresh ingredients. That’s all a part of what sets our soups aside from others.  Our soups are brewed every morning to instill that farm fresh taste and allow the locked in flavors to be savored to the fullest. In order to serve the best food, you need to know the best food, and have an understanding and appreciation for its origins. We take the time and put in the effort to really get to know our food, so we can pair the best possible combinations of soups and satisfied customers. From pumpkin bisque and butternut squash chili to beef stroganoff we’ve got a variety to satisfy all types of dietary needs and preferences.

Farm Fresh Friday Oct 15th in HD - Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes

Bright and colorful cherry heirloom tomatoes from Oak Grove Plantation in Pittstown, NJ for our FIRST Farm Fresh Friday. Naturally, I tried a few, and they're nothing short of delicious :)

Farm Fresh Fridays HD VIDEO

Hey Everyone! Here's our latest video to give you a visual on what to expect on Farm Fresh Fridays! EAT UP!

REduce REuse REcycle

Over this last year or two, we the people have become more involved in what’s been dubbed the Green Revolution. More and more people seem to be waking up to the fact that recycling is quite pivotal to an environmentally friendly world. There’s no denying that as a culture, we waste a lot. Whether it’s food, gasoline, electricity, paper, you name it we’re a society of over indulgence. However, the biggest problem with this picture is not necessarily the amount that which we use, but the amount that which we don’t re-use. It’s actually quite incredible at which how much of our most used materials are reusable. To think that we spend money on sinking garbage into the depths of the ocean, or smuggling it into landfills when a lot of it can be reused is quite unsettling. What’s the benefit to using new plastic for garbage bags when it ends up in the garbage anyway? We’ve found there is none.

Doing our part, and doing what we simply believe in, we’ve ensured that every bag, container, and piece of cutlery is environmentally friendly. Even our napkins and coffee cup sleeves are made from recycled content. Our plastic bags are made for us by EnviroJolt™. They are designed and manufactured to be environmentally friendly. They’re even printed with water based inks and are fully recyclable. Alongside our bags, we have salad containers known as: The Bottle Box™. Made from 100% post consumer PET beverage bottles – guaranteed. This process is the very first of its kind in the US to utilize 100% recycled bottles to make each Bottle Box™.

And now, for those of you who prefer not be bothered with “baggage”, we have our very own reusable tote bags. For just a buck, you purchase one of our totes and receive 25 cents off your entire purchase EVERYTIME YOU USE IT in store. So now that you’re aware of our involvement with the Green Revolution, what can you do to get involved yourself? Be mindful of where your eateries source their materials. Whether it’s the food, or the packaging – it all can end up in the same place when you’re finished with it. Let’s make sure that place is in a recycling bin.

In Season: Fall

           As the weather gets colder, and the leaves start to turn to shades of autumn reds and oranges, we are presented with a whole new line of produce that are officially in season. This new colony of vegetables will be making their way to the markets and then to their born fate – our plates. From root vegetables and leafy greens, to legumes and herbs, the fall has some tasteful, healthy produce in store for us to indulge.

Although you can get most produce year round, regardless if it’s “in season” it tends to not be quite as good. So when the time of year comes around when particular things are in their prime, it’s a very exciting time down here at F & C. Because we’re in such close contact with where we get our produce, we’re quick to make sure that we are fully stocked the minute what we need is in full bloom.

Here are a few rooted greens to expect, and what to look for as you pick and choose your perfect produce:

Avocados: Great source of vitamins A,C, and F, potassium, fiber and iron.

Choose ones that yield when you gently press them with your thumb. They should be a uniform shade of bluish black.

Beets: Great source of folate, potassium and vitamin C.

Choose beets that are firm, with smooth roots without any splits. You know they’re freshest when the greens are still attached.

Pumpkin: Great source of vitamin C, A, and folate.

Choose "pie pumpkins" or small pumpkins - they're easier to cook with. Pick ones that seem heavy for their size, with thick hard skin and no blemishes.

Broccoli: Great source of vitamin C, folate, and fiber.

Choose broccoli that has firm stems, with heads that are a dark green/purple color. The buds should be closed, with no evidence of any yellow flowers.

This is the season for a vast variety of excellent fruits and veggies. Listed above were just a few! Happy hunting on all of your produce endeavors for this fall!

Taste Of The Nation

For those of you that follow us on twitter, or have dined out at any of our restaurants this week, you’ve been made aware of our participation in the Share Our Strengths™ No Kid Hungry campaign. I’d like to take a moment to thank, and appreciate those who donated this week, whether it was at one of our restaurants, or any other participating eatery – you’ve contributed to our goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015 and for that, we thank you.

With so many restaurants participating in the Great American Dine Out, it was really great to see everyone support each other during the tweet-a-thon on Monday as we all “RT’d” for each other, promoting one another’s contributions to No Kid Hungry. Speaking of the tweet-a-ton…WOW! What a success! The tweet-a-thon drew so much attention I was literally watching thousands of dollars being donated by restaurants all day long. We even got No Kid Hungry to be a trending topic in Dallas, Texas.

Although this may be the end of the Great American Dine Out for us, this is not the end of our fight to end childhood hunger in America nor is it the end of our efforts with Share Our Strengths™. As Share Our Strengths™ continues their fight year round, you can too! Visit them at http://www.strength.org/ to learn more about how YOU can get involved. As time goes on, we will continue to do our part and take action, and we hope you do the same. To everyone that dined out at a participating restaurant, this week, you took a bite out of something that really mattered. You took a taste of the nation, and made a difference with every bite.

The Great American Dine Out

               As the season begins to turn, and the weather starts to turn cold, we all prepare for the next few months that will be spent mostly inside. During these months, we’ll put down our salad forks and pick up a soup spoon to compliment the weather with warm and cozy comfort food. However, this is not a luxury that we are all able to endure. Try to imagine being a young child, coming inside after hours of jumping in leaf piles, and not being able to refuel with a nice meal. Think about how it feels to go off to school, and when lunch time comes around, everyone around you unloads their lunchboxes but yours is nothing but empty. These are all scenarios that we plan on changing, but we need YOU to help!

      September 19-25, 2010 we will be taking part in the Great American Dine Out. We’ve partnered up with Share Our Strengths™ in effort to end childhood hunger, right here in America. Here are the steps we’re taking to make a difference:

       • The Share Our Strengths™ Tweet-A-Thon: Lend a helping hand and log on to Twitter on Monday September 20th from 9am – 4pm and join us on our Twitter feed for all day contests and giveaways! The twitter follower that RT's the message to the most people that day wins a $50 and a secret super surprise. Not too shabby huh?

      • In Store Donation: Come on in and donate just $1 and get $1 off your next in house purchase. Just by dining at one of our restaurants you're supporting our endeavor to end childhood hunger in America.

          

           More than 16 million kids who are eligible for meals don't get them, but we plan on changing that. Only 1 in 6 eligible kids get free meals, but we strive to fix that. Help end the year on a good note by contributing to a bigger picture and changing a child’s life. We’re asking you to join us in our stride towards ending childhood hunger in America, and help bring a full plate to a child’s table.

Supermarket Struggles

                                      Organic ∙ Local ∙ Conventional
      It seems to me that buying groceries is no longer easy when you try to lead a healthy lifestyle. While strolling through the produce section, you’re confronted with three different labels: organic, local and conventional. Making the choice can be quite mind boggling when you’re trying to shop consciously, but aren’t looking to break the bank. These are all things that as a small business, we consider when we pick and choose our products.
      In short, we believe that buying mostly local is the best route. When you buy local, not only are you reducing the size of the foods carbon footprint, but you are supporting your community. Think about purchasing locally grown grapes with a conventional label, or grapes labeled organic that are from Spain. The organic grapes have not only traveled half way around the world, but in order to remain fresh, the grapes have been sprayed with preservatives. Not quite as organic as you thought huh? Also, many local farms practice organic farming, but may not be able to afford the USDA Organic label, because it is very expensive to get certified. Get to know your farmers and how they grow their food    
      Now, here’s a little break down in picking and choosing based on what it is exactly that you’re buying. Commonly known as “the dirty dozen”, the twelve most contaminated produce products include: sweet bell peppers, celery, peaches, apples, nectarines, strawberries, pears, imported grapes, cherries, potatoes, lettuce, and spinach. These are things that should be bought organic whenever possible. Commonly known as “the clean 15”, you have leeway with: onions, avocado, asparagus, sweet corn, mango, pineapples, cabbage, sweet peas, kiwis, broccoli, eggplant, papaya, tomato, sweet potato, and watermelon.
     These are all things to keep in mind while shopping and do help make the experience easier, and more enjoyable. Food should be comforting and joyous, not stressful and confusing. Here at Fresh&Co, we plan on taking an even bigger stride by heading down the Union Square green market every Friday to look at, feel, and individually select certain produce - and the only foot prints left from that will be our very own on the side walk.

Fresh & Co. Joins Con Edison’s Small Business Energy Saving Program

New York is probably one of the world’s largest energy consumption cities. It illuminates its streets with sodium lights that won’t burn out for years. Why do we use these lights in the first place when they use an extreme amount of energy? Though they give off a very bright light, they are far from what you would call green energy, and just try to imagine New York City having its street light bulbs changed every six months!
At Fresh&Co, we’re taking the necessary action to become part of the solution in New York, rather than contributing to the problem. We partnered with Willdan Energy Solutions (WES), one of several programs designed by Con Edison to achieve their energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Esteban Vasquez, manager of Energy Efficiency at Con Edison says “Small businesses in New York City are the back bone and we want to help them achieve their goals.” And so, our project with WES began.

The goal of this operation is to reduce energy consumption, thus being energy efficient. By doing so, not only are we as a company saving money quickly, but we are contributing to the energy efficiency polls of the city and state (…being part of the solution!). By using LED fluorescent lights to illuminate our food, and switching out our regular ceiling bulbs for CFLs, Fresh&Co saves $15,000 annually in electric bills. We’ve even gone the extra mile in having motion censored lights in all of our offices, storage areas, and bathrooms that are triggered when someone enters the room. This avoids having lights left on indefinitely. Zooming out and looking at the big picture, this entire concept maintains our philosophy that we’ve had since day one; supporting the tri-state area, contributing to energy efficiency polls and maintaining a green built premises.

When someone comes in to one of our stores, we work very hard to have each individual have a fresh, organic experience. The idea of organic does not only pertain to food, but also to a way of life. Through our energy efficient methods, we are doing what’s best for the environment now, and for future generations. That is organic. And that, is the power of green.

Watch the complete story on YouTube

Fresh Thoughts from Christina Pumo

My name is Christina Pumo, and I am proud to say that I am Fresh & Co’s newest team member, and brand ambassador. If you've had a chance to pop in to one of our stores, you may have seen me greeting guests or handing out some fresh samples. Let me start by saying that I am a vegan and I was searching for a restaurant company to work for that fit my lifestyle completely. So it was a pleasant surprise when I came across Fresh & Co. and found that not only do they have a primarily meat based line of products but they took the time and care to address vegan and vegetarian needs as well. I felt Fresh & Co was a fine advocate that mirrored my own lifestyle.
It seems to me that the health movement has really made an impact, especially right here in New York City. Every block seems to offer some kind of healthy option, or proudly bear the word organic on their store window. Being a conscious eater myself, I always question how “healthy” those other options really are, or if those products truly are organic. It’s always refreshing when you find “your place” that you can trust and I'm not just saying this because I'm the Ambassador. Working at Fresh and Co has made my lunch time an exciting part of my day, because I know where all the ingredients come from, and I see the food being made all day long. Fresh & Co posts information about their food inside every store on chalkboards, highlighting the local farms we get our fresh and (in some cases) organic product from, so you can trust that you are eating healthily.
Fresh & Co brings in a wide range of clientele, and provides a healthy option for all eaters – vegans, vegetarians, and sympathetic omnivores.
People seem to get confused between the definitions of vegan, vegetarian, organic, all-natural and “free range,” so let me help clear it up a bit for you:
What’s the difference between vegans and vegetarians? Vegetarians quite simply don’t eat any kind of meat. This includes: meat, poultry, and fish. You will not find any sort of meat in a vegetarian diet. As for vegans, we don’t eat anything derived from animals, or anything with animals products in it and it’s a whole lifestyle that plays a role in anything you use, or buy. Anything from house-hold cleaning products to your everyday toothpaste; if it has any animal product in it, it’s not vegan.
What’s the difference between organic, free range and “all natural”? By definition according to the USDA, organic food is produced by farmers who enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. And organic growers only use natural fertilizers and no pesticides.
Free range involves providing open air and natural light access to animals instead of confining them to barns.
And as for all-natural, this includes food that needs little or no processing and has undergone minimal processing, containing no preservatives or artificial flavors or additives.
Fresh & Co. is about being a part of something that encourages healthy and conscious living, offering plenty of options to help you meet all of your dietary choices.

Have questions? Feel free to contact me directly at info@freshandconyc.com. I look forward to hearing from you!