Haleigh Eustis
Intern, Digital Marketing
Aprils showers might bring May flowers, but what about cheese? This April, Price Chopper/Market 32 is proud to announce our cheese of the month: Sartori’s Bellavitano Cheese! This creamy, rich textured cheese comes from the great state of Wisconsin. Bellavitano is a unique hard cheese that has an irresistible nutty, fruity base flavor with a tangy finish. Bellavitano comes in a variety of different flavors to accompany its parmesan like flavor.
Sartori’s Bellavitano Cheese is the perfect cheese for a charcuterie board as its robust flavors and crunchy calcium lactate crystals pair well with fresh fruits such as apples and grapes. Want to add something savory as well? Bellavitano pairs perfectly with plenty of cured meats and delicious crusty bread such as baguettes! Pair this cheese with a Pinot Noir or a light raspberry ale and enjoy!
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist
The Family Fruit Bowl
The family fruit bowl, fresh and fragrant, can make enjoying fruit easy and accessible for everyone that encounters it. Teach kids and cue your own appetite for wellbeing by creating that fresh display in your home every week. March is National Nutrition Month – what better way to kick off a delicious and nutritious spring than creating a beautiful fruit bowl full of flavor and benefits!
Many nourishing fruits need a little time to ripen before you can enjoy their best flavor. Pears do not ripen on the tree, they only ripen after they are picked. In addition to pears, avocados, bananas, and mangoes can all benefit and promote ripening together. The few days generally needed to finish ripening makes pears uniquely suited for that fresh fruit bowl – including a variety of fruit at varying stages of ripeness each week will ensure you can enjoy something every day!
Pears are a powerhouse of flavor and fiber, and perfect for some sweet and savory meals that energize the transition from winter to spring. Chilly mornings that still merit a warm breakfast create a perfect setting for PICS Oatmeal with chopped pears, ginger and pecans. Roast American Heart Association Certified Pork Tenderloin with crushed rosemary on a sheet pan alongside acorn squash stuffed with pears and baked to tasty tenderness. They earn a quick drizzle of PICS Maple Syrup or Honey to finish – yum! Take that Market 32 Honey Turkey panini to the next level with sliced pears and brie – the heat melts it all together into a delicious combo you can share (but you probably won’t!).
Some pear varieties change color from green to gold as they ripen, others do not, so check the neck for ripeness – a little give means you get their best flavor. Join in the fun and share an Instagram picture with #whatsinyourfruitbowl. Learn more here and you might win some great prizes. Check out more wonderful pear recipes at www.pricechopper.com/recipes.
Enjoy!
We ❤️ Pears in February
Ellie Wilson MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist
Savvy seasonal eaters know a great secret – the luscious pear is at its peak during the winter months. Different varieties offer flavor adventures and fresh opportunities for a fast, functional snack. Packing six grams of fiber, Vitamin C, and 5% of the daily recommendation for potassium, pears are a nutrition powerhouse. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend about 2 servings of fruit daily – if you are adding more fruit to your fresh approach to healthier eating, one pear gets you halfway there!
“Pears ripen from the inside out, and play well with other produce that does the same in a basket on your kitchen counter, like bananas and avocados. Check the neck for ripeness by pressing near the stem with your thumb – if it gives to pressure that means it is ripe and ready for a lot of sweet enjoyment!
Pears are a recipe sweetheart during American Heart Month – and have the American Heart Association Heart Check to prove it! Slice pears and dip in dark chocolate for a valentine treat, chop and top steel cut oatmeal and cinnamon for a breakfast with (heart) benefits, or poach in cranberry juice and kiss with cinnamon mascarpone cheese and chopped walnuts to delight someone special. (https://www.pricechopper.com/recipes#/9201). Overripe pears are great for sauces and smoothies – “pear” them up with avocados and spinach for a snack attack smoothie bonanza. Find fresh promotions in stores throughout February, and learn more ways to enjoy more pears at USAPears (http://usapears.org/), 
February is American Heart Month, and we are inspired to enjoy some delicious recipes that showcase pears. Winter fruit intake is so important to heart health, especially fruit in season – pears fit the bill. Certified by the American Heart Association, pears add Vitamin C and fiber to your heart smart cart, and complements so many foods.
A little history – pears have long been lauded for their sweetness – the description “gift of the Gods” was coined in Roman times. Pears were excellent travelers, and made their way around the world on traditional travel routes. In America, they landed on the Eastern shores and then made their way via the Lewis and Clark trails to the Pacific Northwest. Pear production in those states is over 550,000 bushels per year, and the pear is officially Oregon’s state fruit.
Pears have had some excellent research show they are a very good choice for vascular health – pears, along with other white-fleshed produce, were shown to reduce risk of stroke in the Women’s Health study. Stroke 2011;42:00-00 The median intake of white-fleshed produce, including pears, apples, and vegetables, showed that each increase of 25 grams (over base intake of 118 grams per day) lowered risk of stroke by 9%. Powerful results!
Enjoy some wonderful winter recipes that include pears – check these out, and find more at the USApears.org website. Remember to check the neck for slight give – that shows it is ripe for a delicious snack or recipe.
http://usapears.org/recipe/hearty-oatmeal-with-pears/
Tangy Pear and Cabbage Slaw