Written By: Ellie Wilson, MS, RD  Senior Nutritionist, Price Chopper Supermarkets

Spring in the Berkshires – Kinderhook Creek Farm

April 2015

The cold weather was leaving Kinderhook Creek farm more slowly than the other farms I have visited so far this spring – but there was still plenty of action to be found there. The combination of a deeply cold winter, a slow spring thaw, and elevation (875 feet above sea level) put Kinderhook Creek Farm on a slightly different timeline compared to farms in valleys and flats. Warm weather usually catches up across the growing season, so rarely is there any change in harvest time that can be felt by those of us waiting eagerly for their crops. Corn varieties were chosen some time ago, and the seed is in farm storage waiting for the earth to warm up just a little more. The cold weather actually has some soil benefits – it helps to keep some pests controlled.

 Sweet, delicious and popular bicolor corn is the primary crop of this farm, though they also plant field corn, hay, and a market garden, raise Angus cattle, and grow yellow corn for specific markets.  As they wait for the ground to warm, equipment is being readied after being maintained, repaired or updated this past winter. The corn planter was out in the yard – farmer Larry Eckhardt was showing me the seed closer in the picture I have here – the wheel pushes dirt onto the seed after the machine plants it, the equivalent of tapping it with a hoe.

The big green tractor got “new sneakers” this winter – $4500 worth of tires, which includes the special service for installation – Larry and his families do not have the special tools for big tractor tires in their farm shop. Farmers have some unique costs – that tire bill made me feel a little better about the new tires I need for my car this spring! I wished Larry and Heather and their two sons warm, sunny weather for planting, and we will check in on them in a few weeks to see what is “growing on”! Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs

CAMPBELL’S CHUNKY BAKED BEANS

Introducing new Campbell’s Chunky Baked Beans! Slow cooked with a balance of sweet and savory flavors that fill you up!  Campbell’s Chunky Baked Beans are an excellent source of fiber, good source of protein, low in cholesterol and are low in fat. They are hearty mouth-watering side dishes that go with almost any dish.  Be sure to add them to your next family meal. A definite crowd pleaser with three delicious flavors, something for everyone – Original, Bourbon & Brown Sugar and Maple Bacon & Beer. Look for these brand new Chunky Baked Beans from Campbell’s in the Soup aisle.

OLD EL PASO REFRIGERATED SALSAS & DIPS

Start Somewhere Fresh!  Old El Paso continues its tradition of delivering great tasting products as the #1 brand in the Mexican Food category.  That tradition has now expanded into the refrigeration section. Old El Paso Refrigerated Salsas & Dips are “Truly Fresh” – made from farm fresh (never drummed or canned) tomatoes, onions and cilantro.  Chopped at the height of their freshness and immediately packaged and sealed fresh – never cooked, retaining all of their natural farm fresh flavor for a superior Old El Paso experience. Available in five varieties: Medium – a great tasting traditional salsa Cilantro – for those who prefer that extra flavor that only cilantro can bring Chipotle – a little extra heat and the smoky chipotle flavor Black Bean & Corn – a perfect blend of this traditional offering Creamy Tomato Cilantro Dip – a specialty sour cream based dip that is to die for! Treat yourself to these exceptional new products.  You’ll find Old El Paso Refrigerated Salsas & Dips in the Dairy aisle. Written By: Ellie Wilson, MS, RD  Senior Nutritionist, Price Chopper Supermarkets

  Fresh Farm Stories – Reeves Farm, Springing to Life!

 Though our spring has “taken the long way ‘round” to get here, every nuance of change in the weather is a signal to our farming community that there is work to be done. On April 22nd, I went out to visit two of the family farms we work with – Reeves Farm in Baldwinsville, N.Y., and Shaul’s Farm in Middleburgh, N.Y. At Reeves farm, I spent the morning with fifth generation farmer Karin Reeves. Karin returned to the family farm after a successful career in human resources in Washington, D.C., bringing her National Guard husband with her. She earned an MBA while in Washington, which is serving the farm well – farms have a lot of regulations to navigate, and they must also manage expenses and sales, forecast business needs and challenges, and create business linkages like any other business. The weather runs the show now – the field where I walked through rows and rows of tomatoes last summer was tilled for corn the previous Sunday. The season doesn’t know week days from weekends, and with the rain that was forecast for the entire coming week, they tilled on Sunday so they could plant. If they had waited until after the rain began, they might have been held up the whole week because it would have been too wet to till. The real action right now is in the greenhouses. They have peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and cabbage all seeded and growing. They have separate greenhouses and fields for organic tomatoes – there are strict rules around organic planting and field management. The corn is planted in the fields, under plastic in rows and rows in the fields around the farm. They rotate the fields each year, and they will have more than one planting of different crops – peppers will be planted three or four times!

Check out all the plant babies – it will be fun to see them grow and change through the spring and summer, check the blog regularly for updates!

Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs    

PALM BREEZE SPARKLING ALCOHOL SPRITZ 

  If sunny is just a state of mind, it’s one best shared with your girlfriends. When your girls share that state of mind, you can make any day a getaway.  But no getaway is    complete without a taste of the tropics.  Introducing new Palm Breeze Tropical Alcohol Spritz – a      new sparkling, refreshing and unexpected way to go from every day to vacay. Available in two crisp refreshingly light flavors – Ruby Red Citrus and Pineapple Mandarin    Orange – Palm Breeze Tropical Alcohol Spritz is perfect for good times anywhere – no matter if you’re poolside catching some sun, in the backyard or sharing movie night with your girls on the couch. AVB:      4.5%   Available year-round in 6-pack 12 oz. cans.  Look for Palm Breeze Sparkling Alcohol Spritz on the Beer aisle and Vacay Every Day. Good things come to those who wait…don’t drink until you’re 21.  Palm Breeze Sparkling Alcohol Spritz is a premium malt beverage with natural flavors and certified colors.

SENSODYNE REPAIR and PROTECT WHITENING  

A Sensodyne toothpaste that can actually repair sensitive teeth* – now with whitening! In addition to offering everyday cavity protection, Sensodyne Repair & Protect toothpaste can actually repair sensitive teeth*.  The active ingredient, stannous fluoride, builds a repairing layer over the vulnerable areas of your teeth to help protect them from pain.  And now, Sensodyne Repair & Protect plus Whitening gently removes surface stains to help give you a whiter brighter smile. Find NEW Sensodyne Repair & Protect toothpaste in the Oral Care aisle today. *With twice daily brushing     Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs  

NEUTROGENA VISIBLY EVEN BB CREAM LIGHT/MEDIUM SPF 30 1.7oz. 

Introducing Neutrogena Visibly Even BB Cream Light/Medium SPF 30 1.7oz.  Clinically proven to significantly smooth and even skin tone resulting in a fresh healthy look that makes makeup optional. This product is proven to brighten skin, minimize the look of freckles and dark spots while protecting against damaging UV rays for a flawless even looking skin.  The exclusive sustained action of this product works to continuously renew the look of skin throughout the day, helping to diminish the look of dark spots while smoothing wrinkles fast. This high potency formula absorbs quickly into skin to deliver the highest concentration of essential soy complex and Broad Spectrum SPF 30.  Consumers comment that they love when their skin looks smooth, even and radiant, without the use of makeup, which can look dull and uneven and doesn’t provide the natural glow that their skin used to have. Look for Neutrogena Visibly Even BB Cream Light/Medium SPF 30 1.7oz. in the Skin Care aisle.  

PALM BREEZE SPARKLING ALCOHOL SPRITZ 

  If sunny is just a state of mind, it’s one best shared with your girlfriends. When your girls share that state of mind, you can make any day a getaway.  But no getaway is    complete without a taste of the tropics.  Introducing new Palm Breeze Tropical Alcohol Spritz – a      new sparkling, refreshing and unexpected way to go from every day to vacay. Available in two crisp refreshingly light flavors – Ruby Red Citrus and Pineapple Mandarin    Orange – Palm Breeze Tropical Alcohol Spritz is perfect for good times anywhere – no matter if you’re poolside catching some sun, in the backyard or sharing movie night with your girls on the couch. AVB:      4.5%   Available year-round in 6-pack 12 oz. cans.  Look for Palm Breeze Sparkling Alcohol Spritz on the Beer aisle and Vacay Every Day. Good things come to those who wait…don’t drink until you’re 21.  Palm Breeze Sparkling Alcohol Spritz is a premium malt beverage with natural flavors and certified colors.  

| Sharing stories from our Price Chopper Family to yours.// // // //