This last January a 3-year research project at Texas A&M to determine the antioxidant level of California Plums revealed its findings.  It turns out plums have just as much or more antioxidants as blueberries. Some of the press on the research is already calling plums the new Superfood.

 “blueberries have some stiff competition,” said Dr. Luis Cisneros, AgriLife Research food scientist. “Stone fruits are super fruits with plums as emerging stars. Plums contain as much or even more antioxidant activity as the blueberry.”

This is great news for consumers especially considering the fact that everyone is looking for new ways to reduce spending. Plums are generally less expensive than blueberries and are still compact enough to throw into a sack lunch for kids. 

Tags: Plum News, Plum Nutrition

Posted in Plum Nutrition

Dustin Pauls, Scott Peters, Julie Just & Brian Peters

Peters Fruit Farms, Inc. Dinuba, CA

Knowing more about who grows your food is an important connection we all need to make. Food doesn’t come from the supermarket, it comes from hard working families like this bunch at Peters Fruit Farms.

Plant manager Dustin Pauls grew up on a farm, and began driving tractors at the tender age of five. Scott Peters serves as field manager while his sister, Julie Just, works in the company accounting office. Brian is the youngest member of the team, a recent high school graduate who plans to become even more involved in the family business.

Peters Fruit Farms is the operational and packing division of Peters Farms, Inc., a family farming business dating back to 1937. The division is a grower/packer/shipper of California peaches, plums and nectarines. You can learn more about the Feters family farming at http://www.petersfarms.com.

Tags: california plum growers, family farming, Plum Growers

Posted in Plum Growers

There are even more plumbelievable ways to eat a plum. Here is a fresh summer recipe that will help add an antioxidant boost to your daily dose of greens.

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients

4  oz Mache

4  tblspn Soft goat cheese, crumbled

8  Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half

2  Ripe Plums, sliced thin

8  tblspn Baked Plum Vinaigrette

Baked Plum Vinaigrette

2  lbs Plums

2  tblspn Honey

3  tblspn Olive Oil

3  tblspn Lemon Juice

1  tblspn Fresh Thyme

1  tsp Fresh Cracked Pepper

1  tsp Dijon Mustard

2  tsp Honey

1/4  cup Red Wine Vinegar

1/4  cup Cider Vinegar

Dash Cinnamon

2  cups Canola Oil

1/2  cup Olive Oil

  salt and pepper

Directions

Divide mache among plates. Arrange tomatoes around mache. Top with goat cheese. Drizzle vinaigrette over and finish with freshly cracked black pepper.

Baked Plum Vinaigrette

Toss plums in honey, oil, lemon juice, thyme and pepper. Bake in oven at 350° until brown and soft, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and let sit until cool enough to handle. Slice in half and remove pits. Transfer to food processor and puree. Add dijon, honey, vinegar, and cinnamon. Slowly drizzle in oil while processing. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Note: Make vinaigrette a day in advance and keep in refrigerator. Keeps for 2 weeks.

Tags: antioxidant, Plum Recipes, Plum Salad

Posted in Plumbelievable Recipes