Our Farmers and their Favorite Salad Recipes
I had the opportunity to interview 3 of our world class farmers and get their input on their life work and life loves. I asked them each to answer 5 questions and to offer a favorite salad recipe. Hope you find their answers and recipes of interest. I had lots of fun talking with these guys, they are amazing! Let us know what you think. thanks
Helen L. Aquino, Village Farms Marketing Manager
Mitch Fortier
Farmer in our Delta Greenhouse in British Columbia
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| Mitch at local trade fair showing off his pride & joy |
I don’t think it’s possible
to describe my job in 5 words. There are so many great things about what I do I'm having a tough time breaking it down into 5 words. I take so much pride in
growing the plants and do everything I can to make sure the tomatoes that go
out the door are perfect quality. I enjoy going to work every day and I don’t
think there are a lot of people out there who can say that. I work with great
people and I think that has a direct reflection on whether or not you enjoy
your job. Everyday there are new challenges and problems to solve, so you
don’t get stuck in the same repetitive rut day in and day out. Every year is completely different from the last. There is always so much more to
learn. Every year I learn more and more about growing.
What is your first memory being in a greenhouse?
I can’t remember
how old I was, 4 or 5 maybe, but my grandpa was always an avid gardener and he had
small greenhouse in his backyard. Nothing fancy, just an little fiberglass
greenhouse for his own enjoyment . I don’t think he ever bought a vegetable in his life. He
would always grow enough through the summer to get him through the winter and
what wouldn’t last, he had a little indoor greenhouse in his basement so he
could have fresh veggies right through the winter.
Best part of being a farmer is.....
All the fresh
produce. The fresh produce we get doesn’t even compare to the quality and taste
of the stuff you get in the supermarket. I just like growing plants. I enjoy
all aspects of my job, from growing to battling pests and disease to seeing our
product in the supermarket. It’s a great feeling to go to the grocery store
half way across the country, let alone just down the street, to see something
that I have grown.
What do you enjoy doing when not farming?
I spend
most of my time playing with my kids, Hockey, baseball, swimming…… I do
everything with those little guys.
My favorite vegetable is.......
Now are we talking fruits
or vegetables? Because we all should know Tomatoes are a fruit.
Mitch's Salad suggestion:
Cobb Salad with Sinfully Sweet Campari
I like this recipe because it is more than a salad, it is a meal! It's not only healthy but hearty, plus it is great to eat anytime of year. This recipe is fun to make with the kids, they enjoy helping assemble the ingredients. I think the Village Farms Sinfully Sweet Campari tomatoes really make this salad pop. They are so sweet and juicy, making them the perfect tomato that truly have the authentic garden fresh flavor everyone is always talking about.Cobb Salad Recipe
- Prep time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/2 head of romaine
- 1/2 head of Boston lettuce
- 1 small bunch of frisée (curly endive)
- 1/2 bunch of watercress, coarse stems discarded All lettuces should be rinsed, spun or patted dry, and coarsely chopped
- 6 slices of bacon
- 2 ripe avocados, seed removed, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 whole skinless boneless chicken breast (about 3/4 pound total), halved, cooked, and diced
- 6 Village Farms Sinfully Sweet Campari tomato, chopped fine
- 2 hard-boiled large eggs, separated, the yolk finely chopped and the white finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 1/3 cup red-wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
- 1-2 teaspoons sugar
- Salt and pepper
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely grated Roquefort
Method
1. Cook the bacon in a skillet on medium heat until crisp on
both sides. Remove from skillet and lay out on paper towels to absorb the
excess fat. Allow the bacon to cool. Crumble the bacon and set aside.
2. In a large salad bowl, toss together well the various
lettuces and watercress.
3. Compose the salad. Arrange the chicken, the bacon, the
tomato, and the avocado decoratively over the greens and garnish the salad with
the grated egg and the chives.
