Happy Independence Day!

As the month of July unfolds, we wanted to provide a little background on the U.S. National Holiday, also known at the Fourth of July or Independence Day.

It's interesting to note that during the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain in 1776 occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain rule. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it two days later July 4th.

A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail that "the second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

Coincidentally, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, James Monroe, another Founding Father who was elected as President, also died on July 4, 1831. He was the third President in a row who died on the anniversary of independence. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872; so far, he is the only U.S. President to have been born on Independence Day.

Source: The World Factbook

4th of July Parfait

Each Tuesday we send out citrus tips to add a little zest to busy lives. In honor of Independence Day, Megan Roosevelt created a colorful parfait that is sure to please the family and guests.   Take a look.

Email [email protected]     to sign up for Tasti Tuesday™ Tips.   

Keep Summer Activities Cool with Lemons

For a helpful demonstration, you can watch Megan create the recipes below here on the Limoneira YouTube channel. Don't forget to subscribe - videos with more wonderful tips and tricks not detailed in this release will be added to the channel each Friday throughout the month.

Limoneira has also linked with additional global chefs and mixologists, nutritionists, and beauty lifestyle and green cleaning experts that share their knowledge with the customers of our grocery and food service partners around the world. Their biographies can be found on Limoneira's website.

Look at some great new examples below.

Grilled lemon asparagus - An easy recipe that's perfect for a summertime BBQ or as a contribution to a summertime potluck. 

Ingredients:

* Fresh asparagus

* 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

* ½ Limoneira lemon

* Sea salt

Directions: Wash and dry the asparagus. Lay out in a shallow dish and top with olive oil, juice from half a lemon, and a pinch of sea salt. Toss together with your hands and let marinade for at least 30 minutes. Preheat a grill to medium and cook the asparagus about 8 minutes on each side.

Frozen Strawberry Lemonade - Brought to us by Limoneira special guest and amazing foodie vlogger Kirby Zylstra from " In the Kitchen with Kirby", this delicious lemonade will keep you cool throughout any summertime occasion.

You'll need:

* 2 cups cold filtered water

* 2 cups of sliced strawberries (fresh is ideal, but frozen works just fine)

* One handful of ice

* Juice from one Limoneira lemon

* ¼ cup raw honey (or to taste)

* 1 pinch sea salt

Directions: Combine ingredients in blender. (Note: if you have a high-powered blender, simply removing the rind from one lemon and adding the entire fruit might save you some time.) Serve and enjoy!

Each month, Megan will be featuring another wonderful facet of citrus living, with the help of a special, surprise guest from YouTube. Subscribe to Limoneira's YouTube channel for more information on the many ways this endlessly versatile fruit can improve life inside the home and beyond.

This month, Megan collaborated with Kirby Zylstra on summer citrus recipes for Limoneira's One World of Citrus™ audience. Kirby is a Culinary Nutrition Expert, TV Host and busy mom of 4. Her days are filled with food, kids, and more food! You can find her in the kitchen of course, online at "In the Kitchen with Kirby" at the farmers market and on her cooking show "Kirby's Kitchen".

She began writing and sharing her recipes after finding out their first born was severely allergic to all nuts and their daughter had an allergy to dairy and then again, found out that her third child was sensitive to dairy & grains. You can find out more by visiting www.inthekitchenwithkirby.com, Instagram,  YouTube, and Facebook.

Kirby shares her great recipes with her network and on Rogers TV in Canada. In hundreds of communities throughout Canada their 41 community channels are where their audience turns to reconnect. Each Rogers TV community station operating in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland is an active and involved member of its city or town, providing timely and relevant programs about local matters. Their programming is authentic, sometime unpredictable and always local.

The Drought May Be Over but Water Is Always Top of Mind at Limoneira

Even though California received rain this year, we never put the brake on our conservation efforts.

Orchards on our Cadiz Ranch in San Bernardino County California, innovative water management practices are the norm.

Decagon MAS-1 Soil Moisture probes measure volumetric water content and are connected to Bermad data loggers utilized in the BIC2500 irrigation control system.

Bermad Soil Moisture Stations. These stations log water data and send it to a main controller. Each station has a radio unit powered by a solar panel. There are three sensors connected to each station under the wetted area at specified depths. There is currently one station per block. A Bermad BIC2500 Irrigation Control System receives data from the sensor stations. It is uploaded from the controller to the internet and can be viewed remotely from a cellphone or a computer.

By closely monitoring this data we can determine the necessary irrigation run times to maintain a properly wetted root zone rather than move water past the root zone. Additionally, by monitoring the appearance of the tree and the soil moisture simultaneously the wilting point can be determined. With this information, it is possible to determine irrigation frequencies necessary to maintain a properly wetted root zone.

Filtomat automatic screen filters have been installed to replace older systems. A lower volume of water is required to flush the filter during cleaning cycles.

At Limoneira's ranches in the San Joaquin valley, water savings of 10-15% are realized using dual line drip irrigation hoses. Less evapotranspiration loss occurs using inline emitters spaced 3' apart which deliver one gallon of water per hour. This enables the spread of water over more acres per set because of the lower output.

AGQ Vacuum Tubes are used to capture water as it passes through soil at three different depths (8",16",24" - 3 tubes per station). The captured water can be analyzed for fertilizer concentrations and other materials injected through the irrigation system at each depth.

It is also possible to monitor the penetration of the water to determine whether enough water was moved together with appropriate fertilizer amounts to it and fertilizers to desired root zone depths.

Irrigation consultants help schedule, monitor, and make adjustments where necessary throughout the season.

On our Central California Valley ranches weather stations and drip tape is also being utilized. The weather stations provide a great deal of information to assist in irrigation optimization. Moisture sensors can tell when an orchard is at full water holding capacity, thus reducing run off and wasted water. Soil is dry and needs to be irrigated. Dual line drip hoses are also used to enable water to penetrate down which create a deep and sturdy root system. The use of dual line drip systems reduces weed and herbicide use.

Limoneira Showcases Benefits to The Food Service Industry in Monterey

From July 28 -30, The Produce Marketing Associations Food Service Trade Show takes place in Monterey, California. This is one of the most important events in produce and exhibitors from around the world will showcase their products and services to 1500 of the industry's most influential people. Limoneira sales executives will share the Company's wide array of citrus, merchandising suggestions and the uniqueness of Limoneira's One World of Citrus™ model. From Anchorage Alaska to Zanzibar, consumers around the world visit beverage and dining choices and citrus is an important ingredient in menus. According to the National Restaurant Association's 2017 Restaurant Industry Outlook, Restaurant Industry Sales are anticipated to reach US $799 billion in 2017 in the U.S. alone, a 1.7 percent gain (adjusted for inflation) over the industry's estimated 2016 sales.

The NRA says that much of this outlook is based on meeting consumer expectations. As their food-decision matrix grows increasingly complex, consumers will be even more engaged and discerning. Diners continue to become more knowledgeable about food and they expect menu options that fit their dietary preferences no matter when or where they visit restaurants. This has resulted in food trends becoming more concept-based than ingredient-based, with an evolving focus on production, sourcing and preparation.

Global Comfort Food

In their 2017 Food and Drink Trends, Mintel, an expert source of information for the industry, noted that a sense of uncertainty and the unpredictability of current events is leading consumers to seek products rooted in comfort - and more recognizable than revolutionary. Authentic connections to the past provide an element of trustworthiness. But trust in the familiar does not eliminate the need for revolutionary, which has chefs figuring out ways to delight consumers with twists on tradition.

Consumers' aspirations for healthier and cleaner lifestyles are motivating them to prioritize fruits, vegetables, seeds, and grains in their diets - and they want to include some protein as well. "Chefs are on an endless quest to redefine how consumers eat. By masterfully transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, culinary professionals are at the forefront of changing the culinary landscape" says Thomas Macrina, CEC, CCA, AAC American Culinary Federation National President.

Limoneira has linked with professional chefs and mixologists around the globe that take local cultures and trends into consideration when creating their menus. They stay at the top of their game by paying close attention to global trends and local tastes. 

Stressed-Out? Treat Yourself

A stressed-out world paired with a "treat yourself" mindset and a nagging concern for health and wellness in the background is driving Americans to snack more than ever.

New research from Mintel reveals that the top reason Americans say they snack is simple: to treat themselves. This idea of snacking for self-care is behind a few other reasons Americans snack at the moment- to give themselves a much-needed break and to deal with stress.

50 percent of Americans say they snack to treat themselves, according to Mintel research and 24 percent of Americans snack to relieve stress. Three in five (62 percent) consumers reported eating salty snacks as a stress reliever last year, compared with just 16 percent in 2015.

Snackers have upped their snack frequency from one time per day  to two to three times. In 2015, 50 percent of Americans snacked two to three times a day, and in 2017, 55 percent do.

Even though we like to treat ourselves, health is another form of self-care, and it's a growing factor in how we snack. Snacks with health-related claims are now among the fastest growing snack launches. Low/no/reduced allergen snacks account for 46 percent of new snack product launches in 2017, an increase of 30 percentage points from 2013, according to Mintel's Global New Products Database.

Health-focused snacks should appeal with messages about enjoyment and indulgence. In recent years, brands have focused product innovation largely on cleaner formulations, highlighting an opportunity for innovative products with health attributes that appeal to health-conscious consumers but it still has to be a treat, meaning even health-focused snacks should appeal with enjoyment.

Consumers have no time to waste with one-fourth of high-frequency snackers (three to four or more times a day) claim to be too busy to eat a full meal. There is also a broader definition of snacks.

They aren't just bags of chips or carrot sticks anymore. Nearly two in five consumers agree that anything can be considered a snack. One in seven report snacking on "less traditional" snacks like sandwiches and cereal.

Younger consumers are snacking hardest of all. Millennials are the most likely to snack four or more times a day (25 percent) while just one in 10 of Gen X snack four times a day or more. Just 9 percent of baby boomers reach for snacks more than four times a day, perhaps more ingrained with a "three square meal a day" pattern.

Salty snacks rule with Mintel research showing that sales of salty snacks (pretzels, corn snacks, pork rinds, popcorn and cheese-flavored snacks) have grown 30 percent since 2011, reaching an estimated $11.2 billion in 2016. This is due primarily to innovation in the popcorn and meat snack categories.

Meat snacks dominate with $3.3 billion in estimated sales of meat snacks in 2016, up 51 percent from 2011. Check out our Lemon Pepper Beef Jerky Recipe.

Popcorn is also a snacking heavyweight with a 39 percent increase in sales since 2011, reaching $2.4 billion. Pop over to Limoneira's Lemon, Parmesan and Black Pepper Popcorn Recipe.

Paramount Export's Central Coast Tour De Fresh

Ed and Robyn Purves of Paramount Export enjoy tandem bike riding because it not only gives them an opportunity to connect as a couple in our hectic agriculture careers, but also is a terrific way to stay fit. Three of their other passions include kids, health and agriculture. Tour De Fresh is a terrific way for them to support those passions and enjoy their hobby. They are asking for support as part of their 2017 Tour De Fresh fundraising team. Join with them to raise $7000 for two new salad bars to be placed in schools.

With their supporters help over the past two years they have placed eight bars salad in schools from Bakersfield to Ohio. Tourdefresh.com

On July 7th, Kids Rule at The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley

Friday July 7th, Jan Marholin and her team launch another great kid's day at the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley. With demonstrations in Robotics, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Art, Entomology and Sports, the club will be abuzz with frenetic fun activity. Limoneira will be on hand with gifts and citrus games for our young enthusiasts. Questions or additional details? Contact Jan at 805 525-7910 or [email protected].

Casa Pacifica and Bard Elementary School Tour Limoneira

Limoneira is passionate about sharing the world of agriculture with students and we welcome classrooms of all ages. There is a wealth of information that we can share with tomorrow's leaders whether they're 7 years old or young adults. Limoneira has hosted elementary school class rooms to MBA students and there is relevant curriculum for all levels.

In June, Annie Ellberg and approximately 20 kids from Casa Pacifica toured the Limoneira Ranch. We discussed specifics on shipping lemons around the world, Limoneira's sustainability programs and Company history and the group toured Limoneira's Packinghouse and Visitor's Center.

Headquartered on a rural 24-acre campus five miles from the Pacific Ocean, Casa Pacifica serves abused and neglected children and adolescents, and those with severe emotional, social, behavioral, and mental health challenges. #Casapacifica

Bard Elementary School students from Port Hueneme also toured in June and learned about Integrated Pest Management, Green Waste Recycling, Water Management, Solar Energy and Limoneira's Sustainability Matrix.

Limoneira offer tours for teachers/classes each month. If you are a teacher or know teachers that have classes that would like to tour Limoneira, please contact [email protected].

Want to Improve Typing Accuracy - Sniff A Lemon

 

Sophia Argento-Lemon Ambassador

Sophia Argento, one of Limoneira's Lemon Ambassadors models a new aquistion. She loves all thing lemon! 

Limoneira Winner's Block

This month our lucky winner is Susan Whetzel from Spring, Texas. As our monthly winner, Susan  has won a Limoneira Orchard Fresh or Lifestyles Gift.  Congratulations Susan !!!

For your chance to win, make sure you're on our mailing list to be entered into our monthly drawing. To join  click here  or visit our website at  www.Limoneira.com.

Be sure to check out our other contests and drawings for additional changes to win prizes.