Produce Briefs...
Sharlyn Melon
The Sharlyn melon has a cracked skin with tan and yellow-orange coloring. Superficially resembling an elongated Cantaloupe, the Sharlyn does not possess the sweet unctuous flavor of Cantaloupes, rather a more restrained balance of sweetness
Iceberg Lettuce
It is the only lettuce type that does not occur in red form as well as green. Iceberg is the given name to dozens of cultivars of lettuce, all of which are adapted to specific planting regions and time periods.
Description/Taste
Bright orange through to the center, Orange bell peppers are crisp in texture and offer a sweet vegetable flavor with fruity overtones. Bell peppers are commonly served as a vegetable rather than a spice. (Scoville units: 0-100)
Nutritional Value
Bell peppers are low in calories, have no fat and are sodium-free and cholesterol-free. A good source of vitamin C, they contain 130 percent of the RDA in a five and one-half ounce serving for this nutrient.
Applications
Raw or cooked, Orange bell peppers enhance the flavor and color of salads, stir-fries, salsas, soups, stews, sauces, chili and pastas. Colorful slices, squares or julienne strips make an attractive edible garnish for most anything. Excellent grilled, baked, stuffed, sautéed and roasted, whole bell peppers are ideal for stuffing with rice and meat mixtures.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Bell peppers are thought to have been developed during pre-Columbian times in the Americas. Food historians claim an English pirate from Panama wrote the first reference to bell peppers in 1681.
Geography/History
Bell peppers belong to the nightshade family, botanically named Solanaceae, which includes white potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. The genus Solanum, from the Latin word solamen, means "quieting" and so named because of the sedative properties some plants in this species contain. This large family consists of more than seventy-five genera and over two thousand species. Shape and size of the leaves produced on these numerous nightshade members vary to the extreme, but the commonality they share is the fact all leaves grow alternately on the stems. Native to Holland and a hardy insect-free variety, Holland bell peppers are hothouse-grown in a controlled environment planted from seed. Imported supplies come from Holland, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Bleu Boheme | San Diego CA | 619-255-4167 |
| Wynola Flats Produce | Julian CA | 760-765-2979 |
| Bee Green Diet | San Diego CA | 858-551-1104 |
| Blue Point / Coastal Cuisine | San Diego CA | 619-233-6623 |
