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For most businesses, sending over $1,500/month back to local schools would have been enough…but we didn’t stop there.  We’ve taken the success of Farmer’s 4 Education and extended it to some of the most worthy non-profit organizations in the Belleville area.  Our Farmer’s 4 Causes initiative just launched last month and we’ve already raised $318 in three weeks for the Belleville Area Humane Society, Hospice of Southern Ill, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Violence Prevention Ctr, and the 42Foundation!

I’m pleased to announce that we’re adding another non-profit partner that you can start signing up in our stores to support immediately – The Illinois Center for Autism! We’re going to kick off their participation with a bang when we attend their Annual Trivia Night on November 14th.  We’ll be in person signing folks up to send up to 10% of their spending in our stores back to support the amazing work they’re doing for Autistic individuals in St. Clair County.

We’ll also be Puttin’ on the Ritz with the Hospice of Southern Illinois at their annual Gala at the St. Clair Country Club.  Hospice already has over 50 cardholders that have enrolled in-store so we can easily reach the 6% rebate level by enrolling the attendees at the Gala on November 14th.

Here’s the rundown for October’s rebates…

Belleville Area Humane Society $175.63

Violence Prevention Center $71.10

Hospice of Southern Illinois $43.70

Big Brothers / Big Sisters $28.31

Abraham Lincoln $196.30

Douglas $55.44

Franklin $52.61

Henry Raab $37.53

Jefferson $51.50

Roosevelt $102.15

Union $44.33

Washington $22.35

Westhaven $106.19

High Mount $71.58

Wolf Branch $104.28

Millstadt Primary $50.45

Whiteside $70.03

Signal Hill $39.95

Smithton $69.61

Emge $25.80

Ellis $46.41

Cathedral Grade School $66.32

Blessed Sacrament $92.44

St. Mary/St. Augustine $156.12

St. John Smithon $22.03

St. Paul’s M.D.O $71.81

Harry continues his assault on his waistline and the rest of the competitors!  He’s now dropped over 15% of his starting weight (over 43lbs!).  Sherry is still in second place (down 12%), with Annmarie close behind now down nearly 30lbs from her starting weight just 7 weeks ago!   Angie (High Mount) was the week’s winner dropping an awesome 5.4 lbs or 2.5% during Halloween Week?!?!  Wow, that’s an accomplishment!  She takes the $10 Gift Card to the Swansea Subway this week.

Remember, there’s no smoke and mirrors here.  The group as a whole is now down 188.9 lbs in just 7 weeks.  No miracle pills, no infomercial exercise gizmos, and no stomach zapping electrical belts.  This is all being accomplished with a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, sensible meal choices, and lots of exercise at the YMCA.  Next time somebody says diet and exercise just aren’t enough to make a difference – get their email address and send them the link to the leaderboard below!

Clementine’s are the tiniest of the mandarins. Imported from Spain, Morocco, and other parts of North Africa, clementines are a cross between a sweet orange and a Chinese mandarin. They are small, very sweet, and usually seedless. Most people think of clementines as small tangerines, but they’re a different variety entirely, with a distinctive taste. The Clementine is an excellent eating orange. Its small size and lack of seeds make it particularly popular with kids. Clementines have been available in Europe for many years, but the market for them in the United States was made only a few years ago, when a devastating freeze in Florida made domestic oranges scarce and expensive. A lot of oranges, including clementines, were imported from Europe, and clementines started to catch on. Over the past few years they’ve become increasingly popular, and as the demand has gone up, so has the price.

The mandarin orange originated in the Far East and has been around since 2000 B.C. If you’ve never seen a fresh mandarin, you’re in for a surprise – the rind is a brilliant emerald green, and the flesh a beautiful deep orange. In the United States mandarins are grown in Florida and California, but they’re not often available fresh because canners buy them up. The flavor of a fresh mandarin is much better than that of the canned, however, the flesh is semisweet, with no netting and no seeds. A lot of people pass them by at our store because they think they’re just green oranges – that is, until I cut into some and let them have a taste. Then they come back for more. When mandarins are available, you’ll find them in produce markets in the late fall. They can be available for two or three months, but later in the season there is heavy competition from the canners. Don’t pass up fresh mandarins if you see them.

Whatever the variety, look for oranges that are shiny and heavy in the hand. It’s a primary rule for a number of fruits, but it’s especially important for oranges. Check the scent – the orange should smell good. Except for Robinson tangerines, the rind should never feel puffy – that is, it should not feel like there’s any space between it and the flesh. There should be no spotting, no signs of shriveling, no white patches on the rind, and no fermented smell.

Tangerines are the most perishable of the oranges. They will keep a day or two at room temperature and up to a week in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Other oranges can be kept out at room temperature for three or four days with little problem. Refrigerate them in a plastic bag or in the crisper drawer, and they’ll keep well for one to two weeks.

History

The origin of clementines is shrouded in mystery. Some attribute their discovery to father Clement, a monk in Algeria, who tending his mandarin garden in the orphanage of Misserghim, found a natural mutation. He nurtured the fruit tree and subsequently called it “clementino”. Others, like Japanese botanist Tanaka, believe that clementines must have originated in Asia and found their way through human migration to the Mediterranean. Whatever their origin, the fact is that clementines found their natural climate and soil in Spain, where they developed their particular aroma, sweetness and taste. Commercial production of clementines began in Spain in 1925. Today there are 161,000 acres dedicated to the cultivation of clementines.

Clementines were first brought to the United States in 1982. Knowledgeable industry people soon recognized them as a fruit with great market potential. Nevertheless, it took 10 years of persistence, imagination and plan hard work to make this latecomer of the citrus family the undisputed citrus choice of children and adults alike.

We’ve got a heated battle going between our Biggest Loser’s!  Harry (Douglas school) is still in the lead having dropped 13.2% (37.8 lbs) but Sherry (Union) is close behind down 11.6% (23.4 lbs).  The battle for third is neck and neck with Angie (Abe Lincoln) and Annmarie (Jefferson) both down just over 9% or 26.8 and 27.6 lbs respectively.

As a group, we’ve lost 179 lbs in just 6 weeks! The moral of this story is simple…eat fresh, healthy foods and exercise daily and you will lose weight and feel healthier!

This little guy, we’ve named him ‘Jumpy’ has been feasting on our Indian Corn for the last week or so.   This morning, a well placed trap has brought an end to Jumpy’s Indian Corn buffet.  Now his fate rests in your hands.  Head back to our Facebook page and cast your vote.  Should we let Jumpy go (possibly only to return and gobble up our inventory) or do we make up a nice pot of squirrel stew?

Should Jumpy be set free?

Just got back from delivering nearly 1,000 pumpkins to schools.  FYI, If your child mentions something about the guy from Farmer’s saying all that “dirt” on the pumpkins was “pig manure” and that they may start OINK‘ing later…tell them I was joking! LOL!!

Harry (Douglas School) takes the weekly prize of a $10 Gift Card to the Swansea Subway as he dropped another 6.8 lbs!  Harry leads the competition with an 11% reduction from his starting weight.  Close behind are Angie W. (Abe Lincoln), Sherry (Union),  and Annmarie (Jefferson).

We’re getting dangerously close to 1,000 Fans on Facebook and we wanted to do something to show our appreciation for your support.  This offer is EXCLUSIVELY for our friends on Facebook!  Please share it with your Facebook Friends as well!

CLICK HERE TO CLAIM YOUR $5 INSTANT SAVINGS COUPON!

Representing Union School, Sherry was the week’s biggest loser dropping 3.2 lbs or 1.6%!  She’ll receive a $20 Gift Card to Subway for her efforts!  Harry is still in the lead, but there’s a heated battle for the #2 spot between Sherry, Annmarie, and Angie W.  Stay tuned….

As usual we’ve got tons of great tasting stuff in the store, but right now there are two stand-outs that we need to spotlight before they disappear:

Honeycrisp Apples from Washington

Without a doubt the best apple you’ll ever eat.  The Honeycrisp was developed by horticulturists at the University of Minnesota to be the sweetest, crunchiest, crispest apple in the World.  Come in and ask us for a sample and you’ll agree!

Holiday Seedless Grapes from California

A patented variety owned and grown only by M. Caratan & Sons in California, the Holiday Seedless is to grapes what the Honeycrisp is to apples.  They’re huge, crunchy, and super sweet.  They’re only available until Christmas so get your fill of them while you can.  Just come in and tell us you want to try some and we’ll gladly give you a sample!

Got your Halloween Decorations yet?

If not, what are you waiting for?  We’re loaded up with straw bales, indian corn, gourds, pumpkins, mini-pumpkins, and more!  We’ve lowered our pumpkins prices dramatically from what you’ll find around town.  No more weighing pumpkins and selling them by the pound!

Large Pumpkins – $4.99

X-Large Pumpkins -$9.99

Compare at 39¢ lb and you’ll save nearly 50%!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries are BACK!

So this is the point where our Farmer’s 4 Fitness contestants should stop reading   Our decadent hand-dipped chocolate covered strawberries are back!  Starting Thursday morning we’ll be back in the berry business as the weather has cooled off sufficiently.  Walk-ins are welcome, but call ahead if you need more than a dozen or so!