Back when I was the managing partner of Kosher Depot (the largest provider of kosher food specialties to the catering and restaurant industry), we began selling a bunch of pre-washed spinach, lettuce, and cabbage.

You see, certain folks were very worried (I was not among them) that a stray bug (an aphid, thrip, leafminer, or cabbage worm)  could be hidden in the greenery.  And, since we Jewish folk know that no bugs are kosher, some worried that would mean the head of lettuce would be ‘treyf’- unkosher, unfit for use.

Many kosher purveyors do the inspection and triple wash the greens. Others still use greenhouse-grown greens to avoid the problem altogether.  And, often, because the veggies been soaked, they are frozen and shipped to grocery stores around the US.  (These  offerings were provided by firms like Bodek [which means inspection in Hebrew] and Positiv.  Which means you aren’t enjoying fresh vegetables.)

(I should say that I use a lettuce spinner for my lettuce, cabbage, and spinach.  And, if a bug were unlucky enough to find purchase in what I bought, it would find itself going down my kitchen drain- wet and extremely dizzy.  I would never buy frozen spinach or lettuce or cabbage- the whole idea to me is to eat fresh vegetables. After all, I want the full complement of vitamins, minerals, and fiber in my diet..)

Now, there’s a new vendor offering such greenery.  Kosher Crops (New Jersey) is selling washed vegetables to the marketplace.  The difference?  These veggies are still fresh and not frozen.  Of course, that means the delivery range is short; the firm wants the stuff on the shelf the day after it’s washed.   The founder, Israel Ellen (originally from Montreal, now a Philadelphia denizen), offers his wares (bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, watercress, arugula, spinach, kale, romaine)  under the Keystone K (Philadelphia) certified kosher authority.  Since this is a local authority- not one recognized US wide (or even along the East Coast), the deliveries are further limited to local markets.

The raw materials used by Kosher Crops come from greenhouse, hydroponic, and even a few organic growers.  More importantly, Kosher Crops has developed proprietary drying techniques, in conjunction with a tamper-evident packaging system to ensure the product quality and shelf-life.  (Theoretically, the greens are available for consumption for 7 days beyond the date stamped on the package.)

But, now Star K (of Baltimore- and nationally recognized) will be the kosher authority overseeing his production.  This means Kosher Crops products will be able to extend its reach to more Jewish customers- even as far as Illinois, Florida, and California.

The process Kosher Crops uses is not cheap.  A five to seven ounce package will set you back about $ 6 or $ 7.  And, their total production volume is pretty small- right now they are only washing about 300 pounds of crops weekly- with the goal to hit 600 pounds very soon.  (These prices are steep- especially when compared to the about $ 1.20 I paid for my fresh purple lettuce- except if I added in the value of my time to wash it, I am sure my salad ingredients are far more expensive, even if the coins don’t leave my wallet.)

Maybe now you can understand why for 8 days of Passover (which has the most stringent rules for kosher products), my food budget (I will be serving an average of five persons per meal) exceeds $ 1000.

 

 

Today, the 18th of April, was the date that two terrorists disrupted the joy of the Boston Marathon in 2013.  Three were killed and at lest 264 were maimed.  A moment of silence for Boston strong.

And, students in schools in the Columbine CO area, on the 20th anniversary of that senseless massacre, ‘lucked out’ because the admirer of the assassins (who bought a rifle) was found dead while schools were closed to ensure public safety.