Goldenberries (Cape Gooseberries)

Though Aronia Berries look very much like blueberries, their antioxidant content is three times as potent.

Aronia berries are considered a true super food. They have a very high concentration of anthocyanin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties thought to slow cancer growth. Recent research has also shown that a regular diet that includes Aronia berries can lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease. The high antioxidant content of this purple food does not change whether it is fresh, frozen or dried. However, the drying process does remove most of the water content, so dried berries are much sweeter than in the fresh form.

Dried Aronia berries can be stored for three months in a sealed container in a cool dark, dry pantry. Keep out of sunlight.

Ingredients
Aronia Berries, Sucrose, Sunflower Oil.

Close your eyes and imagine the smell of a perfect strawberry. It’s light, fresh and…what else? If you’re having a hard time conjuring the deeply floral, jammy, caramel-tinged aroma of fresh strawberries, it’s probably because you, like most consumers, rarely get to experience the wonder of a field-fresh strawberry.

There’s no better farm to source the perfect strawberry from than Harry’s Berries, which was founded in Oxnard, CA in 1967. For the sake of the family, the land, the farmworkers and the fruit, Harry’s Berries is organic, so there are no chemical pesticides here. Instead, they interplant the fields with cheerful flowers that ward off berry-loving pests and invite beneficial pollinators. Additionally, the berries don’t come off the vine until the very peak of perfection, so you can expect deep red berries full of flavor every single time.

Two specialty strawberry varieties, Gaviota and Seascape, are the main crops. The vibrant red color and the stop-you-in-your-tracks scent of summer will demand your attention, and you’ll never, ever forget your luscious, juicy first bite. Plump, sugar-sweet Gaviotas beg you to eat each and every one straight out of the basket, and the more nuanced Seascapes have a hint of acidity that makes for incredible pies, shortcakes and jams.

How to store:

Once you get your berries home, transfer them to an airtight container and layer (on top, in between, and on the bottom) with dry paper towels. Be sure not to wash your berries until you’re just about to eat them. According to Harry’s Berries, the fruit can last up to two weeks with this method.

Strawberry Fields Forever.

Maybe not so, but it will seem like the fruit is endless in this basket full of luscious red, long-stemmed strawberries from Melissa’s.

These delicate fruits ripen on the vine and are picked at their peak for sweetness and color. What would be more suitable to enhance the strawberries’ natural sweetness than chocolate? For a perfect pairing, we’ve added a bottle of Melissa’s Chocolate Dessert Sauce to make this gift a truly decadent treat. Enjoy Melissa’s Strawberries and Chocolate with a special person.

Melissa’s Raspberries make a wonderful plump snack as well as an easy baking ingredient. Raspberries are available in red, gold and black varieties. These berries are hallow and very delicate.

Not only very flavorful, Raspberries make a wonderful dessert decoration or topping, especially with all three colors. The Black Raspberry, also referred to as the blackcap, is much firmer and not quite as juicy as the red raspberry. This variety is delicious when made into wines and liqueurs.

Gold Raspberries contain a slightly more mild and creamy flavor than the other two varieties. The unique color of these berries gives a bit of enthusiasm to a plate, commonly used as a gourmet decoration.

Enjoy succulently sweet Raspberries out of hand, on top of ice cream and yogurt, in waffles, pancakes and breads or muffins. Fresh Melissa’s sweet Raspberries complement chocolate with grace and elegance.

Melissa’s Raspberries are a good source of vitamin C and iron. One cup of raspberries contains 45 percent of daily calcium. They are sodium free.

Raspberries should be plump, dry, firm and bright in color, avoiding any green berries, as they will not continue to ripen. Store Melissa’s Raspberries in a ventilated area in the refrigerator and enjoy soon after purchase.