Memorial Day is a great time to gather with family and friends, share stories from your past, express gratitude, and eat delicious food together. We have selected some of our favorite summer recipes for you to enjoy.

Grilled Cioppino Foil Packs

Grilled Cioppino Foil Packets are perfect for warm summer nights complete with a crisp glass of your favorite white wine! Our Cherry no. 9 Fall in Love Again® tomatoes are transformed into a luscious sauce that is a delicious base for lots of fresh seafood! These Cioppino foil packets are packed full of flavor and your guests are going to flip over how tasty and beautiful they are!

Grilled Portobello BLT “Pizzas”

Okay, folks… let’s do something a little unexpected.  It’s time to think outside the crust and swap pizza dough for large Portobello mushroom caps. Top with crispy pancetta (for the bacon) and gorgeously sliced Heavenly Villagio Marzano® tomatoes and grill to absolute perfection. 

Sweet Bell Pepper Slaw with Mango

Nothing could be easier than a Simple Sweet Bells® pepper slaw. Just toss everything together and you’re done! Serve as a side dish with grilled fish or chicken, or as a filling for fish tacos.

Stuffed Sensational Sara Snacks

This recipe is perfect as a side dish, an easy appetizer for entertaining, or to serve up with a leafy green salad. These gorgeous Sensational Sara® tomatoes are the perfect size for stuffing, and this Caprese farro salad is so good inside. It’s all of your favorite Caprese flavors packed into the cutest tomato package and then grilled for a few minutes for a little smokey flavor that takes it to the next level.

Cucumber Dragon Fruit Margarita

This Luscious Seedless Long English® Cucumber Dragon Fruit Margarita is simple to mix up, but dazzling! Using the cucumber puree in the drink lightens it up a little so it isn’t quite as strong as a normal margarita and gives it a fresh flavor too.

Caprese Salad with Grilled Peaches

Let’s start the party right with everyone’s favorite summertime salad: Caprese salad. But let’s up the ante and include the sweet and savory taste of grilled peaches along with Village Farms Sinfully Sweet Campari® tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, topped with a balsamic reduction.  Yum.

It’s that time of the year again when family and friends get together for fun spring activities and delicious food. We’ve gathered our favorite bright brunch recipes that are easy to make, tasty, quick, and easy to prepare so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time having fun.  

Rainbow Spring Rolls

These rolls featuring our Cheeky Sweets® Mini Sweet Peppers and Scrumptious Mini® Cucumbers are so fun to make, and they look so impressive, don’t they? You would probably think that these will take a while to make, but actually, they just take minutes. Yes, minutes! The most time-consuming part of the whole recipe is prepping the ingredients. Then you just fill, roll, and serve! 

Roasted Tomato Egg Nests

These Roasted Tomato Egg Nests are packed with the most flavorful ingredients like seasoned shredded potatoes, cheese, and crumbled maple sausage. After these are done get nice and crispy, we prepare fluffy scrambled eggs to add to the nests and then top them with blistered Maverick Mix® tomatoes, that resemble colorful little eggs.

Beefsteaks® Tomato Salad with Crispy Chickpeas

This Juicy Beefsteak® tomato salad with crispy chickpeas and lemon tahini is a party for your taste buds. The zingy flesh provides the perfect canvas for the spiced crispy chickpeas and the earthy lemon tahini sauce. This salad is effortless to prepare but big on flavor, a quick meal that is also full of nutrients.

Crisp Cucumber Melon Salad

This Luscious Seedless Long English® Cucumber Melon Salad is made of simple, sweet and savory ingredients making it a refreshing twist on your Sunday Brunch!

There is a misconception that fats are bad for your health but adding good fats to your diet can benefit your health significantly. Adding a small amount of healthy fat to your diet will provide the body with the essential fatty acids it cannot make itself. Fat is also necessary for the absorption of vitamins A, D, and E and even plays an important role in creating a strong structure for your cell membranes. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for optimal nervous, heart, and brain function, and can be found in unsaturated fats. And let’s not forget, healthy fats can help aid in your weight loss journey.

What are the healthiest fats? “Good” unsaturated fats — Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats — lower disease risk. Foods high in good fats include vegetable oils (such as olive, canola, sunflower, soy, and corn), nuts, seeds, and fish.

Source: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/choosing-healthy-fats.htm

Salmon, Avocado, Tofu, and of course a drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil are some of our favorite healthy fat sources to pair with our Fresh, Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Peppers!  Below we have compiled some of our favorite recipes for you to see how tasty healthy fats can be!

1. Salmon Poke Bowl with Luscious Seedless Long English® Cucumbers, Radish, Scallions, and Seaweed on a bed of Rice

2. Avocado, Arugula & Sinfully Sweet Campari® tomatoes on Rye Crisp Bread

3. Tofu Kebabs with Sweet Bells®, Onion & Zucchini with a Creamy Cashew Sauce

Other plant-based healthy fats include:

• Avocado. Avocados are as nutritious as they are delicious
• Nuts. Nuts are one of the best sources of fat in a vegan diet
• Chia Seeds
• Coconut
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Dark Chocolate
• Flaxseeds

Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-super-healthy-high-fat-foods#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6

Village Farms Greenhouse Grown is pleased to announce the promotion of Steve Poklemba, currently Director of National Sales to his new role as Director of Global Supply Chain Management for their Fresh Division.  In Steve’s new role he will be instrumental in vigorous company initiatives targeting expanding top-line revenue.  Steve’s primary focus will be the implementation of vital strategic initiatives to optimize inventory controls on fresh products and supplies.  He will accomplish this through improved operating efficiencies while reducing finished product costs.  His role will also be focused on managing product flow through Village Farms sales and distribution network from sourcing teams with the goal of expanding the company’s grower partner base. Village Farms is confident in Steve’s ability to invigorate overall product fulfillment, product freshness, and the brand’s integrity for their customers.

Steve began his career with Village Farms in 1998 as Packhouse Manager. Shortly afterward, he was promoted to Regional Packhouse Manager of Village Farms’ West Texas facility.  Steve later moved to the company’s Arlington, Texas Distribution Center and transitioned into a Sales role where he eventually worked his way to become National Sales Director.  Steve has a vast array of experience within all facets of sales, operations, and distribution within the farming sector. In his new role, Steve will report directly to the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Eric T. Janke. “We anticipate Steve in this new role to improve the fresh division’s dynamics and enhance the company’s value proposition to further meet the needs of an ever-changing produce industry,” Eric T. Janke told us, “And Steve is the best candidate for this role given his depth of knowledge and tenure with Village Farms”.  

With the weather growing cooler and the days increasingly shorter, what better time for getting cozy in the kitchen cooking up your fall favorite dishes. And if you find yourself looking for something new to add to your repertoire of savory flavors, we have some interesting takes on a few traditional recipes for you to try. Bursting with Umami, you know this flavor, one of the five basic tastes defined as ‘savory’, and the predominant flavor characteristic found in meat broths & fermented foods. 

So, tie on that apron, and get ready to explore the ‘essence of deliciousness’, (Japanese translation of Umami), for any meal occasion this Fall. We have options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to turn your Fall days into an exploration of flavorful Feng Shui. Let us know your level of Yum after trying any one of these dishes, and don’t forget to include a picture so we can share your creations on our social channels. Happy cooking!

Herby Tomato and Goat Cheese Egg Muffins

Easy Make-Ahead Herby Tomato and Goat Cheese Egg Muffins made with Maverick Mix® tomatoes. These can be frozen up to a week in advance and simply reheated for all of your guests in a matter of minutes! These muffins are perfect for kiddos and adults alike and are so full of flavor!

Tomato Jam on Sage and Feta Scones

This simple and scrumptious Lorabella Blossom® tomato jam pairs perfectly with scones. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet and savory snack!

Shakshuka with Peppers, Feta, and Olives

Shakshuka is a dish of eggs poached in a flavorful stew of tomatoes with as many variations as there are cooks. This one is made with Sinfully Sweet Campari® tomatoes, which are just perfect here. They add amazing flavor and hold their shape well in the stew, which is cooked with onions and garlic, sweet red bell peppers, feta, and Kalamata olives.

Tomato Basil Turkey Soup

This Roasted Tomato Soup is full of fresh flavor in every bite. Roasted Heavenly Villagio Marzano® tomatoes are not only blended right into the soup base but they are also added in roasted for extra bursts of flavor all throughout.

Grilled Tomato and Cheese

These Grilled Delectable TOV® Tomato and Cheese Sandwiches will gratify your comfort food cravings in a jiffy! 

Turkey Chili with Butternut Squash Noodles

Warm-up to a big bowl of Homemade Turkey Chili featuring our Sinfully Sweet Campari® as the base. Add a twist of butternut squash noodles and you’ll get all those fall feels & some extra veggies too!

Gemista (Stuffed Tomatoes & Peppers)

Our Juicy Beefsteak® tomatoes and Sweet Bells® Peppers are the perfect vessels for deliciously moist herb feta rice. The roasted stuffed tomatoes encapsulate a rustic charm while the roasted peppers provide a lovely mellow fruitfulness that perfectly complements the tangy tomatoes.

Spaghetti Squash with Cabernet Tomato Meat Sauce

Boost your protein while cutting carbs with this hearty sauce over spaghetti squash featuring our beautifully dark and bold Cabernet Estate Reserve® tomatoes.

Enjoy and explore all of our recipes and be sure to stay tuned for Fall Favorite Dishes Part II coming November 5th!

As Seen on The Produce News

Summertime is outdoors time, and this means grill time! We are all in full swing with the grilling and chilling season. Thank goodness Village Farms has just kicked off their “Grillin’ & Chillin” campaign to keep the party going. Tomatoes, Peppers, and Cucumbers are the mainstay of any great barbeque and Village Farms is ready with some usual and unusual ways to make your mealtimes pop. The campaign focuses on recipe ideas shared through Village Farms social media channels and on their website over the next several months created exclusively for Village Farms by their favorite influencers. 

These tantalizing recipes feature Village Farms’ exclusive specialty tomatoes such Heavenly Villagio Marzano®, Maverick Mix®, Cabernet Estate Reserve®, and Cherry no. 9®, as well as their signature tomato varieties Sinfully Sweet Campari®, and the all-new Sensational Sara®. Not to mention their tried-and-true varieties such as Juicy Beefsteak®, Delectable TOV® and Savory Roma® tomatoes, also Sweet Bells® bell peppers, Luscious Long English® cucumbers and Scrumptious Mini® cucumbers.

Nothing like a hot summer day, grillin’ and chillin’ with the wonderful flavors of Village Farms Greenhouse Grown tomatoes. They are ripe and ready to boost your category. Char-grill a vine of Sinfully Sweet Campari® tomatoes to sauce up your burger creations. Then beeline to your beach chair with Campari Watermelon Cooler in hand that is so easy-peasy to prepare. Later skewer up some Heavenly Villagio Marzano® tomatoes and veggies with the kids making grill time fun family time. Summer is the time to add sizzle to your salsa and perk up your tomato offerings with the juicy sweet flavor of Village Farms greenhouse grown tomatoes. We have plenty of easy to prepare plant forward recipes for you to throw on the grill throughout the whole summer season! These recipes boast delicious flavors that also pack in the nutrients that the whole family needs.

Bret Wiley, SVP of Sales and Sales Operations tells us Village Farms is shipping their signature varieties from all their greenhouse locations to meet demand for their sizzling summer retail programs. He tells us, “Product is looking really good and ready for our customer cross- promotional grilling displays, so come and get it while you can”

Try the Tomato Melon Skewers for a fun appetizer with the tantalizing flavor combinations. And the Stuffed Sensational Sara® Snacks have ‘stuffed’ in the name for a reason. You will not be able to stop stuffing them in your belly. Village Farms did not forget about the chillin’ either with Sweet & Savory Ice Pops that make a fast and fun treat.

Let’s get this party started with Village Farms exclusive varieties! And don’t forget to ask us about our point-of-sale programs, custom designed with your consumer in mind. Helen L. Aquino, Director of Brand Marketing & Communication says, “We have a plethora of images and POS opportunities for you to make your grilling season displays fun and family friendly”.

These fun recipes just might be the perfect meal to bring your friends and loved ones together for joyful celebrations that create memories for everyone. We’ve got something for everyone in mind with plant-based ideas and healthy dishes that still have us going for seconds, (and thirds let’s be honest, these recipes are that yummy!)

The Village Farms Greenhouse brand of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers have come to be known for more than 30 years for their sustainable growing practices that are Good for the Earth®.  The company touts that it can grow more food on less land while preserving the planet’s precious natural resources such as water. We can farm in such a way that protects pollinators, reduces food waste, conserves soil, is less chemical intensive, and produces food that is nutritionally dense with the highest level of food safety. All with consistent quality available year-round!

These are just some of the benefits growing food in Controlled Environment Agriculture. Stay tuned for the scoop on the luscious new varietals to come from Village Farms that will put a pucker on your lips because they are loaded with your favorite yummy goodness!

For further information visit our Good for the Earth campaign or reach out directly at goodfortheearth@villagefarms.com about our Grillin’ & Chillin campaign.  And be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!  We are Village Farms, and we know It Takes a Village® to make the world of fresh produce a better place to eat. 

We’re so excited for the summer holidays coming up! We love summer days spent with family enjoying the fresh air outside. Nothing says outdoor get togethers like meals from the grill! Grilling and chilling is where it is at! We have plenty of easy recipes for you to throw on the grill during this holiday weekend and throughout the whole summer season! These recipes boast delicious flavors that also pack in the nutrients that the whole family needs.

These fun recipes just might be the perfect meal to bring your friends and loved ones together for joyful celebrations that create memories for everyone. We’ve also got something for everyone in mind with plant based ideas and healthy dishes that still have us going for seconds (and thirds let’s be honest, these recipes are that yummy!) Sip on Campari Watermelon Coolers while entertaining your buds in the backyard. Our Tomato Melon Skewers make for a fun appetizer with the tantalizing flavor combinations. Our Stuffed Sensational Sara Snacks have ‘stuffed’ in the name for a reason. You won’t be able to stop stuffing them in your belly they are so good! Filled with farro and the best cheese, you’ll have you force yourself to walk away from them! We didn’t forget about the chillin’ either! But honestly, who could forget our Sweet & Savory Ice Pops once you give them a try. Truly a life saver in the heat! These are just some of the yummy options we have for you!

So, what are you waiting for? Be known as the cool host you are once you dish out these easy breezy, healthy, grillin’ and chillin’ recipes!

Campari Watermelon Coolers

Make this alcoholic or ditch the alcohol and just enjoy the natural flavors of the renowned Sinfully Sweet Campari tomatoes, watermelon chunks, mint, and honey! We love how the sparkling water adds a little fun your cup! Mix this recipe up for you and your friends for a refreshed cocktail on hot summer days!

Tomato Melon Skewers

Get the best of everything with our Tomato Melon Skewers! Using our Maverick Mix tomatoes means you get a little bit of everything YUM! Have guests make their own so they get their favorite combinations, or add variety all on your own! Be creative! We can’t wait to see what you and family make together!

Stuffed Sensational Sara Snacks

Perfect for entertaining, these fun snacks stuff farro salad and caprese into our gorgeous Sensational Sara tomatoes! Not only are they cute, but they really pack the flavor! Popping them on the grill adds that smokey flavor that we all love from cook-outs!

Grilled Salmon with Lip Smackn’ Salsa

Blackened Grilled Salmon already has amazing flavor, but when you add the our Lip Smackn’ Grape tomato salsa, your taste buds will surely rejoice! Opting for a lean protein so you still have energy for all the outdoor activities you want to enjoy, this recipe is the perfect option for the eventful 4^th of July weekend!

Grilled Portobello BLT “Pizzas”

This recipe will be a surprise to all! These unique pizzas are great for the vegetarians and vegans in your life! Honestly, with the flavor that the Heavenly Villagio Marzano leaves in your mouth, even the carnivores will be heading back for more of these little treats!

Sweet & Savory Ice Pops

Time for Chillin’! Four different flavors of ice pops means that everyone will be able to find one that they love! We love the idea of an ice pop after a long hot summer day. So which will it be? The Cherry No. 9 Fall in Love Again sweetness , Cabernet Estate Reserve wine-like flavor, Scrumptious Mini Cucumber, or the blissfully bright Lorabella Blossom popsicle? Let us know which one is your favorite!

So, there you have it! We know you’ll be the talk of town once they either smell or hear about what yumminess was coming from your backyard this holiday weekend! Enjoy and be sure to explore all of our recipes to find your next party dish! We have the best recipes all using Village Farms nutritious and flavorful tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers!

Recipes and photography by My Diary of Us

Summertime means less time with the oven on and more time spent outside grilling.  That’s why I partnered with my friends at Village Farms to bring you two delicious and healthy summertime recipes featuring their tasty tomatoes.  I love combining smokey grilled flavors with fresh ingredients like delicious summer tomatoes.  Both of these recipes are going to be perfect for all of your backyard entertaining needs. After all, this summer it’s all about grillin’ and chillin’!  We have two new grilled recipes featuring Village Farms NEW Sensational Sara® tomatoes and their Lip Smackn’ Grape® tomatoes: Stuffed Sensational Sara Snacks and Grilled Salmon with Cajun Lip Smackn’ Salsa!  These healthy and easy to prepare recipes will add some spice to your Summer cooking!

If you have followed me for some time, you know that I go way back with Village Farms, and for good reason.  Their tomatoes are homegrown in Marfa, Texas and are some of the sweetest tomatoes around.  Next to growing you own tomatoes, there are none other that compare.  I love that I can always count on Village Farms to have the sweetest, perfectly ripe tomatoes year round, but especially in the summer when I use tomatoes in my recipes quite often.

Stuffed Sensational Sara Snacks

The first recipe that we are sharing is the Stuffed Sensational Sara Snacks.  This recipe is perfect as a side dish to a lean protein, easy appetizer for entertaining, or to serve up with a leafy green salad.  These gorgeous Sensational Sara® tomatoes are the perfect size for stuffing, and this caprese farro salad is so good inside.  It’s all of your favorite Caprese flavors packed into the cutest tomato package, and then grilled for a few minutes for a little smokey flavor that takes it to the next level.

Grilled Salmon with Lip Smackn’ Salsa

The second recipe we are sharing is the Grilled Salmon with Cajun Lip Smackn’ Salsa!  Blackened salmon gets grilled to perfection and then gets topped off with the most delicious Cajun salsa for some freshness and a little extra heat too.  I love the Lip Smackn’ Grape® tomatoes for this salsa because they are super sweet and hold up their texture in the salsa.  I add in corn, bell pepper, some Cajun spice, and lemon juice to really enhance the already delicious tomatoes.  You will not only be topping your fish with this salsa, but you will be whipping this recipe up for a quick dip that will sure to be a hit with your friends and family.  It’s just that good!

Can we say hello summer with these recipes?  They are both so good and you are going to love making them all season long!

Recipes and blog were created exclusively for Village Farms by  My Diary of Us

Recipes and photography by Susan Spungen

After the winter season, it’s refreshing to have a wider variety of produce to choose from when shopping and planning menus. I have always loved vegetables, but my diet leans more and more towards being plant based all the time. We have a completely vegetarian meal at least once a week, and sometimes more, but vegetables are always on the menu. One of our go-to’s has been a grain bowl of some variety about once a week. It’s a great way to use up bits of vegetables that you may have in your fridge that are not quite enough for anything else. I created two new recipes in partnership with Village Farms to celebrate this season of plenty. Both recipes pack lots of fresh produce into one delicious bowl. Each is flexible enough that you can make swaps to incorporate something special you might find in your farmer’s market or supermarket.

Maverick Mix Grain Bowl

The first recipe is for Maverick Mix Grain Bowls with Grilled Tofu. I usually try to pack at least five different vegetables into my grain bowls and go for a mix of cooked and raw for the most flavor and nutrition. Choose a variety of colors not just for looks, but for the health benefits. By choosing different colors, you can be sure you are getting a wide variety of vitamins and nutrients. Instead of roasting the vegetables like I do in the winter, I grill some asparagus while I’m grilling the tofu. I also char some Village Farms Maverick Mix® tomatoes alongside the asparagus to make a tasty dressing for the bowls. Fresh Village Farms Maverick Mix tomatoes add freshness to the bowl as well as an antioxidant punch. Tomatoes two ways! Don’t feel hemmed in by the vegetables in the recipe- feel free to switch them up according to what you find or what you have. Go for the freshest and most seasonal items and you can’t go wrong!

You can use the protein of your choice in place of the grilled tofu. Try leftover grilled or roasted chicken, cooked or canned beans, or shrimp. When you light the grill to cook the tofu, you’ll be cooking the asparagus and charring the tomatoes at the same time, so make sure you have all those elements ready at once. A grill platter, which is a perforated metal sheet, comes in very handy here to cook the asparagus and the tomatoes for the dressing, which would otherwise fall through the grates.

Sweet Bell Pepper Slaw with Mango

The second recipe is for Sweet Bells® Pepper Slaw, which also has shredded Savoy cabbage (that’s the crinkly looking one you’ll find in your supermarket) but you can use regular cabbage (red or green) or even a couple bags of pre-shredded slaw mix instead. Mango adds sweetness, and the slaw is simply dressed with lime juice, rice wine vinegar, and oil. Nothing could be easier than a slaw, just toss everything together and you’re done! Serve as a side dish with grilled fish or chicken, or as a filling for fish tacos. Since serranos and jalapenos can vary so much in size, use less at first and add more as needed. Slicing them thinly will lessen their hot punch and allow them to integrate into the slaw better. Village Farms Sweet Bell Peppers not only add color (use two out of the three colors) but a healthy dose of vitamins A & C.

Recipes and blog were created exclusively for Village Farms by  Susan Spungen

Recipes and photography by Lunches + Littles

Spring is here, and summer is right around the corner, and when it comes to nicer weather- there are always a couple of things that we enjoy a bit more of…. sunshine, the outdoors, cookouts and smoothies! Yep, smoothies are a great way to pack in goodness all year long, but we always find ourselves making them more often during the warmer months.

Cucumbers are not only great tasting in summer salads and as part of veggies trays, etc. they are also perfect in smoothies. We are big fans of all things from Village Farms (like their incredible greenhouse grown tomato varieties and assorted bell peppers), and while they may be known more for their tomatoes, their cucumbers are just as incredible.

Fresh Cucumber Smoothie

And while cucumbers may not seem like the most obvious smoothie ingredient, but don’t knock it- until you try it! Cucumber adds a delicious flavor to smoothies, and is full of nutrients and water making whatever you are making even better. Recently we created these delicious Fresh Cucumber Smoothies which turned out so creamy and yummy, and are a great way to load up on nutrients, while beating the heat. Whether for a snack, breakfast or other mealtime addition, these smoothies are a family-friendly hit that we were so excited to work with Village Farms on.

For these Fresh Cucumber Smoothies, we used the cool and refreshing Luscious Seedless Long English® cucumbers from Village Farms. Did you know cucumbers are loaded with vitamin K and C, and are also an excellent source of potassium? Cucumbers boast all sorts of health benefits and are the perfect smoothie addition.

For these Fresh Cucumber Smoothies we blended up Luscious Seedless Long English cucumbers, fresh pineapple, banana (frozen works best!) and a bit of orange juice for a tasty, refreshing smoothie that screams Spring…. and Summer! And, if it’s a super hot day, throw a bit of ice into your blender before you blend for an icier version of this treat!

To make these smoothies this time, we used our new BlendJet blender, and were amazed at how easy it was to use. I was certain that I would have to get out a high-powered blender for the frozen banana (or ice if using), but the BlendJet blended it all up without any issue. And we have actually teamed up with Village Farms to giveaway a BlendJet 2.0 and more to one lucky winner- click here

And, for more healthy recipe ideas as well as family-friendly recipes be sure to check out our feed @lunchesandlittles where we share kid-approved meals, lunchbox inspo, family favorites and tasty treats! And, next time you head to your grocery store, be sure to pick up some Luscious Seedless Long English cucumbers from Village Farms, as well as some of their tomatoes and peppers. With grill season here, there are endless ways to use their produce for everything from Grilled Portobello BLT Pizza to Grilled Cioppinio Foil Packs!

Recipes and blog were created exclusively for Village Farms by Lunches + Littles​​​ ​​​​​​​

Recipes and photography by Lunches + Littles

Christmas week is here (can you believe it?), and between last minute shopping, baking, wrapping, and more, we are also finding family-friendly things to do with our little ones and fun platters and sides to share with close family this holiday.

Now, on most holidays we travel, but this year we are doing things just a little differently because of all of the craziness that is 2020. We know that for so many people this year, holidays are looking very different too, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy delicious food and fun treats with loved ones. And that is why we are so excited to partner up with Village Farms this week, and share two simple, no-bake recipes, that are sure to delight your taste-buds- and your little ones!

First up we have our Easy Antipasto Wreath featuring the Maverick Mix® Tomatoes from Village Farms. This wreath combines tomatoes, salami slices, olives, peppers, fresh mozzarella cheese balls, basil leaves- and more. It’s the perfect appetizer platter, full of color and super simple to put together, yet still very impressive looking.

Our Easy Antipasto Wreath gets some added pops of color thanks to the mix of 4 to 6 different flavorful varieties that are found in each container of Maverick Mix® Tomatoes. Red, orange, yellow, green, and brown- there’s always a rainbow mix as well as sweet and intense flavor you will love.

This variety from Village Farms is one of our favs and as a bonus, our kids love them too. The Maverick Mix® Tomatoes are perfect for adding to salads, using to top pizzas, enjoying straight out of the package and so much more. These tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, and full of other nutrients and antioxidants. You will absolutely love this mix in this recipe.

For our Easy Antipasto Wreath simply gather your ingredients (prepping them prior as needed), and line up little bowls/containers so you have everything ready to go. Then, simply thread different ingredients on skewers, as shown. This is also a great one to get your little ones in on. Depending on their ages, little ones can help thread skewers or hand you items to add to the ones you are making.​​

And a little pro-tip: Not every skewer needs everything… mix and match, using different combos on different skewers. Keep some skewers meat and cheese free, for those that may not want to or be able to eat those items.

Once you have all your ingredients threaded on skewers, simply arrange them on a circular plate as shown adding pops of rosemary for added visual interest and voila! Get the full instructions below.

Easy Antipasto Wreath

Next up, we have something totally different for you. Are you ready to take a little trip back to childhood? Okay. Let’s go!

Rock candy is something that is not just sweet- it usually has some sweet memories attached to it too. Often found at fun vacation spots, carnivals, amusement parks, candy stores, and more- this treat is one that we had not had in years. But last week, we got to work making it with our little ones and not only did it bring back sweet memories- we also made some new sweet ones too!

Now, you may be wondering…how does rock candy tie in with the Village Farms brand? Well, that’s a fair question. To answer it, let’s talk about the ingredients that are typically found in rock candy- sugar and water. Yep, that is it (seriously!). Now, of course you can always add different flavorings and food colorings as desired, but can make it with simply sugar and water alone too. Who knew, right? For this version, we subbed fresh cucumber water, from Village Farms’ Luscious Seedless Long English® cucumber variety in place of the water. Not only did this add a bit of flavor and color, but it also added in a bit of nutrients too.

And, that brings us to another question, did you know that Village Farms doesn’t just grow tomatoes? In addition to their delicious greenhouse grown tomato varieties, they also grow mini cucumbers, long English cucumbers, as well as a variety of sweet bell peppers!

Now back to the rock candy….Blending and straining the cucumber juice was a great little activity to do with our kids, as was the melting of the sugar and of course- the growing of the rock crystals on the sticks. We loved doing this fun activity with our kids last week, and think it would be a great one for you to do with them Christmas week!

Cucumber Peppermint Rock Candy

Making our Cucumber Peppermint Rock Candy was a combination of blending, a bit of science and some patience. That is all it took for us to transform a couple of simple ingredients to homemade nostalgic rock candy sticks with a cucumber twist! See some of the sneak peeks below, as well as the instructions to make this fun treat- perfect for kids, or us kids at heart!

Recipes and blog were created exclusively for Village Farms by Lunches + Littles​​​ ​​​​​​​

Recipes and photography by Lunches + Littles

This year, for likely all of us, things have looked very, very different. The way we work, the ways we shop, the ways in which kids get their education, even the ways in which we travel and see our beloved family and friends- it has all changed. And this year, our holidays may look quite a bit different too. I know ours will….

For a lot of us, including our own family, we have family members and close friends that live out of state, and traveling right now or having larger gatherings together simply may not be possible. With all of these changes, many of us may find ourselves celebrating the holidays in untraditional ways this year- or at the very least gathering with less people around the table. But, one thing that remains the same is that most of us will still be celebrating, and there is one staple that will likely find its way to the middle of the table no matter where or who you gather with. Yep, we are talking about the turkey.

Now, we love juicy, tender turkey meat on Thanksgiving with all the fixings, but we all know it doesn’t need to stop there. And while most of us are probably used to eating lots of turkey sandwiches as leftovers in the days following the big feast, this year we are taking leftovers to the next level with a couple of delicious recipes that feature the star of your Thanksgiving meal, in two totally different ways.

Turkey Fajitas with Homemade Salsa Fresca

First up we have our Turkey Fajitas with Homemade Salsa Fresca. For this dish, we take leftover turkey, marinate it up with a homemade spicy marinade- made with cumin, garlic, and adobo sauce. Cook it all up and serve the seasoned turkey alongside delicious, fresh tri-colored sautéed peppers- and more. It’s a tasty twist on traditional fajitas, and they are oh so good. And the salsa fresca- that’s fresh too. For this delicious fajita topping, we use the maverick mix® tomatoes from Village Farms. If you are not familiar, this medley of tomatoes contains four to six different, flavorful varieties- like cherry and grape tomatoes, each one with a distinct shape and flavor. Red, orange, yellow, green, and brown- the maverick mix® medley boasts a rainbow of color with a sweet and intense flavor profile. Perfect in so many dishes, this mix was a delicious choice for this recipe.​​​​​

And, while most of you probably know that Village Farms grows a wide variety of delicious greenhouse grown tomatoes. Did you know they also grow delicious bell peppers and cucumbers too? Over the last year as we have been adding more and more fruits and vegetables to our dishes (yes, even more than normal!), we have been using a lot more of their peppers and cucumbers too, and Village Farms makes doing so very easy. Their sweet bells® peppers work perfectly in this fajita recipe and also add the perfect pops of color, which we love!

Tomato Basil Turkey Soup

Another delicious way to elevate your leftovers is our Tomato Basil Turkey Soup. This recipe is amazing and surprisingly quick to pull together, which is great because post-holiday, you are going to want to rest a bit (or shop!), am I right? This soup is packed with flavor, made using delicious heavenly villagio marzano® tomatoes from Village Farms. These mini San Marzano tomatoes pack in so much flavor and are perfect for soups and sauces. We love using them in homemade tomato sauce for spaghetti, though they are also incredible as is- we all love eating them straight out of the container as sides, or even snacks.

Our Tomato Basil Turkey Soup is hearty enough for a full-on meal, thanks to the turkey addition. And while it kind of brings us back to our younger days of grilled cheese and tomato soup- this soup definitely doesn’t taste canned. No, this one is full of fresh flavor in every bite. Roasted heavenly villagio marzano® tomatoes are not only blended right into the soup base, they are also added in roasted for extra bursts of flavor all throughout. You have to make it to truly get it. And when you do- you won’t be disappointed!

When it comes to the holidays, yes- this year may look a lot different, but we hope that no matter who you spend it with, or how you choose to celebrate, you have a beautiful time, full of love, gratitude and of course-good eats. And, if you find yourself with some leftover turkey meat, we hope that you will give either- or both, our Turkey Fajitas with Homemade Salsa Fresca or our Tomato Basil Turkey Soup recipes a try.

For more recipes to take you through the holidays- and beyond, be sure to follow us over on our feed, @lunchesandlittles. ​​​​​Happy Thanksgiving from our family- to yours!​

Recipes and blog were created exclusively for Village Farms by Lunches + Littles​​​ ​​​​​​​

Recipes and photography by Lunches + Littles

This year, August looks a lot different for most of us. There’s been a lot of new expectations, big decisions and SO many changes. But one thing that remains the same is that we all still need to eat. So, whether your kids are heading back to school for in-person instruction, doing virtual learning at home, or even full on homeschooling, you are likely going to be packing and/or making lunches. And that’s why we are so excited to have partnered back up with Village Farms to share some quick, doable, kid-friendly recipes that are perfect for both packed lunch boxes and lunches at home.

And, if you don’t have kids- don’t pass this one by. Because easy, yummy food isn’t just for kids! These recipes would certainly work and be great for adults too- packed up to go for a work lunch, or to enjoy at a lunch or dinner table at home. So, read on!

First up, we have our Burrata and Tomato Hand Pies. For these, we used the Heavenly Villagio Marzano® tomatoes from Village Farms which are one of our all-time favorite varieties. These little tomatoes are incredibly sweet and perfect for all sorts of cooking; one of our favorite ways to use them is in a sweet sauce for spaghetti, but they are so versatile! For our hand pies they add just the right amount of sweetness and are also a great size for the recipe as well.

Rich in vitamins A and K, these mini San Marzano tomatoes are as healthy as they are delicious! For our Burrata and Tomato Hand Pies we combined these little gems with bits of fresh burrata cheese and basil, cooked in a thin, flakey crust. We cut our pies circular, though you could certainly cut them in rectangles, etc. No matter how you cut them, they’re perfect for lunchboxes, meals at home- or even some entertaining. And perhaps the best part is that you can easily prep them ahead of time or even bake them ahead of time and simply re-heat.​​

Burrata and Tomato Hand Pies

The second recipe is our Easy Rainbow Spring Rolls, and this is a recipe we have been so excited to share. If you follow us over on our feed, @lunchesandlittles, you know that we love color and these rolls really pack the rainbow!

Something you may not know about Village Farms is that they grow more than just tomatoes. While delicious tomatoes are a big part of what they produce, they also grow peppers and cucumbers and for our Easy Rainbow Spring Rolls recipe we were able to incorporate both their Swe​et Bells® (red, yellow and orange peppers) as well as their Scrumptious Mini® cucumbers.

Rainbow Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Quick little fact: cucumbers are made mostly of water and therefore are a great way to rehydrate your body. They are also perfect for replenishing nutrients. So, we were all about including these in our Easy Rainbow Spring Rolls.

These rolls were so fun to make, and they look so impressive, don’t they? You would probably think that these took a while to make, but actually they just take minutes. Yes, minutes! The most time-consuming part of the whole recipe is prepping the ingredients. Then you just fill, roll, and serve! These are perfect for a fun and colorful lunch box, or on a plate at home.​

No matter what your plans are for the Fall, we know that you have enough to worry about besides what you’re going to pack up for lunch or serve at home to your kids. So give these fun recipes a try. They are a great way to get kids more comfortable with eating a variety of produce- and they aren’t too hard to make up either.

Enter in Our Back to School Giveaway!

Our Back to School Giveaway will be hosted by Lunches + Littles via Instagram. The giveaway will take place for one week – Thursday August 28th through Thursday September 4th, 2020. Click here to learn how to enter for a chance to win one of 3 awesome prizes!

Recipes and blog were created exclusively for Village Farms by Lunches + Littles​​​ ​​​​​​​

Summer is in full swing, which means a ton of grillin’ and chillin’. And we are here to help you in your relaxation endeavors that’s why we have created 10 simple summer side dishes all featuring the delectable flavors of Village Farms Greenhouse Grown tomatoes and cucumbers. Not only are these flavorful dishes packed full of healthy immune boosting properties, but they are easy-peasy to prepare, making it effortless to get those essential vitamins and nutrients into you and your family’s diet!

We have selected a sweet mix of fresh and cooked recipes so there’s something for every flavor palate sure to please the most fickle of your friends and family. Try our Tomacado Salad or Crisp Cucumber melon salad (but only if you can say either name ten times fast) to have everyone asking for more. Or the oh so zingy and sweet Caprese salad with grilled peaches or the tomato melon skewers for a neat take on a classical fav. These are just a few of the 10 simple summer dishes we have ready to not only tempt but empower your chef within.

These fresh dishes are also terrific for those on-the-go activities, whether it’s time spent at the beach, camping with the fam, or last minute invites to patio potlucks, we got you covered. The fancy Farro Salad with toasted Pine Nuts and roasted tomatoes works wonders for a quick and easy on dish-on-the-go.  And we love the savory flavors of the beefsteak tomato salad with crispy chickpeas and lemon tahini to wow your next picnic party. Psst… Be forewarned if you make the white bean arugula bruschetta you might just want to keep it all to yourself because it is that yummy!

And if you’re looking to fire up your home meal prep game we have tasty recipes, ready to sizzle on the grill or even quick pan to plate stove top solutions. Hello grilled Portobello BLT pizza for snazzy side dish or appy. And the summer veggie pasta salad or the spicy Asian cucumber noodle salad is a win-win for most ease of prep and highest delivery on flavor. Glad summer is going to be around for a while because there still is plenty of time to try all these fabulous side dishes!

What are you waiting for? Give it a whirl! Now it the time to get more fresh, easy to prepare, healthy and immune boosting dishes into your meal time so you can have more chill and relax time!

1. Farro Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts and Roasted Tomatoes

Fresh greens, farro, roasted tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, crumbled feta cheese a homemade lemon vinaigrette- and more, all come together in harmony to create tantalizing flavor. The Maverick Mix® tomatoes in this recipe are totally the star of the dish.

2. Beefsteak Tomato Salad with Crispy Chickpeas and Lemon Tahini

This Juicy Beefsteak® tomato salad with crispy chickpeas and lemon tahini is a party for your taste buds. The zingy flesh provides the perfect canvas for the spiced crispy chickpeas and the earthy lemon tahini sauce. This salad is effortless to prepare and full of nutrients.

3. Tomacado Summer Salad

This Grilled Corn, Tomato & Avocado salad with hemp seeds screams everything summer and is filled with refreshing flavors. The sweetness of the Maverick Mix® tomatoes and creaminess of the avocado create a luscious burst of mouthwatering goodness.

4. Caprese Salad with Grilled Peaches

There is just something magical when you bring together such beautifully fresh ingredients to complement one another. Sinfully Sweet Campari® tomatoes are an ideal choice for this iconic salad because they are the perfect combination of sweetness and acidity. Their vibrant red exterior and ideal size help to make this salad a piece of delicious art.

5. Spicy Asian Cucumber Noodle Salad

Spicy Asian Cucumber Noodle Salad that is the perfect side dish to bring to potlucks, or to serve up any of the night with some grilled chicken thighs or seafood! Luscious Seedless Long English® Cucumbers make the crispest cucumber noodles, which are so fun for this salad!

6. Grilled Portobello BLT “Pizzas”

Think outside the crust and swap your pizza dough for large Portobello mushroom caps as the base for these grilled mini BLT pizzas featuring our Heavenly Villagio Marzano® tomatoes. Take one bite and only one word will come to mind, phenomenal. You can even leave the pancetta off for an adaptable vegetarian dish.

7. Tomato Melon Skewers

This no-cook skewer recipe highlights the best summer ingredients like melons, Maverick Mix® tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, prosciutto and balsamic. If your party guests are more creative, you could even leave your ingredients as a DIY bar for them!

8. Crisp Cucumber Melon Salad

Crisp and refreshing is the name of this game. Our Luscious Seedless Long English® Cucumber Melon Salad is made up of the best sweet and savory ingredients like fresh melon, feta and arugula. Try this combo and your taste-buds will be thanking you!

9.  White Bean Arugula Bruschetta

Bruschetta is a super fun dish because it allows for such creativity. It’s a blank canvas awaiting your favorite ingredients! Sinfully Sweet Campari® tomatoes are the perfect size for a chunky mixture to top a bite size appetizer. The final touch? A drizzle of balsamic vinegar for a strong, sweet-tart finisher.

10. Summer Veggie Pasta Salad

Fresh, summer ingredients that are juicy, sweet, and scream summer. Alongside our Maverick Mix® tomatoes we’re also adding some sweet summer corn and a refreshing lemon basil dressing that is out. of. this. world. A really simple, easy, and nutrient-dense dish that you can feel really good about.

To explore more delicious and exclusive recipes using Village Farms flavorful tomato, cucumber and peppers click here!