Dear Co-op Members,

Next pickup is in THREE weeks, May 3. Enjoy the spring!

Right now, produce prices remain high and supplies are limited, which makes our shares smaller, despite our best efforts. Meanwhile, our regional farmers are starting crops in their greenhouses and planning for the coming planting season. Soon our shares will be much larger, reflecting lower prices on the west coast and later, the bounty of the local season.

Some people were disheartened by the onion and strawberry quality in the last delivery. Please be assured that we always get credits for problem items if your group lets us know right away and then we can spend extra money the next time to rectify these problems. There were no other onions to be had and it seemed we needed some; if your group‚s were moldy or rotten, you are getting avocadoes as a make-up. Strawberry credit has been spent for kiwi today.

This week, we're getting NY Ecologically Grown Cortland apples, Maryland kale, Florida cherry tomatoes, California asparagus, gold beets, broccoli, carrots, celery, kiwi, romaine lettuce, parsley and russet OR Yukon Gold potatoes, sweet potatoes; zucchini from Mexico, Argentinian Bartlett pears, and Ecuadorian bananas. Please call immediately with quality issues.

Fruit shares are getting strawberries, Braeburn apples, honeydew melon and Oro Blancos. Fruit shares are $20, or three or more, $17. Please order by Monday morning, or call to cancel or confirm by then as well.

Dividers, please be vigilant about quality and call us right away so we can get credit from suppliers. Dividing instructions are in the manila envelope sent with each delivery. Please get an ok from the office if you think it best not to give out an entire case of something. Always get an ok from the office before you divide two of something if the dividing instructions don't say to divide two cases, bags, etc.

What's coming in the order email (Tues. for Wed./Thurs. groups; Thurs. for Sat. groups): Send your name and your coordinator's name to janit@verizon.net to get on the list.

Save money by helping out! Sat. Summit pod needs a new host starting in June. Please call for details. Takes about an hour per week; $40 discount each delivery.

Flying guests? Start now for best results. Pheremone traps for meal moths, in-cabinet, $9 ea., 3/$25; larger hanging traps, $12 each; lures last 16 weeks; flea collars, 2/$10.

How to make a Special Order: Call the office on Monday of your order week. Pay for your special orders by giving your coordinator a check before the delivery payable to Purple Dragon. Write the item and coordinator's name on the comment line. Or send it to us.

April Specials (order by the 27th)

(Please call by Monday of your delivery week to order; Monday a week before for Wed. groups):
Rapunzel 25 oz. organic oils:  Spanish olive oil, 2/$20.  Canola oil,  2/$10  Safflower, 2/$12
Sunspire org. dark choc. chips, 9 oz., 2/$9. Rumford baking powder, aluminum-free, $3.
Organic ground horseradish, 4 oz. $6 or 2/$10. Org. maple syrup, dark, 12 oz. or 1 qt., $10.
Dried apricots, organic Turkish, 5 lbs., $15; 1 lb., $4. Figs, dried organic calmyrna, 1 lb., $6.
Sweetened tart dried cherries, 1 lb., $10. Dried cranberries, juice sweetened
Nature‚s Gate 12 oz. lotion, any 4/$25: chamo+vits, lav.-aloe, lemongrass-sage, orange-choc.
Sappo Hill Soaps, 12 bars (one type) $15, long-lasting: almond, aloe, aloe-oat, cucumber, sage-
rose, gardeners, jasmine, lavender, natural, oatmeal, oatmeal unscented, sandalwood.
Bac Out stain & odor eliminator--amazing! pet stains, food, etc.  2/16 oz. bottles, $10.
Stainless steel food mill with three interchangeable disks for applesauce, etc. $30 (no peeling!)
Baby Food Grinders-$12. These are portable and great to puree regular food for baby.
Swheat Scoop flushable wheat cat litter, 14 lbs., 2/$16 or 40 lbs., $25.

                                                             Happy Holidays,
                                                             janit

Purple Dragon Co-op:
Supporting small, local organic farmers
289 Washington Street, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
Phone: (973) 429-0391 9:30 am - 8 pm except Fridays! email: janit@verizon.net
Printed on recycled paper always! www.purpledragon.com or www.purpledragon.coop
Copyright © 2003 Janit London/
Purple Dragon Co-op, Inc.

Co-op Classifieds:

    Yard Sale Today, Sat. 10-3 527 Upper Mountain Ave., Montclair, Noritake china, housewares, child bike seat for adult bike, great rug, dollhouse, housewares and more!

    Apt. for rent, May 1, 2 BR, H/HW/elec. included, Jersey City Heights, Anna (201) 792-1210

    Rand School Fair, May 3˜Co-op members needed to man booth. $10/hr. credit toward special orders. Kelly (973) 655-0146. Other fairs in Sept. (W. Jersey) & October (Summit.) We need people to work at these also--call (973) 429-0391 if you might be interested and ask for Paula.

April organic coffee specials (shade tree grown and fair-traded, kosher): Spring Sampler: Cup o‚Joe (org. DD;) Woodstock Blend (dinner coffee;) Zanzibar (dark roast) and Hazelnut, 4 1⁄2-lb. bags, $20 or Decaf Sampler: Cup o‚ Joe (org. DD;) Rip van Winkle (dinner coffee;) Dragon (full bodied) and Hazelnut, 4 1⁄2-lb. bags, $20. Whole bean or ground, roasted when ordered. 12 oz. foil packages last a year: Catskill Mtn., Zanzibar, Cup o' Joe, 1/$8; 3/$21; Rip van Winkle Decaf.1/$9; $3/24. Go Nuts Hazelnut, with hazelnuts! 1 lb., $11 (not in foil.)

Special Order Organic/Eco Produce Items (Prices this week): We can special order almost anything--call!

almonds, $8/lb. or 2/$14;
Eco apples, Mutsu, Ida Red, Cortland,  20 lbs., $25; 38 lbs., $40;
avocadoes, 6, Hass, $10;
broccoli, 3 heads, $6.;
carrots, 25 lbs., $20.;
dates, Medjool, $7/lb.; coconut date rolls, $4/lb. or 2/$7;
non-fertile eggs, 5 dz., jumbo, $15.;
garlic, 1 lb., $6; 2 lbs., $10;
ginger (Hawaii), 1 lb., $8;
grapefruit, California or Florida, $30-$40/30-40 fruits;
mangoes, $15+/box (8-14);
onions, 3# yellow, $3.;
pecans, not org., 1 lb., $6; 2/$11; 5/$25;
pine nuts, $12/lb.,
short grain brown rice, 5 lbs. $6.25.;
shallots, 5 lbs. $25;
strawberries, 12 pints, $30-40;
walnuts, 1 lb., $8; 2/$15.

Non-produce items:
biodegradable bowl cleaners, 2/$5 or 12/$25;
chopsticks, bamboo, 10 prs., $2; purple & pink floral, lacquered, 12 prs.; $15;
organic cotton grocery bags, Purple Dragon logo, $15 each or 2/$25. 15 bags-$11 each; 30+, $10 each, (two pairs, one to drop off and one to carry veggies home;)
cobalt blue glass mugs with etched PD logo, 12 oz., $15;
Miracle pulp-ejecting juicers, 1. plastic, $100 (reg. $125,); 2. fancier model that can take blender attachment, $150 (reg. $175;) 3. stainless, $300 (reg. $325.); coir bristle veggie brushes quickly clean carrots and potatoes instead of peeling, $5;
Aqua Belle water filters, (www.geocities.com/aqua bellemfg,) highest quality, $90; replacement cartridges last two years, $35 (compare this to other systems!) fluoride-removing, $125; cartridges, $60;
shower filters, (for soft, chlorine-free water,) $50;
wood care polish, natural scent, 8 oz., $7.50.

RECIPES & information! Check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PurpleDragonCo-op to trade recipes, ask for help with challenging veggies and chat. Like having a recipe Fairy Godmother!

Kitchenware Specials till April 15th

Wok set, stainless, steamer insert, reg. $75, sale:$55.
Asparagus cooker, stainless steel, reg. $70, sale: $55 (great wedding or Mother‚s Day gift!)
Electric fruit/vegetable pureer, takes out skin & seeds, reg. $175, sale: $125
Stainless steel wheat grass (hand) juicer, reg. $135; sale, $100
Soy milk maker, reg. $200, $175 (save money on soymilk)+ a free yogurt maker (reg. $50!)
Juicer (model #2) and electric wheat grass juicer combo sale, reg. $300 for both, now $225!

Baked Pears

4-6 pears, washed     1⁄2 lb. gorgonzola cheese

Halve pears vertically. Remove seeds and core. Lay face up in a baking dish with 1⁄2 c. of water, with 1 TBS. honey and 1⁄2 tsp. cinnamon in the water. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Slice cheese thinly and lay on top of pears. Return to oven until cheese melts, 3-5 minutes. Serve warm.

Pears ripen from the inside out, so they are best when they are just fragrant. By the time your pear smells really ripe, the inside is overripe. Always store pears in the fridge and take them out to ripen for a day or two as you want them.

Organic News

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published an article showing that children who eat organic food have lower levels of pesticides in their blood streams than children who eat foods grown conventionally. An article on AOL, Disease-Fighting Factors Fill Sustainably Farmed Foods,

by Daniel DeNoon, WebMD Medical News reviewed by Brunilda  Nazario, MD, on Thurs., Mar. 6.