Sunset Valley Organic October Newsletter

Happy October! 

We hope everyone’s fall has started off with a bang! For those who aren’t local, Oregon is starting to change color, and our blueberry plants are just starting to change from green to red and orange.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook for Autumn Photos from around our farm.

News From Around the Farm

Our harvest might be over, but we haven’t slowed down just yet. We are busy prepping ground for another planting of Aronia berries. Once we finish planting it, we will have a grand total of 70 acers of Aronia berries, and will have the largest planting of Certified Organic Aronia berries on the West Coast, which we think is pretty exciting. Aronia berries are best known for being grown in the mid west, but we are really excited to be trying this new venture.

We are also hard at work putting our berries to bed for the winter. For the raspberries we have already finished training and tying the canes, and have moved on the blackberries. We have about six weeks to two months to finish them up. For the blueberries we have started our Fall Foilers, which we have designed to encourage fruit bud set for next years crop. We are also spreading a sawdust and mulch mix at the base of the plants. 

Last month we also talked about getting our freeze drier up and running for making powders. A quick update about it is that we have made a couple of trial batches, however they aren’t perfect yet. And we want to give you all the most perfect powder. So we are going to continue to work hard on perfecting our timing with the freeze drier and finish tweeting it to perfection. Keep an eye on our social medias for some up coming photos of our process for freeze-drying. We want to thank everyone for their continued interest in this project we know it’s been a long time coming. 

Frozen Availability

With the start of fall we are nearing when we are able to send frozen berries my ground. We aren’t quite there yet, as some areas of the country are still really warm. We are looking at sometime next month being able to send frozen by ground. When we are able to, we will be posting a notice on the home page of our site. 

In order to get the ground shipping price you will need to call us to place your order, just as it has been in the past. 

Fall & Winter Hours

We will be open at the farm Monday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm. If you are unable to make it between these hours just call us and schedule an appointment. You can reach us at (541)752-0460.

Website Changes on The Horizon

We are going to be making changes to our website, so if you see something wonky, or weird. Please have patience as we will be improving and changing it over the next few months. Our goal is that in 2016 we will have a brand new site, that is educational, and user friendly.

IFBC in Seattle

This month we are doing something new! We have an opportunity to go to the International Food Bloggers Convention in Seattle, WA. We hope to learn tons of new things to make our blog, and website better.  We will also be posting about our experience there on our blog, so be sure to keep an eye on it.

• Adventures In Seattle At IFBC Part 1
• Adventures In Seattle At IFBC Part 2

Specials For This Month

This month we have a few different Coupons to offer to you guys, and since it's Halloween, we are having Three specials on our candy

1. We have an ad in the Pet Press magazine. If you see it and tell us about it you can get $5 off $25+ This offer will last as long as the issue is out. So September until November.
2. Trick Or Treat Chocolate Blueberry Clusters Special. We offered this last year and it was a big hit! So we brought it back, this special contains 10 mini chocolate blueberry packages for $12.95. See it on our site.  (Use code CLUSTER at check out when buying 2 to get the 3rd free!)

Simply Homemade Greek Yogurt Banana + Blueberry MuffinsWhile I was at the grocery store I found Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Muffin + Bread Mix, specially for Greek yogurt. So I thought I would give it a go. And they turned out so good I just had to share it!If you pick up this box, it has directions on it for what to do. But instead of the corn oil like they suggest, I used olive oil, and I also added one cup frozen blueberries to the mix at the very end then just stirred it a couple times to get the blueberries all mixed in.With the addition of the blueberries, I ended up baking the muffins longer in the oven, on the box they recommend 15 to 20 minutes, and I baked mine for 30.Ingredients:Box Mix1 Single-serve container (5.3 oz) or 2/3 cup plain or vanilla Greek Yogurt2 eggs½ Cup oil (corn, coconut, olive, whatever you prefer)¼ Cup water1 Cup Frozen SVO BlueberriesDirections:1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees, line 12 standard-size muffin cups with paper liners or spray with cooking spray, set aside.2. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a spoon, stir until mixture forms a batter, about 50 to 60 strokes (or, mix 30 seconds at medium speed with an electric mixer, scrape down sides, than mix for an additional 30 seconds.3.Spoon batter evenly between prepared muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.

Health Benefits of Strawberries

Need more reasons to love strawberries? Well here is ten, we are so excited for summer and strawberry season! Those sweet juicy berries will be here before you know it.

1. Strawberries boost immunity. These little guys are a great source for vitamin C. Most mammals with the exception of humans have the ability to produce vitamin C naturally, which is why we need to make sure we get the proper amount everyday. And strawberries are so delicious, why would you say no? In one serving of fresh strawberries (which is half a cup) you get about 52mg which is about half of the daily requirement, so all you have to do is double up to a whole cup and you get all the vitamin C you need everyday. Yum! 

2. Strawberries promote eye health. The antioxidants in strawberries might also prevent cataracts,

which can lead to blindness in old age. But not for us! Our eyes require vitamin C to protect them from exposure to free-radicals from the sun's UV rays, which can damage the protein in the lens. Vitamin C also plays an important role in strengthening  the eye's cornea and retina. While high doses of vitamin C have been found to increase the risk of cataracts in women over 65, researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm note that the risk pertains to vitamin C obtained from supplements, not the vitamins from fruits and vegetables.

3. Strawberries help fight cancer. Vitamin C is one of the antioxidants that can help with cancer prevention since a healthy immune system is the body's best defense. A phytochemical called elegiac- acid also found in strawberries-is another. Elegiac acid has been shown to have an anti-cancer properties like suppressing cancer cell growth. Strawberries also have the antioxidants lutein and zeathancins. Antioxidants are scavengers to free-radical and neutralized the potentially negative effect they can have on our cells.

4. Strawberries can help minimize wrinkles. Vitamin C is a powerful tool we need to take more advantage of, as it is vital to the production of collagen, which helps to improve sink's elasticity and resilience. Since we lose collagen as we age, eating foods rich in vitamin C may result in healthier, younger-looking sin. But vitamin C isn't the only naturally- occurring wrinkle fighter found in strawberries. Researchers at hallym university in the republic of Korea concluded that elegiac acid visibly prevented collagen destruction and inflammatory response- two major factors in development of wrinkles- in human skin cells, after continued exposure to skin-damaging UV-B rays.

5. Strawberries fight bad cholesterol. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, hearth disease is one of the leading causes of death among Canadian women. Luckily, strawberries also contain powerful heart-health boosters.  “Ellagic acid and flavonoids— or phytochemicals—can provide an antioxidant effect that can benefit heart health in various ways,” explains Edwards. “One way includes counteracting the effect of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL—bad cholesterol in the blood—which causes plaque to build up in arteries. A second way is that they provide an anti-inflammatory effect, which is also good for the heart.” Researchers at the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center in Toronto studied the effect of strawberries on a cholesterol-lowering diet and concluded that adding strawberries to the diet reduced oxidative damage, as well as blood lipids—both of which play a role in heart disease and diabetes.

6. Strawberries reduce inflammation. The antioxidants and phytochemicals found in strawberries

may also help to reduce inflammation of the joints, which may cause arthritis and can also lead to heart disease. A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health shows that women who eat 16 or more strawberries per week are 14 percent less likely to have elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP)—an indication of inflammation in the body.

7. Strawberries regulate blood pressure. Potassium is yet another heart healthy nutrient, and with 134 mg per serving, strawberries are considered a "medium source," according to Alberta Health Services. Potassium can help regulate blood pressure and may even help to lower high blood pressure by acting as a buffer against the negative effects of sodium. With their impact on the reduction of LDL, inflammation and high blood pressure, strawberries have earned the title of one of the most heart-healthy fruits you can eat.

8. Strawberries boost fibre. Fibre is a necessity for healthy digestion, and strawberries naturally contain about 2 g per serving. Problems that can arise from lack of fibre include constipation and diverticulitis—an inflammation of the intestines—which affects approximately 50 percent of people over 60. Fibre can also aid in fighting type 2 diabetes. “Fibre helps slow the absorption of sugars (i.e. glucose) in the blood,” says Edwards. "As a result, adults who are managing diabetes can enjoy strawberries—in moderation—in their diet."

9. Strawberries aid in weight management. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best defenses against type 2 diabetes and heart disease, not to mention just plain good for your overall well-being. “Strawberries are naturally low calorie (around 28 kCal per serving), fat-free and low in both sodium and sugar,” says Edwards. “Strawberries do contain natural sugars—though total sugars are fairly low with 4 grams per serving—and the total carbohydrate content is equivalent to less than a half slice of bread. Triple your serving to 1.5 cups and you'll have a snack that's less than 100 calories—and much healthier than those pre-packaged 100-calorie snacks!”

10. Strawberries promote pre-natal health. Folate is a B-vitamin recommended for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive, and strawberries are a good source with 21 mcg per serving. Folate is necessary in the early stages of pregnancy to help in the development of the baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord, and the folic acid in strawberries may help to prevent certain birth defects, such as spina bifida.

Blueberries for Health- Website

Blueberries for Health

I just found this great compilation of all of the research on the health effects of Blueberries, compiled by the blueberry council. http://www.blueberry.org/health.htm. I'll be excerpting more of their findings.

Among the studies:
Blueberries and Antioxidant Activity

Blueberries and Aging

Blueberries and Health

So if you're into reading the literature, and getting into the messy details, enjoy.

Me, I'm just going to relax right now with a fresh blueberry smoothie.

Can Foods Forestall Aging? USDA Says YES!

And Blueberries rank at the top of the list!

Studies at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston suggest that consuming fruits and vegetables with a high-ORAC value may help slow the aging process in both body and brain. ORAC--short for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity--measures the ability of foods, blood plasma, and just about any substance to subdue oxygen free radicals in the test tube.

Early evidence indicates that this antioxidant activity translates to animals, protecting cells and their components from oxidative damage. Getting plenty of the foods with a high-ORAC activity, such as spinach, strawberries, and blueberries, has so far:

• raised the antioxidant power of human blood,

• prevented some loss of long-term memory and learning ability in middle-aged rats,

• maintained the ability of brain cells in middle-aged rats to respond to a chemical stimulus, and

• protected rats' tiny blood vessels—capillaries—against oxygen damage.

These results have prompted Ronald L. Prior to suggest that "the ORAC measure may help define the dietary conditions needed to prevent tissue damage.

To read the whole story:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/feb99/aging0299.htm

I loved to see this article, since I love blueberries:

Blueberries May Help Reduce Belly Fat, Diabetes Risk

ScienceDaily (Apr. 20, 2009) — Could eating blueberries help get rid of belly fat? And could a blueberry-enriched diet stem the conditions that lead to diabetes? A new University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study suggests so.

The new research, presented April 19 at the Experimental Biology convention in New Orleans, gives tantalizing clues to the potential of blueberries in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The effect is thought to be due to the high level of phytochemicals – naturally occurring antioxidants – that blueberries contain.

Read the whole article

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090419170112.htm

Natural Purple Pigments In Fruits, Vegetables And Berries, Such As Blueberries, May Help Prevent Obesity

Natural Purple Pigments In Fruits, Vegetables And Berries, Such As Blueberries, May Help Prevent Obesity

ScienceDaily (Feb. 14, 2008) — Scientists in Arkansas are reporting new evidence that natural pigments responsible for the beautiful blue/purple/reddish color of certain fruits and vegetables may help prevent obesity. Their animal study however, reports that eating the whole fruit containing these pigments seems to be less effective than eating an extract of the berry.

Read the whole article at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211091354.htm#