Many people say they want to know where their food comes from. I have a request. Every time you open your fridge or freezer – think about the farmers, pickers and processors of your food. They are grateful!
I recently had the opportunity to tour a local blueberry farm and operation, so let me share a few fun facts:
- True story: Blueberries are my favorite fruit. They are easy to prepare and delicious to eat (plain, with yogurt or cottage cheese or in salads) and easy to bake.
- That soft, dusty white coating you find on blueberries is called “bloom.” Flowering is a natural part of the growing process. It provides a defense mechanism that helps protect blueberries from harsh sunlight. Maybe we should call them smartberries!
- At only 80 calories per cup, you can pack plenty of disease-fighting antioxidants into your day with blueberries. They contain vitamin C and anthocyanin – the blue, red or purple pigments found in plants. Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that can have disease prevention propertiesincluding lowering blood pressure (say hello DASH Diet Plan).
Beyond the Table®
The theme for National Nutrition Month 2024 is ‘Beyond the Table’. I organized an event for the Suncoast Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that really helped us see beyond the table! Wish Farms was kind enough to host our small group of nutritionists through their blueberry field, warehouse and packing facility, and offices. Watch this video.
Wish Farms: Humble Beginnings – From New York to Plant City Florida
I love a good story, and this company has one.
With this story, I encourage you to consider all the people behind the scenes who bring our food to the table (in the field, on the tractors, on the processing lines, in the offices and on the road).
It’s a true business timeline of how a small start-up at the turn of the 20th century forged into the future and adapted as needed to sustain itself.
The humble beginnings of what is now Wish Farms began when 19-year-old Harris Wishnatzki (hence WISH Farms) arrived in New York from Kiev, Ukraine in 1904 (around the same time my grandparents arrived from Italy) . He began selling fruits and vegetables from a cart on the streets of New York. He eventually teamed up with another cart seller, Daniel Nathal, so they could grow their business. The fruit came to New York by rail, grown in Florida. By 1929, Mr. Wishnatski began traveling to Florida during the winter to see farm produce and the auction market. By 1937, Florida became his permanent home. Wish Farms remains a family business, and Harris Wishnatsky’s great-grandson, Nick, led our tour.
Wishes do come true
Wishes come true – with a lot of work and planning. Nick’s father Gary Wishnatski started working for the company in 1974 and led it through some changes, including adding blueberries to the operations. The company split into two entities in 2001, with Nathal handling wholesale and Wishnatski handling the Florida operation. In 2010 the company was renamed “Wish Farms” with a mascot of “Misty the Garden Pixie” and by 2014 they decided to focus exclusively on berries.
It’s always so exciting to see all the work, planning and ongoing activities that go into getting our food to the supermarket. Time is of the essence. As Nick told us, as soon as we picked them, “the berries basically die.” They must be handled quickly and correctly in order to maintain a longer life. They go from the field to warehouse coolers before being packaged and then shipped to grocery stores.
Wish Farms is now receiving berries for packing and processing cultivators throughout Florida as well as some farms from North Carolina, Chile, Mexico and California.
Less waste and sustainability
I have visited dozens of agricultural and livestock operations over the past decade. All multi-generational farms across the US are working towards sustainability. Otherwise, it wouldn’t still be up and running for the 3rd, 4th, or 5th generation. They are always they are looking for ways to be more sustainable and reduce waste. Wish farms is no different in their efforts to combat climate change. They are constantly looking for ways to reduce plastic and food waste and adopt other sustainable practices. For example, they created a secondary market for strawberries by producing, processing and selling processed strawberries. These berries are sold for frozen goods or other ingredient needs. This helps farmers sell berries and prevent food waste! (Fun fact – the strawberries are picked AND packed in the shell container you buy, right in the field).
Wish Farms headquarters also uses a solar power system that has 2100 panels with an annual output of 1.6 gigiwatts.
New varieties of berries
You may have already tried the Pineberry. The pine cones were developed through natural breeding techniques at the University of Florida. They are strawberry shaped and have a slightly different flavor profile. Some describe some hints of pineapple or apricot.
Zero waste reminder
Proper food Save helps preserve the shelf life of foods. Place the berries in the refrigerator, then wash them when you’re ready to eat them. You can also wash, dry and freeze for up to a year (and use it in smoothies, pancakes or pies).
