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Produce Show Daily 9 Saturday, October 15, 2016 THE SWEET FACTS, PLEASE By Suzanne Nelson, ScD, RD, Sports Nutritionist. We've all heard the recommendation, "Eat more fruits and vegetables." But lately, there seems to be some confusion. People are asking "Is fruit really healthy for you? Doesn't it have a lot of sugar?" Some have concluded that because added sugars are unhealthy, that the same must apply to fruit. We need to put this into the right context. Fruit contains a natural sugar called fructose, not to be confused with fruc- tose-based sweeteners that are found in processed foods. Unlike sucrose, or table sugar, fructose does not cause abrupt changes in blood sugar levels. This is because your body digests fructose more slowly than sucrose. Raisins naturally contain about equal amounts of fructose and glucose, and only a minimal amount of sucrose. Sun-Maid raisins have no added sugar. Because raisins do not cause a very rapid spike in blood sugar as more processed carbohydrate containing foods (raisins have a low glycemic index), raisins, as other fruit, are a healthy choice not only for the general population, but also for individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance. Dried fruit like raisins are low in sodium and have zero fat or cholesterol. One small box (1.5 ounces or ¼ cup) of Sun-Maid raisins has 130 calories, 31gm of sugar (as fructose and glucose), potas- sium, phytochemicals, iron, boron, cop- per and manganese. Compare that to a 20-ounce bottle of soda that has about 225 calories, 60 grams of added sugar, usually in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, and zero nutritional value. While there is evi- dence that high amounts of added sugar and processed foods do not have a place in a healthy diet, the same cannot be said for fruit. Including dried fruit in your diet is an easy way to meet your daily goal. For women, that translates into at least 1.5 cups of fruit daily, and for men that equals 2 cups. (For more information, go to www.choosemyplate.gov). What counts as a cup of fruit? One serving equals 1 cup of fruit or 100 percent fruit juice, or 1/4 cup of dried fruit. Because fruits come in a variety of shapes and sizes, serving size varies depending on the particular fruit. Check out individual fruit serving sizes at www.choosemy- plate.gov/printpages/MyPlateFoodGroup s/Fruits/food-groups.fruits- counts.pdf. Generally, one serving size of whole fruit = one tennis ball, and one serv- ing size of cut fruit = seven cotton balls. You can enjoy raisins as a snack or with meals. Make your own trail mix by combining raisins with almonds, walnuts and pistachios for a portable snack. For a more nutritious breakfast, try topping oatmeal or whole- grain cereal with raisins instead of sugar. Enjoy a mixed green salad with raisins for lunch – you will be adding flavor and fiber without the fat. At dinner, top grilled chicken breast with a dollop of raisin paste instead of gravy, or sprinkle raisins on veggies. By doing so, you can easily add a naturally sweet serving of fruit along with a nutrient punch. For more information, visit booth #3801. SAN ANTONIO HAS A NEW WHOLESALE PRODUCE HUB The city of San Antonio, Texas is boom- ing, and the new San Antonio Wholesale Produce Market is well positioned to make the most of the produce industry's next likely hotspot. San Antonio serves as a perfect regional hub for the distribution of fresh produce to all over Texas and the central east United States due to its geographic location in relation to Mexico, where most produce imports come from, as well as its highway connectivity that facili- tates the consolidation and distribution of northbound and southbound cargo. San Antonio finds itself the 7th largest growing city in the U.S. Despite being a neighbor to Austin and Houston, San Antonio has a vastly underserved metropolitan market, with demand for fresh produce fueled by the hospitality industry and food-related businesses that serve the more than 26 million tourists the city receives each year. The new San Antonio Wholesale Produce Market allows pro- duce importers, wholesalers and merchants to be closer to the biggest consumer markets in Texas besides San Antonio, such as Houston, Austin and Dallas. Additionally, and dif- ferent from the current biggest produce hubs that are McAllen, Texas and Nogales, Arizona, produce imports from Mexico can reach San Antonio through a variety of ports of entry such as McAllen-Pharr, Laredo, Eagle Pass and even El Paso, Texas. As highway infra- structure improves in Mexico, connectiv- ity of main produce production regions with these ports of entry in Texas increase. The new San Antonio Wholesale Produce Market is strategically located right on South East Loop 410 that connects all of the city and provides easy access to Interstate 10 to get to Houston, Interstate 35 coming from Laredo, passing through Austin and Dallas all the way to Canada, and Interstate 37 coming from McAllen- Pharr and Corpus Christi. To learn more about leasing opportuni- ties, visit booth #2228, contact Luz Moreno at 210.865.0683 or go to www.sawpm.com/en. MICROGREENS, EDIBLE FLOWERS FROM BRIGHTFRESH BrightFresh ® MicroGreens offers the finest microgreens and edible flowers available. Its ideal growing climate allows it to produce MicroGreens that are robust, healthy, highly flavored and long lasting. Combining the benefits of great weather with a deep passion for quality and inno- vation, BrightFresh MicroGreens has become a No. 1 source of microgreens and edible flowers for consumers today. BrightFresh MicroGreens allow you to customize any dish. Brighten up your culinary creations! Add fresh flavors and visual appeal to your entrées and even desserts with delicious MicroGreens. They are Honestly Grown™ in bright natural sunshine, not factory-farmed with unnatural artificial lighting inside of a warehouse. BrightFresh MicroGreens have the best taste, they are easy to use and come in a convenient resealable con- tainer. The company is pleased to offer home cooks its latest item: Garlic Flowers. These vibrant beauties are full of bold fresh garlic flavor. They are a great way to add a stun- ning fresh look and impart a wonderful taste to almost any dish, from salads and soup to pasta, steak, seafood, etc. They are blooming in great abundance in the greenhouses and are ready for immediate distribution. Primarily used by fine-dining restaurant chefs, the company is pleased to make them available for home cooks as well. BrightFresh is what happens when nature does its best work. Just like location and grow- ing conditions matter in producing fine wine, it also matters in growing micro- greens. In sunny San Diego, BrightFresh MicroGreens and Edible Flowers soak up nature's best rays. The perfect climate combined with the experience learned in 20 years of growing microgreens means BrightFresh MicroGreens are the gold standard of quality. For more information, visit booth #2661 or go to www.brightfresh.com. RCS PROVIDES TURNKEY SOLUTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION, REFRIGERATION ENVIRONMENTS RCS Company of Tampa (Refrigerated Construction Services) was founded in 1996. The company's specialty is provid- ing cold storage construction, along with 24/7 service for refrigerated environ- ments in a variety of industries from agri- culture to food distributors, pharmaceuti- cal, commercial and industrial refrigera- tion arenas. RCS is committed to its clients' needs. The company is passionate about developing enduring relationships with clients. Extensive refrigeration experi- ence and turnkey construction capability offers clients the convenience of working with one contractor. The company has an in-house ability to conceptualize, design, construct and maintain refrigerated envi- ronments. Being a turnkey operation improves coordination of delivery, instal- lation and maintenance management, saving clients time and money. Its expert- ise in refrigeration strengthens construc- tion capabilities, thereby providing sup- port from the conceptual stage through building and installation of a client's needs. In this way, all aspects of the con- struction are properly planned and given due consideration. RCS' services include pre-engi- neered building con- struction, industrial mechanical equipment, Freon and ammonia systems, 24/7 service and repair of all types of commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment, con- ventional structural steel design, rack- supported building design and construc- tion, freezer floor design and floor warm- ing systems, state-of-the-art control expertise and repair and installation of cooler and freezer doors. By designing efficient refrigeration systems for product flow, RCS is able to create a more productive and profitable work environment for its clients. RCS is equipped and capable of servicing all facility and equipment needs, including HVAC, ice machines, Freon, CO2, Glycol and ammonia refrig- eration systems, preven- tive maintenance service agreements, general building repair and insu- lated cold storage door repair and replacement. As a cold storage contractor, RCS Company of Tampa is known as the best resource for indus- trial refrigeration systems with new cooling technology at the helm. The team at RCS is always up to date regarding changes in the refrigeration field. With its wide-ranging experience as a turnkey construction company, RCS offers specific, convenient, capa- ble and exceptional solutions for all your projects. Visit RCS at booth #1513. For more information, go to www.rcs-tampa.com or call 813.917.0190.