And with the snap of your fingers, April is here. Just standing on the doorstep of some warm weather, sunshine, and of course, windy afternoons. So let’s look at what this spring has in store for us and at a few new partners we added in March.

Oh the first week of March. What a time. There always seems to be such a strong sense of optimism in the air at the beginning of March. I am sure it is just the promise of spring, but it means a lot more than that to me.

Asparagus. Lovingly referred to in the produce world as “grass.” Although I do not recall seeing any college kid walking around wearing a “Legalize Asparagus” T-shirt. Maybe we should start that fashion line?? Anyway…asparagus gets its nickname because it grows like a grass. Tender spears will emerge from the dormant soil and before they get too tall (and woody) the farmer cuts them off just below the soil.

OK, so I have to tell you that the best way that I have found to find direction in our business is by listening to our members. I know that Steve Jobs was famous for thinking that you have to “out-think” your customers, but I find it a lot easier to just listen to you. With that preface, let’s jump into a change that we will be implementing here moving forward.

There are a lot of things shaking around here these days so let me take a few moments and bring some of them to your attention. First to the plate this week, cardboard boxes. Talking about cardboard is not all that sexy so we will get it over with first. Our office manager, Victoria, talks with so many of our members. Daily, she hears your feedback and thoughts to make us a better part of your lives. So she came to me and said that our current cooler system is actually a disincentive for folks wanting to place larger orders.

Some insane mandarins just hit our door. Wow. Perfect acid sweet combination. Look for them in the boxes this week.

Every year the first week of January kind of feels like I am a teacher welcoming students back to class after a month break. December is a time for parties, posole, and pies and leaves little room (or excitement) for produce. But have no fear because the time for resolutions is here. And just as folks forgot about the poor chard leaf during the holidays, salads and greens are on the front burner of attention now. So after 17 years of watching the healthy trends in January, let me share a few things that I have learned watching the gentle glow of optimism turn into the iron fist of reality.

I know I am not the only one who feels like it is crazy to be writing 2018 on something. Where the heck did 2017 go? And why was it such an insane year? I caught myself so many times throughout 2017 asking why our world seemed so chaotic? It was a year with much more protests than peace. I know that we need some fiery years in our society to catalyze change, but let me be the first to say that I hope 2018 is a little more tranquil and a little less fire. I am ready to start drinking from a more optimistic half-full glass of cider this new year.

Regional food update. Thanksgiving always marks the beginning of the harvest season for our growers in Arizona. Citrus trees start to ripen as the cooler nights help increase sugar production of the fruit. Warm days and cool nights are a perfect recipe for growing greens, broccoli, and cauliflower. Among others. So although I am wearing a toasty winter jacket, Arizona growers are just coming into their peak season right now. Our network of Arizona growers is a pretty unique situation that allows us to bring you some incredible produce, at a great value, and within 400 miles of your front door during the coldest part of winter. Let’s look at this a bit.

The Scapegoat. We all know the story; find something that is seemingly unrelated to the problem and then blame everything on them. I mean pile it deep. The more absurd the accusations the more believable they are. I mean take the humble cow for example; Ole Bessie has been blamed for everything from deforestation to heart attacks to ruining the ozone.