Tenley Allen Archives | FreshDirect Blog

FreshDirect Joins Jamie Oliver’s National Food Revolution Day

May 16, 2013 by Tenley Allen

FreshDirect Stands Up for Real Food and Better Food Education, Donates a Portion of Weekly Sales to Oliver’s Cause

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY–(Marketwired – May 16, 2013) – FreshDirect, the leading online retailer of fresh foods and grocery items, announced today that the company will lend its support to Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Day, taking place worldwide on Friday, May 17, 2013. Food Revolution Day is based on a national movement to change the way America eats. Through Food Revolution Day, Oliver is bringing together millions of people to inspire the nation to fight obesity with better food. At the core of Food Revolution Day is a powerful strategy to get people cooking again, whether it be in their schools, homes, workplaces or communities.

As a sign of support for Food Revolution Day, FreshDirect is donating a percentage of their May 14, 2013 weekly sales to the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation. FreshDirect is also promoting the cause on its website through banner ads and a fresh produce picks list that encourages customers to choose fresh, healthy foods. Additionally, FreshDirect is hosting an employee potluck lunch where employees can share their love of food, cooking skills and food knowledge….

Exploring Our Specialty Citrus

January 4, 2013 by Tenley Allen

A basket of citrus!

Calamondin! Gesundheit! No, no! Calamondin, a cross between a kumquat and a sour mandarin, is just one of the many specialty citrus products that FreshDirect offers. Many of our customers know that we sell carrots and apples and cucumbers—but many may not know about our extensive specialty produce selection. And right now, it’s citrus season!

In addition to calamondin, which is often used for its high acid content in cooking, we sell kumquats, etrog, pink lemons and finger limes! Kumquats? Etrog? FINGER LIMES? Yes—these are all real items and proudly featured at the top of the citrus category!

With a sweet peel and tart flesh, the kumquat is the inverse of a mini-orange. What’s more, you can pop these little gems like candy for easy eating!

Etrog, a lemon-like fruit originating from Israel, is still an important component of the Jewish holiday Sukkot. It has a thick rind and very little flesh. Because of its hardy skin, those familiar with the fruit use the rind to make jams and candies.

Finger limes… What?! Originating in Australia and very new to the produce scene, finger limes are making a splash in cocktails, seafood dishes and salads. The tiny pearls are grown by the Shanley Family in Morro Bay, California. I recommend using finger limes to adorn your fish tacos, using them whenever you would use a lemon or lime as a garnish, and sprinkling them in your favorite citrus-friendly cocktail.

FreshDirect offers many perks to its customer—quality products, great prices and convenience—but we also offer off-the-beaten paths products that are just waiting for your trial. I encourage you to step out of your foodie box and give one of these delicious, specialty citrus varieties a try. Join me in my New Year’s resolution: make 2013 taste better!

Have you tried any of our specialty citrus? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

It’s Local Apple Time!

September 21, 2012 by Tenley Allen

Red Jacket Orchards

I am elated that it is finally fall in New York City! Cool weather, fall foliage, pumpkin-everything and, last but certainly not least, APPLES!

As someone that is very personally linked to the apple industry, I am always itching with anticipation for the first shipment of local New York State apples to hit the FreshDirect loading dock.

This year, apples are in especially high demand due to their limited quantity. Unbeknown to many apple consumers, the crop this year faced unfavorable weather conditions. This spring, March and April reversed their typical weather conditions. …

It’s a Farmer’s Life for Them!

August 20, 2012 by Tenley Allen

Wells Homestead Acres

“Farmers eat a lot of their own food,” declared Tom Wickham of Wickham’s Farm in Cutchogue, New York. “We grow what we like to eat, so you know it’s going to be good.”

This sentiment is shared by all of the local Long Island farmers with which FreshDirect partners. The products are grown to spec for all to enjoy.

When asked what the inspiration is for the crops he grows, Lyle Wells (Wells Homestead Acres) responded with, “We give ‘em what they want. That’s why we grow sugar snap peas and asparagus. If we could grow bananas, we would grow bananas.”…

We Know Local!

May 25, 2012 by Tenley Allen

Local red lettuce is one of the many seasonal produce we sell in the store!

It’s local season at FreshDirect, which means we are directing all of our efforts to sourcing and promoting the freshest, best-tasting local produce for your eating pleasure.

From early May to mid-October, Eric Stone, our produce category manager, and I make frequent trips to the North Fork of Long Island, the Hudson Valley and south central New Jersey to check in on the crops’ progress and visit with our farmers. We take pride in our relationship with our farmers and work very closely with them to ensure that we receive the cream of the crop, and in return we offer fair prices and visibility for their fresh products.

There are a few new and exciting things happening in the local department this year! For starters, we’ve sourced a number of our commodity items from New Jersey under the Jersey Fresh umbrella. Produce from New Jersey does not receive the Jersey Fresh stamp of approval unless it meets the “quality standard for the size, shape and coloring of that commodity.” Be sure to check out McGregor’s Microgreens micro arugula and Cassaday Farms strawberries, both great examples of vendors that exemplify Jersey Fresh quality standards….

New Sustainability Ratings and Greener Products at FreshDirect

April 18, 2012 by Tenley Allen

Local vendor Gotham Greens grows everything in their sustainable rooftop greenhouse.

In a city full of sky scrapers, concrete and congestion, it’s sometimes hard to remember that there’s a whole world outside our 8-million-strong microcosm. But we know our actions have a ripple effect and that even taking that split-second to put a plastic bottle into the nearest recycling bin can make a big impact.

Admittedly, there’s a lot more that we can do, but we have made vast improvements in our site, service, and product selection to help our customers buy greener, eco-friendlier products. From environmentally-safe household products to local and organic produce, we’re happy to be able to provide you with more choices for your family….

Visit the Blueberry Fields with our Produce Team!

April 16, 2012 by Tenley Allen

Our Produce team was in California, checking out our new Family Tree Farms blueberries.

Tenley Allen is one of our produce merchants. She has the best job – finding the best fruits and vegetables for our customers! She’s currently really excited about the new blueberries that just came into the store. Recently, our produce team was in California visiting the farms from where we source to ensure we provide you with the very best berries available!

They’re bite-sized. They’re blue. They’re full of antioxidants and Vitamin C. What are they!? They’re blueberries! And not just any blueberries—we’re excited to announce the launch of Family Tree Farms blueberries grown in the Central Valley of sunny California.

Last year, when our team went to check out farms, we found this amazing supplier: Family Tree Farms. This farm really is a family business – they’ve been growing, packing, and shipping fruit for seven generations! So this year, we made sure to visit Family Tree Farms again to bring back the best blueberries for our customers….