What Flavor?

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I am continuously amazed at what happens when kids eat grapes at our grocery store demonstrations. We wash red grapes to show off what truly clean grapes can taste like and kids respond.
Of course, most kids love grapes and for certain, kids are “unfiltered”. By that I mean they will tell you straight up if they like what they have just tasted, if they don’t, they will tell you that as well, sometimes to the chagrin of their parents.
I have yet to have any child or group of children do anything but give me the thumbs up on the taste of these grapes. Some even escape their parents’ watchful eye to come back for more!
So, what happens to us as our age increases? Every day we are bombarded with media messages on how we should think or act. Over time we slowly begin to behave differently, irrespective of how we may desire to behave. Filtered behavior! Myths exist in the produce world just like anywhere else. Labels that say “ready to eat” on the triple washed lettuce or the infamous “if it’s organic it doesn’t need to be washed”.
I, personally, want a high degree of certainty that my produce is clean. In order for me to have that knowledge I need to see or do the washing myself. A few years ago, I purchased produce washes from other companies and experienced what most have experienced. Either you couldn’t taste any difference or what you could taste was chemical like. I developed my Earth’s Natural Fruit and Vegetable wash on the urging of friends and co-workers, they too were fed up.
My wash is a plant based, no residue, wash solution. It leaves behind only the true taste of the produce, and it removes all of the “stuff” that may be on the surface of your produce. The key to believing this however is that you need to be like a kid, just for a moment. Forget about what you have been told, or what you may have experienced. Taste a grape that has been washed with my wash, savor it in your mouth, allow your taste buds a chance to come alive once more. Now go back and try a grape that hasn’t been washed, or one that has been washed using your favorite wash or washing process. I know you will taste the difference. If it is still a subtle change, you haven’t rekindled that inner child in you. If the flavor bursts at you, then congratulations, for a moment you have become unfiltered and can now speak to the true experience.
Look at our event calendar on Facebook, come taste grapes that are truly clean and become a kid again, even if it is for just a moment!
If you have questions or examples of how my Fruit and Vegetable wash has worked for you please post on my Life’s Pure Balance Facebook account.
When your produce is truly clean, it will taste better, raw or cooked doesn’t matter. The flavor will be cleaner, crispier and tastier!
 
#cleanercrispiertastier                     fruitandveggiewash.com

I can't get these apples clean!

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Back row has been cleaned, front row is still very waxy!


Have you ever had this happen to you… or perhaps one of your kids took a bite out of an apple, promptly saying this apple doesn’t taste good then throwing it away before you have a chance to do anything?
I recently received an email from one of my customers saying, “I buy a smaller apple called rockets and they have a wax over them I have noticed that no matter how long I soak them I can’t get all this wax off, any suggestions?” You can only imagine my interest level and concern as I read their note. You see, I love solving problems… yet I’m concerned that my wash might not be working as advertised.
Further conversation revealed the following, my customer writes: “I have never had a problem with the wash getting the wax off but was unsure if I could use it directly on the fruit. I do love love love this wash as all the others I have used leaves a gross after taste!”
With this new knowledge, I offered the following… “Put a squirt or two directly on the apple then rub it in your hands… I personally had an apple yesterday that took 30 seconds or so of this kind of action to get it clean… when you do this you can feel the wax disappear”.
This phenomenon is quite common when dealing with fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers or apples, often times the wax is thicker or harder than normal and takes some extra effort to get it removed.
What I failed to mention to my customer is that the surface of the apple will go from being sticky to kind of slimy to almost squeaky. One of my product demonstrators encourages people to lick the apple before they clean it, then once again after it’s been washed, saying that you can really tell the difference. I’ve done this and he is right!
So just in case you didn’t realize it, you can use the wash undiluted on your fruits or vegetables. You can hand wash zucchini, apples, cucumbers or watermelon etc. When you do, notice the change in how the surface feels!
If you have questions or examples of how my Fruit and Vegetable wash has worked for you please post on my Life’s Pure Balance Facebook page.
When your produce is truly clean, it will taste better, raw or cooked doesn’t matter. The flavor will be cleaner, crispier and tastier!
Go to   fruitandveggiewash.com for additional product information. 
#cleanercrispiertastier          

I’m spoiled, these grapes have no flavor!

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One of my customers snapped a picture of their plate at a recent event they attended and sent it to me with the heading “I’m spoiled, these grapes have no flavor!”

Why would they do this?
I know… and if you use my fruit and vegetable wash, you know as well. It’s entirely possible that you have experienced the same phenomena. Great looking grapes or strawberries that have absolutely no flavor or they just taste funky. You taste one, then carefully and quietly leave the rest on your plate, maybe even covering them up with your napkin.
Today, our fruits and vegetables come from many sources, some close, some far away… to be certain it’s safe to eat you need to wash every fruit or vegetable that you eat, regardless of its source. Contaminants could be bio-film from the environment or pesticides that are designed to kill bugs and bacteria, or an anti-bacterial wash residue that is left over from the sanitizing treatment, such as “triple washed lettuce”. The problem is, most washes leave a flavor behind that is not a natural flavor of the produce being washed. These contaminates will ruin the flavor of your produce and may ruin your digestion process.
When asked why they don’t wash their produce, most people say, “what’s the point, I taste something funny now, I use one of THOSE washes and I still taste something funny. I can’t tell if it’s clean or not,” causing people to be resigned to eating tasteless fruits and vegetables.
If you are one of my customers you know that it’s now possible to have delicious tasting produce all of the time, with an inexpensive, simple process using Earth’s Natural Fruit and Vegetable wash. Your produce will be squeaky clean. Squeaky clean produce tastes the best… CLEANER CRISPIER TASTIER!
Here’s how you can help me… it’s the holiday season, there are going to be plenty of events and get togethers where fruits and vegetables are being served. If you are at an event and find the fruits or vegetables not tasting up to par, send me a text (651-261-0251) or an email ([email protected]) with a picture. Tell me the name of the event, the caterer along with any other data that might help me make a connection to the food prep people.
I will in turn work to help those catering companies, event centers or restaurants learn how to serve cleaner, crispier, tastier fruits and vegetables!!!

#cleanercrispiertastier

Wellness Renaissance Podcast Featuring Green Gene!

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Gene was recently in Duluth, MN for a Fruit & Veggie Washing Demo and he sat down with Judy Breuer of Wellness Renaissance to talk about what led him to create his unique Fruit & Veggie wash. They also talk about what is on our food and why washing our produce is so important.

Judy Breuer, is the host of Wellness Renaissance podcast that dives into all sorts of health topics and the people who make them come alive. She graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, with a B.A.Sc. in Community Health/Public Health Education and Promotion.

She is a health coach, offers food sensitivity consulting and education, and much more. Check out her website www.wellnessren.com  for more info.

The earth is flat! What? Wait a minute!

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The earth is flat was a common misconception in the Middle Ages. Many scholars believed this to be false, yet individuals like Galileo were punished when he went public with his demonstrations to the contrary. News Flash: Fake news was in existence even in the Middle Ages!
So, you might ask why am I writing about misconceptions or might I suggest MYTHS. It’s because this issue plays out every day in the grocery store, especially when we are doing product demonstrations. Our original market studies identified three “MYTHS” about washing your fruits and vegetables. People would consistently say one of the following

  1. “None of that stuff works, it’s just a waste of money.”
  2. “That stuff just puts more chemicals on my produce.”
  3. “I wash mine with plain water and it is just as clean.”

So, we wash grapes in grocery stores using our Fruit and Vegetable Wash to demonstrate product performance. People stop, eat, comment, and buy. A common conversation goes like this:
Customer: “WOW, these grapes are really good, what kind are they? I think I will get some.”
Demonstrator will quickly say: “The reason these grapes taste so good is because they have been washed with Earth’s Natural Fruit and Vegetable wash. You see they are really, really clean! If you want grapes to taste this good at home you need to take this wash home with you.”
I want you to imagine the look and reactions we receive. Is this what Galileo experienced?
In the end it’s all good, we are challenging a norm that has been in place a long time. Our MYTH BUSTER program is designed to help potential customers try our product risk free. We guarantee that our wash, when compared to any other washing method, will leave your produce cleaner, crispier and tastier. If we don’t we will give you a full refund. It’s a way to cut through all of marketing and sales information and test the product yourself. We can do this because we have laboratory and customer field test data that backs up our program.
So here’s my ask.
Join our Myth Buster program. Try our product. Compare the results. We feel confident in saying that your produce will taste better than any other method of washing produce!

#cleanercrispertastier

 

Upcoming Myth Buster Demos:

Monday, October 15th, 11-1 New Hope Hy-Vee   www.facebook.com/events/294849731242283/
Friday, October 19th, 11-1 Brooklyn Park Hy-Vee   www.facebook.com/events/363442040865635/
Saturday, October 20th, 10-12pm Lakeville Hy-Vee   www.facebook.com/events/292326071590836/
Sunday, October 21st, 10-12pm Eagan Hy-Vee   www.facebook.com/events/327124207836597/
Wednesday, October 24th, 10-12pm Robbinsdale Hy-Vee   www.facebook.com/events/1837536476361006/
Saturday, October 27th, 10-12pm Brooklyn Park Hy-Vee   www.facebook.com/events/2319866244752747/
Sunday, October 28th, 10-12pm New Hope Hy-Vee   www.facebook.com/events/271385156827122/

Meet Green Gene in person!!!

October 16th 6-7:30pm at The Fruit & Veggie Event, Hosted by Wellness Renaissance and Regus Duluth www.facebook.com/events/1092160380943227/
October 18th, 3:30-5:30pm Association of Nutrition & Foodservice – 2018 MN Fall Conference: www.anfponline.org/events-community/chapters/chapter-pages/minnesota/home

Recipe for washing fruits and vegetables

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Earth’s Natural Fruit and Vegetable wash cleans bio films, dirt, wax, pesticides, pathogens and anti-microbial wash residues off the surface of your produce, using a process that does not damage even the tenderest produce, leaving it clean and refreshingly tasty. It should be the FIRST thing you do prior to eating or cooking your produce.

Makes 1 bowl / 1 gallon of wash water

1 medium sized bowl – the typical popcorn bowl works great
1 – 8 or 16 oz bottle of Earth’s Natural Fruit and Vegetable wash
1 gallon (approximately) Tap water – can be from your faucet or water from store
Small brush – for scrubbing root vegetables like potatoes / carrots / beets
Measuring spoon if using 8 oz bottle
Shake wash concentrate prior to using

  1. Place 1 tsp wash solution into mixing bowl, if using 8 oz bottle
  2. Place 2 pumps of solution into mixing bowl if using 16 oz bottle, making sure the pump is primed 1st
  3. Put water into bowl, fill to level that will cover your produce
  4. Place produce into bowl, making sure it is submersed
  5. Leave produce in wash water for a minimum of 2 minutes, can sit in wash water up to several hours, not to exceed 8 hours
  6. Drain wash water
  7. Fill bowl with clean water, making sure produce is thoroughly rinsed
  8. Drain rinse water
  9. Use salad spinner if washing loose leaf produce like spinach or lettuce

Your produce is ready to eat!
*** Notes

  1. Effective washing requires you to wash and rinse, just like your laundry
  2. If you have hard water it will require a bit more wash solution
  3. This is a “no residue” wash solution, meaning regardless of how much concentrate you use, rinsing the produce will remove it!

Watch our video on our YouTube channel ..

Shop now at fruitandveggiewash.com                                               #cleanercrispiertastier

Testing the Myth. Compare for Yourself!

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Every 16 oz bottle of Earth’s Natural Fruit and Vegetable Wash has a copy of our myth buster test on the label.
We placed this information on the label because we realized that when it comes to washing your fruits and vegetables we realized several things:
1st People do not believe in washing … they’ve tried it before and couldn’t tell any difference
2nd Washing with water is good enough .. so say hundreds of potential customers
This told us one very important fact … most of us are skeptical when faced with a claim that sounds too good to be true … people want it to work, but have been disappointed soooo many times.
Our guarantee was created to help answer this skepticism. Along with the Myth Buster Test we initiated a money-back guarantee …
It is my firm belief that any and all forms of produce that is washed with my produce wash will be cleaner and taste better than the same produce washed using your current method, whatever it is!

CLEANER …. CRISPIER …. TASTIER ….

Shop now at fruitandveggiewash.com

A small gallery

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To Avoid Food-borne Illness, Wash Your Vegetables and Fruits

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Blog_07162014_5767011_sIt’s midsummer in Minnesota, and despite the weather roller-coaster we’ve been riding, seasonal fruits and vegetables are ripe for the picking. Those of us with gardens are seeing tomatoes plump up and cucumbers and zucchini ripen overnight. Grocery store shoppers are enjoying fresher, more local produce, too. Before you sink your teeth into your favorite summertime fruit or veggie, take a moment to consider your safety. Whether you’re pulling your snack out of the ground or plucking it from a store shelf, all produce has been exposed to soil and water that may carry contaminants. If you’re buying from a store, your produce has been handled by many people and transported by truck or rail to your shopping cart. Hundreds of food products have been recalled by the FDA since the beginning of the year, including many fresh produce foods. The harmful bacteria salmonella and listeria monocytogenes are the primary offenders. How Do You Avoid Illness? Wash, Wash, Wash! To avoid getting sick from your favorite fruits and veggies, you need to get out the soap and water. Here are some tips for washing your produce.

  • Only wash produce when you’re ready to eat or cook it. Washing it before you store it may actually increase bacterial growth.
  • Wash your hands with warm soap and water before you wash your produce. You do not want to transfer germs on your hands to your food.
  • Clean your tools, including knives, cutting boards, and countertops, to avoid germ transfer.
  • Wash away bacteria. But bleach and dish detergents are no-no’s because produce can absorb the chemicals. I recommend washing your fruits and veggies with an organic, plant-based rinse.
  • Rub or soak vegetables to wash away bacteria. Firm fruits such as melons can be scrubbed with a brush.
  • Dry produce with a paper towel or clean cloth. This can also remove bacteria.
  • Trim outermost leaves of cabbage or head lettuce.

Produce-Specific Tips Some fruits and vegetables require extra care. Use these tips to make sure you’re washing your produce properly.

  • Soft fruits such as peaches and plums: Wash under running water and dry.
  • Firm produce such as apples and cucumbers: Wash well to remove any waxy preservative. Peeling is also an option.
  • Leafy greens:Discard outer leaves and soak the individual remaining leaves in water before rinsing them under the tap. Some people use vinegar on greens, but that will change the veggie’s taste and texture.
  • Grapes, cherries, and berries:Don’t wash these fruits until you eat or use them. Before you store them, get rid of any moldy or spoiled fruit. Wash under running water when ready to eat.

Summer is the time when many of us relish the tasty juiciness of fresh produce. Washing your fruits and vegetables will ensure that you’re safe while doing so. To learn more about keeping produce safe and healthy, contact me!
Here’s to breathing easy and living life to the fullest!
Gene Wood, Life’s Pure Balance

Washing your fruits & veggies, WHY & HOW!

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Toxic chemicals are on your Produce!
Thanks to improvements in farming, shipping and distribution, shoppers today enjoy a wider selection of fresh produce than ever before. However, pesticide residue on some fruits and vegetables can be a cause for concern. In fact, fruits and vegetables on the ‘highest levels’ list contain 47 to 67 pesticides per serving.
 Most countries monitor residual levels of pesticides in produce, and establish legal limits for the safety of consumers. In some cases, however, these residual levels may be toxic for children, pregnant women and even pets. The US FDA maintains that consuming pesticides in low amounts is harmless, but some studies show an association between pesticides and health problems such as cancer, attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and nervous system disorders and say exposure could weaken immune systems.
 A study by Consumers Union, the publishers of Consumer Reports magazine, examines and rates the residual levels of pesticides on many common fruits and vegetables. A report by the Environmental Working Group, using data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has found that much of the health risks associated with pesticides are concentrated in a relatively small number of fruits and vegetables.
The good news … Wash all of your fruits and vegetables … !!! When asked, most consumers tell me I wash with water.  That isn’t good enough! The simple answer is you must use a detergent based cleaner to cut the chemicals, effectively removing them from the surface of your food. While there are many products on the market I advocate using a natural based dish washing solution. The difference will astound you. Complex issues, simple solutions!
To see how a professional cook and shopper washes her produce watch this short video by Stacy Klone of Kitchen Werks. Good advice from a proven source!
p.s. If you get frustrated reading labels or don’t know where to find high quality, low cost natural based cleaning products, call Gene @ 651.261.0251 to talk about what Paco uses and approves.