Eat More Raw Food - March Is National Nutrition Month

Did you know that, on average, food travels about 1,300 miles from farm to plate? Or that almost every U.S. state obtains about 90% of their food from outside their own state? Food begins to lose vitamins and nutrients as soon as it is harvested. Thus, eating locally produced food is best for maximizing food's nutrional impact.

Obtain your fruits and vegetables from local farmers markets or grow your own. Purchase food in bulk and use a food dehydrator to dry and preserve food that would otherwise spoil. Easy steps like these will increase your nutrional intake, support local farming and improve the environment by cutting down on food transportation. Wins all around!

March Is National Nutrition Month

March is national nutrition month. Incorporate more raw foods into your diet as a means of improving your overall diet and health.

A raw food diet focuses on increasing the consumption of raw foods. Raw foods are eaten in their natural, unprocessed and uncooked state. This maximizes the amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients consumed. Raw foodists, or people practicing a full raw food diet, get 75% to 100% of their overall food consumption from raw foods.

Cooking foods can decrease their vitamin and mineral content by up to 70% to 80%. Instead use a food dehydrator to beneficially warm foods without heating them too much and destroying nutrients.

Don't want to commit to a full raw food diet? No problem, any increase in raw food intake is worthwhile and good for your overall health.

February Is National Fiber Month - Eat Dried Fruit

February is national focus on fiber month. Dried fruit contains large amounts of concentrated fiber. Because a food dehydrator removes water from fruit and lowers its weight, a half ounce of dried fruit will have substantially more fiber than a half ounce of fresh fruit. Fiber helps lower cholesterol, promote regularity, makes you feel fuller longer and regulates blood sugar. Use a dehydrator to make dried fruit and eat more fiber.

Cherry & Plum Fruit Leather - February Is Cherry Month

Make some cherry fruit leather to celebrate national cherry month.

Ingredients - 1.5 cups of plums and 1 cup of cherries. Puree the fruit.
Dehydrate - Spread the pureed fruit out to a 1/4 inch thickness on a non-stick drying sheet or parchment paper. Dry in a food dehydratorat 130 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 9 hours. You can flip the leather over half way through.

When completely dry, the fruit leather should be firm and flexible with no moist spots. Enjoy!

February Is National Cherry Month

February is national cherry month. Why celebrate cherries? Cherries contain very healthy antioxidants. Antioxidants can counter damaged, unhealthy cells, called free radicals, that are associated with cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging. Scientific studies have consistently and repeatedly shown that consuming a high level of antioxidants lowers a person's risk for disease, helps the immune system, and can slow the aging process.

Cherries' vibrant red skin pigment and meat contains these antioxidants. In particular, cherries contain anthocyanins which has been linked to reducing cholesterol, inflammation and countering the aging process, among other benefits. Cherries have about the same level of antioxidants as blueberries, another fruit with a great disease fighting pedigree.

Cherries are an excellent fruit to dry with a food dehydrator. Dehydrate some cherries and use them year round in salads, cereal, yogurt, main dishes or enjoyed alone. Dry and eat cherries and improve your health.

Make Banana Chips - Banana Chip Recipe

How To Make Banana Chips

Banana chips are a simple, delicious treat to make. All you need are some ripe bananas and a small amount of lemon or lime juice. You'll want to use ripe bananas with some brown spots. Less ripe or greener bananas do not have the right amount of sweetness or moisture for making chips.

Simply cut the bananas into 1/4 inch thick pieces. Soak the banana pieces in a 1/4 cup of lemon or lime juice for 15 or 20 seconds. The lemon or lime juice will help prevent the banana chips from browning, after they are dried, and will add some vitamin C back to the bananas. Food drying tends to reduce a fruit's level of vitamin C.

Lay the chips on your food dehydrator's drying trays. You can layer the trays with parchment paper or non stick drying sheets. Dry for up to 8 to 10 hours. The banana chips should feel dry and leathery when done.

Nesco Food Dehydrators - Available At A Great Price

The prices of the Nesco FD-75 food dehydrator and Nesco FD-80 food dehydrator have been lowered again to $49 each.

Nesco has been making food dehydrators for over 30 years and their tagline is "The Best Food Dehydrators in the World". Most of Nesco's food dehydrators contain their patented Converga–Flow system which is designed to simultaneously force pressurized, heated air along the dehydrator’s interior walls and across the food trays of the food dehydrator.

Nesco's dehydrators are very popular and consistently receive good consumer reviews. A $49 price is a good deal on these well known dehydrators.

Whole Foods Market Now Offers Raw Foods Prepared With A Food Dehydrator

Whole Foods Market is the world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods, with stores all over North America and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods' sums up their approach to food as follows, "We search for the highest quality, least processed, most flavorful and natural foods possible because we believe that food in its purest state — unadulterated by artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings and preservatives — is the best tasting and most nutritious food there is."

Recently, Whole Foods started opening up raw food bars in some of their Californian stores. Whole Foods' raw foods are created by their chefs and then warmed in a food dehydrator prior to being sold and or consumed. Whole Foods' raw bars use 24, 9 tray dehydrators to warm their food.

Whole Foods is the preeminent natural and organic food retailer. Their stores are typically described as a foodies' paradise. Whole Foods knows and understand the value and efficiency of using a food dehydrator, to create great tasting raw food, do you?

National Apricot Day - January 9th

Apricots are a healthy fruit and a great source of beta carotene (an anti-oxidant), vitamin C, iron, potassium, and fiber. Just three apricots can provide 30% of the daily recommended amount of beta carotene. After eaten, an apricot's beta carotene is converted to Vitamin A . Vitamin A helps protect our eyes and keeps skin, hair, gums and various glands healthy. Further, studies have shown that Vitamin A helps fight infections by helping maintain strong immune systems.

Enjoy apricots raw or dry them for later enjoyment or use in recipes. Apricots are an easy fruit to dehydrate in a food dehydrator. Simply halve or quarter the fruit, remove the pit and place on the drying racks. Apricots are also an excellent fruit to use when making fruit leather. Celebrate National Apricot Day. Eat more apricots.

December 21 Is Kiwi Fruit Day - Dry Kiwis In A Food Dehydrator

How to dry kiwis in a food dehydrator:

• Peel the kiwis and cut them crosswise into slices about 1/4 inch thick.
• To prevent the kiwis from browning, during the drying process, dip the sliced kiwis in lemon or lime juice or ascorbic acid.
• Place the kiwis on the food dehydrator's drying racks and dry for 8 to 10 hours at 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
• When done, the slices should feel dry and leathery.

Kiwi is a great nutritional fruit. Kiwi is low in calories, high in energy and an excellent source of antioxidants. A kiwi can deliver:

• Vitamin C, Each serving of kiwi has nearly two and a half times the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.
• Practically no fat, kiwi has only .4 grams of fat per fruit serving.
• Fiber, two kiwi contain more fiber than a bowl of bran cereal.
• Potassium, a serving of kiwi has more potassium than a banana.
• Antioxidants, kiwi is an excellent source of antioxidants.

National Cocoa Day - December 12

December 12th is National Cocoa day. Cocoa is the dried seed of the cacao tree and is a main ingredient in chocolate. Chocolate is made by roasting cocoa seeds and then grinding and mixing the cocoa seed's insides with butter and sugar.

Cocoa and chocolate, especially dark chocolate, contain high levels of flavonoids which have been shown to have beneficial cardiovascular effects. In particular, some studies have found links between dark chocolate consumption and benefits in LDL cholesterol levels.

Celebrate National Cocoa day by making chocolate banana fruit leather in a food dehydrator:

- Puree 4 bananas, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
- Spread the pureed mixture on a fruit leather sheet, or on parchment paper, on a dehydrator's drying rack until it is about 1/4 inch thick throughout.
- Dry at 130 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 10 hours.
- Dry until no moisture is evident. You can flip the fruit leather over three quarters of the way through the drying process.

Nesco FD 80 Food Dehydrator Special Price

The Nesco FD 80 food dehydrator has been marked down to $49 at Amazon and Wal Mart.

The Nesco FD 80 is the newest dehydrator offered by Nesco and is the only Nesco product that has a square build. Many users prefer square trays, which are easier to use when dehydrating jerky or other longer items. The FD 80 unit is very comparable to Nesco's FD 75 with the primary difference being the square shape. The FD 80 carries a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Nesco FD 75 Food Dehydrator Special Price

The Nesco FD 75 food dehydrator has been marked down to $49.00 at Amazon.

The Nesco FD 75's product features include:

- 700 watts of drying power
- Uniform drying via the patented Converga Flow system
- The ability to expand the dehydrator from 5 to 12 trays
- An adjustable temperature control

Nesco is a well respected dehydrator brand and this Nesco model is one of the top rated sub $100 dehydrators on the market.

Fried Pork Rinds - The Versatile Food Dehydrator

Love those fried pork rinds? Have some pig skin laying around? Use your food dehydrator to dry out the skin and then fry them up. Food dehydrators are very versatile kitchen tools as evidenced by this recipe.

Eat A Cranberry Day - November 23rd

To get you ready for Thanksgiving, November 23rd is Eat A Cranberry Day. Cranberries are a healthy, beneficial fruit that contain bacteria blocking compounds. These compounds are believed to help prevent urinary tract infections, ulcers and gum disease. Per current research, drinking 10 ounces of cranberry juice, or eating 1 ounce of dried cranberries per day obtains cranberries' disease fighting properties.

Dry cranberries in a food dehydrator and use dried cranberries in stuffing, salads, puree or as a garnish at Thanksgiving. Follow these steps:

- If using frozen cranberries, let them thaw and drain off any liquid.

- Cut the cranberries in half crosswise and not lengthwise, to help expose more of the fruit to the dehydrator's heat and air flow.

- Place the cranberries skin side down on the food dehydrator's drying trays. This will help speed up the drying process.

- Dry at 130 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 14 hours.

- When done, the cranberries will be shriveled and contain no juice inside.

November Is National Pepper Month

Celebrate National Pepper Month by drying bell peppers in a food dehydrator. Use preserved, dried bell peppers in salads, omelots, stir fry, chili and with chicken and meat dishes. Dehydrating is a great way to preserve almost any food for later use.

How to dry bell peppers:
- Cut the bell peppers in half and cut out the stem, core and seeds
- Cut the halfed bell peppers into 1/4 inch or less strips
- Place peppers cut side down on the food dehydrator's drying trays
- Dry for 14 to 18 hours at 130 degrees Fahrenheit
- When done, the peppers should feel dry and crisp

National Fig Week - Dried Figs Are A Great Fruit To Eat

The first week of November is National Fig Week.  Most people are familiar with figs through the popular dried fig cookie Fig Newton.  In fact, dried figs first appeared in commercially made cookies way back in 1892.  There is a reason that fig cookies are very moist.  Figs contain a natural chemical that enhances freshness and moistness in baked goods. 

Figs are a great source of fiber with a single serving providing about 17% of the daily required fiber.  Figs are also good sources of calcium and potassium.

Use a  food dehydrator, like the Nesco FD 75 to dry figs for baking or trail mix needs.

How to Dry Figs
-Cut figs lengthwise into about 1/2 inch thick slices
-Place the figs skin side down on the food dehydrator's drying trays
-Dry at 130 degrees fahrenheit for 16 hours
-When done, the figs should feel dry and leathery but be flexible

November Is Vegan Month

November is vegan month.  What is a vegan and veganism?  A vegan is a person that tries to live a lifestyle, and consume a diet, that excludes the use of animals for food or clothing or other consumerism or consumption purposes.    

As it relates to diet, vegans try to avoid consumption of direct animal food products like meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products and eggs while also avoiding animal by products like gelatin or beeswax.  Fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains are the staples of a vegan diet.  A vegan diet that is centered around a wide variety of strongly colored fruits and vegetables (think red, purple, orange, blue and dark green) have been shown to provide abundant vitamins and  minerals, critical antioxidants and reduce cholesterol and heart disease.

Per vegansociety.com, "Like any other form of diet, some vegan diets are more nutritionally complete than others. White bread, hydrogenated margarine and chips qualify as a vegan meal, but too many such meals will remove the usual benefit of a vegan diet in reducing risk of heart disease. The starting principle for health is to eat a wide variety of plant foods, including plenty of strongly coloured vegetables and fruits. Each food has different strengths, so the fewer foods you eat the less likely it is that all your needs will be met. Vegetables and fruits provide plenty of many vital vitamins and minerals along with a host of other beneficial plant chemicals. In general, the stronger the colour the better. Dark green leaves such as kale and spring greens leave white cabbage, iceberg lettuce and cucumber in the shade."

Food Dehydrator Owners Manuals

Obtain food dehydrator owners manuals for major dehydrator brands including Nesco, Aroma, Deni, L'Equip, Ronco, The Sausage Maker and Weston Supply.

Halloween - Pumpkin Seeds - A Food Dehydrator

After you carve the perfect pumpkin, use a food dehydrator to create delicious, toasty, crunchy pumpkin seeds.  Follow these dehydrating steps:

• Separate the seeds from the pumpkins's fibrous strands by running the seeds under cool water
• Spread the seeds on a piece of parchment papaer.  Clip the parchment paper to the food dehydrator's drying trays using a paper clip
• Dry at 100 degrees Fahrenheit until the seeds are firm and dry throughout
• Let the seeds cool off
• Season to taste.  Experiment with olive oils or other oils, parmesan cheese, pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, lime or lemon juice, cinnamon or brown sugar

Food Safety Regulators - The FDA and USDA

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for the safety of most of the food consumed in the United States but their regulatory authority does not cover meat, poultry and egg products.  Meat, poultry and egg products are regulated by the US Department of Agriculture.  However, the FDA does regulate game meats, such as venison, ostrich and snake.  Clear?

An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away - October Is National Apple Month

Per the U.S. Apple Association, today's well known saying of "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" was derived from the old English saying, "Ate an apfel avore gwain to bed, make the doctor beg his bread". The original author of this very popular apple saying has been lost to history. However, the old expression remains true. Studies have shown that apple consumption  helps fight breast cancer, inhibits the onset of Alzheimers disease and reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer and other cancers and heart diseases.

October Is National Apple Month - Eat An Apple A Day

The U.S' dietary guidelines suggest eating 3.5 to 6.5 cups of fruits and vegetables per day.  Further, it is recommended that at least 2 of those 3.5 to 6.5 daily cups of fruits and vegetables consist of fruit. Celebrate national apple month by incorporating apples into your diet.  What equals one cup of apples?

• 1 small apple
• ½ large apple
• 1 cup sliced, raw or cooked apples
• 1 cup of 100% apple juice or cider
• 1 cup of applesauce or
• ½ cup of dried apples

Dried apples can be made with a food dehydrator.  Simply slice apples into 1/4 inch thick or less slices and dry in a dehydrator.  Using a food dehydrator weight calculator you can calculate that about 14.7 ounces of raw apples will dehydrate into about 4 ounces or approximately 1/2 cup of dried apples.

October is National Apple Month - Apples Are a Great Fruit To Dehydrate

October is National Apple Month. A recent study** on the consumption of apples led researchers to note: “We found that adults who eat apples and apple products have smaller waistlines that indicate less abdominal fat, lower blood pressure and a reduced risk for developing what is known as the metabolic syndrome.”

Eat apples raw, baked or stewed, in salads, with yogurt, as chutney or in pies. Apples are an excellent fruit to dehydrate or to make into fruit leather with a food dehydrator. Follow these steps to make apple fruit leather with a food dehydrator.


** From Fulgoni, V., Fulgoni S., Haaga, S., Ebert, A. Apple consumption is associated with increased nutrient intakes and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome in adults from the National health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004)

Ground Beef & E. Coli - Safe Handling and Safe Food Dehydrator Use

Ground beef is particularly vulnerable to harboring the E. Coli pathogen. Ground beef, or hamburger meat, is not a single cut of beef. Indeed, per a recent New York Times article, ground beef is often; a) a mixture of different grades of meat from the same cow, including "meat trimmings" which can include a very high percentage of fat, b) meat from different cows and c) meat sourced from different slaughterhouses. It is this very multi-sourced mixture of ground beef that makes the meat susceptible to E. Coli.

For example; different slaughterhouses follow varied levels of food safety, the cuts of meat that go into ground beef are cuts of lesser quality that are nearer the hide and extremities of the cow and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stretched thin and allows a lot of self policing by the meat processing companies. Lastly, per the New York Times, "Unwritten agreements between some companies appear to stand in the way of ingredient testing. Many big slaughterhouses will sell only to grinders who agree not to test their shipments for E. Coli, according to officials at two large grinding companies. Slaughterhouses fear that one grinder’s discovery of E. Coli will set off a recall of ingredients they sold to others."

How do you protect yourself against E. Coli in ground beef?

-Stay away from frozen or prepackaged ground beef
-Buy ground beef that is freshly ground at your market
-Thoroughly cook the ground beef
-Wash and sterilize all counter areas, utensils, cookware and dishes before and after use

If you are making beef jerky, the USDA recommends, heating the meat to 160 degrees+ Fahrenheit, before placing the meat in the food dehydrator, in order to kill any harmful bacteria that may be present in the meat. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the meat. After preheating the meat, place the meat in the food dehydrator and dry until the beef jerky is done.

The USDA references a study which emphasizes the importance of preheating ground beef before drying in a food dehydrator. Per the USDA study "For ground beef jerky prepared at home, safety concerns related to E. Coli are minimized if the meat is precooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit prior to drying."

September Is National Mushroom Month

Shiitake happens. Celebrate national mushroom month by eating some mushrooms. Mushrooms typically have unique, nutty flavors, are low in calories and contain antioxidants. Try dehydrating shiitake mushrooms in a food dehydrator. Follow these steps:
- Cut mushrooms into 1/4 inch slices,
- Trim off thick mushroom stems,
- Place on food dehydrator trays and dry at 130 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 12 hours,
- When done, the slices should feel dry and crisp and contain no moisture.

Use in salads or as garnishes.

Food Safety Tips

September is food safety month. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs offers these tips for practicing good food safety:

- Repeatedly wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. Clean any surfaces that your food will come in contact with; like cutting boards, counter tops and preparation utensils. Use hot soapy water on any surface areas before working with food.

- Separate different food products. Store fresh produce separately from raw meat, raw poultry or raw seafood. Do not use the same cutting board or utensils when handling raw food and fresh produce.

- Cook foods to the proper temperatures. Roasts and steaks 145 degrees. Poultry 165 degrees. Ground meat 160 degrees. Leftovers and casseroles 165 degrees. If making jerky in a food dehydrator, before dehydrating the meat, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends heating meat or poultry to the proper temperatures.

- Bacteria on food spreads fastest when ambient temperatures are above 40 degrees. Keep the refrigerator at 40 degrees or lower and promptly put leftovers in the fridge.

Americans Want Better Food Safety

Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies recently published the results of a nationwide survey and poll regarding food safety that was conducted June 29-July 3, 2009. The highlights of the poll found:

- 91% of the people surveyed favor at least annual government inspections of food processing plants which handle food with higher risks of contamination
- 90% of the people surveyed would support the federal government adopting additional food safety measures
- 83% of the people surveyed said the federal government should be responsible for ensuring that food is safe to eat
- 64% of the people surveyed believe that imported foods are sometimes not safe to eat

Take more control of the food that you eat. Become more of a locavore. A locavore is defined as a person that attempts to eat only locally grown foods – typically foods grown within a 100 mile radius. Eating locally grown foods is beneficial in a many ways. A locavore:

- supports local farmers,
- supports local communities and economies
- reduces fuel emissions involved in the transport of food and
- provides a higher level of nutrients and antioxidants compared to store bought food

Use a food dehydrator to dry, preserve and store your locally bought food. Studies have shown that Americans waste over 30% of their food. Use a dehydrator to dehydrate fruits and vegetables before they spoil.

Food Waste - How A Food Dehydrator Can Help

The University of Texas at Austin ("UT") recently became one of the latest universities to eliminate cafeteria trays from their dining halls. While some of UT's dining halls remain all you can eat buffets, students, teachers and other diners will now carry their food on plates instead of cafeteria trays. Prior to the tray elimination, UT reduced tray sizes. The reduced tray sizes cut UT's food waste by 30% but still left very large amounts of food that was being thrown away. UT hopes to achieve another 30% or greater food waste reduction by eliminating cafeteria trays.

The Stockholm International Water Institute, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Water Management Institute estimate that as much as 30% of total U.S. food is wasted and thrown away. A food dehydrator can be a great tool to dry and preserve meats, fruits and vegetables that might otherwise spoil and go to waste. Don't let fruit over ripen. Don't let meat go bad. Use a food dehydrator to reduce food's water content. Dry food, preserve food and store food for later use and enjoyment.

Food Trends - Eating At Home

According to the market research firm Mintel, the ongoing recession, high unemployment and overall economic malaise is impacting consumer behavior. Consumers are obviously trying to save money where they can and two ongoing trends Mintel identified are: 1) Eight in 10 Americans say they’re cooking at home more now, while 2) 52% admit to spending less at restaurants this year than last.

A food dehydrator is an excellent kitchen appliance to use to save money. On average a food dehydrator costs only about 8 cents per hour to use. A food dehydrator can be used to dry and preserve food allowing it to be stored for long periods of time. Use a dehydrator to dry fruits and vegetables before they spoil thus saving money and eliminating food waste. The Stockholm International Water Institute, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Water Management Institute estimate that as much as 30% of U.S. food is wasted and thrown away. Use a food dehydrator instead.

September is Food Safety Education Month

September is the start of Food Safety Education month. According to the International Food Information Council Foundation’s 2009 Food & Health Survey, 52 percent of consumers perceive foodborne illness as the most important food safety issue. Food Safety month encourages consumers to incorporate safe food handling practices into their daily routine. Per Iowa State University, the 5 areas for consumers to focus on are:

1.Purchase Food From Safe Sources
2.Clean and Sanitize
3.Cross Out Cross Contamination
4.Avoid time and temperature abuse – Use a Thermometer
5.Practice personal hygiene – Wash those hands!

Home Gardening #3

Lowes and Home Depot, two national home improvement retail chains, both recently reported that their June quarterly sales included good demand for garden products, mulches, seed and tiller sales as consumers planted more home gardens.

On a local level, per an article in the New York Times, The Natural Gardener, an organic gardening retail business in Austin, TX., recently reported that their sales of vegetable plants increased five times over the levels of previous years. Further, the company installed bleachers and a PA system to accommodate the large groups of people showing up for gardening classes. The Natural Gardener's President stated that the increased interest in gardening stemmed from concerns about the environment and food safety and a desire to save on food costs. These three reasons matched the results stated in the National Gardening Association's report on why home gardening was up 19% in 2009.

Make the most of the vegetables produced from your home garden. Give away, sell or use a food dehydrator to make the most of the garden harvest. Make sure to properly store dried vegetables by allowing them to cool after removing them from the food dehydrator, placing them in an airtight container and placing the container in a cool, dry area.

Here is one home gardener's dehydrating efforts.

Home Gardening #2 - Use a Food Dehydrator

A recent report issued by the National Gardening Association stated 43 million U.S. households were planning a backyard garden, or sharing in a community garden, in 2009, up about 19% from 2008. Recently, two large home improvement retail chains, Lowes and Home Depot, both reported June quarterly sales which included good demand for garden products, mulches, seed and tiller sales as consumers planted more home gardens.

Growing food in a home garden is a great way to take control of your diet and increase the intake of more nutritious raw food. Use a food dehydrator to dry, preserve and store home grown food to enjoy great tasting, nutritious home garden produce all year round.

Home Gardening - Use a Food Dehydrator

According to a report recently issued by the National Gardening Association, 43 million U.S. households were planning a backyard garden, or sharing in a community garden, in 2009, up from 36 million households in 2008. The 43 million households represented about 37% of all U.S. households. Per the National Gardening Association's report, the main reasons for planting a garden were:

- to obtain better tasting food (58% of respondents)
- to save money on food bills (54% of respondents)
- to obtain better quality food (51% of respondents)
- to grow food that the gardener knows is safe (48% of respondents)

Growing food in a home garden is a great way to increase raw food in a diet. Home grown, or local farmer's market, raw food is higher in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants versus store bought food. Plus home grown food can be dried and preserved via a food dehydrator allowing great tasting, nutritious enjoyment of home garden produce all year round.

August is National Peach Month - A Great Fruit to Dehydrate

August is national peach month in the U.S. The peach is native to China and was introduced into the U.S. by the Spanish, via present day Florida, during the 1500's and 1600's. Today, California is the U.S' largest peach producer growing 75% of the nation's crop. Georgia, known as the peach state, is a distant second in terms of peach production, although the state is known for growing very high quality peaches.

Enjoy some peaches raw, in a pie, cobbler, tart or dehydrated. Peaches are an excellent fruit to dry in a food dehydrator or puree and dry into fruit leather.

The basic steps for making fruit leather with a food dehydrator are as follows:

- Use ripe or slightly overripe fruit.

- Wash fruit, remove stems and seeds, remove peels (some peel can be left on oranges, lemons, limes and other similar fruit).

- Cut the fruit into slices or chunks.

- Steam the fruit for 10-15 minutes (optional).

- Puree the fruit in a blender or food processor.

- If desired, add juice or spices as flavoring (pineapple, lemon, lime), or add sugar or honey as a sweetener, and or add chopped nuts or coconut to create different textures.

- To prevent food discoloration and flavor loss, add 1/2 teaspoon of ascorbic acid crystals or 2 tablespoons of lemon juice for every 2 cups of fruit.

- Lightly coat the food dehydrator plastic sheets or wrap with a cooking spray.

- Pour the puree to create an even depth of 1/8 to 1/4 inch.

- Maintain a food dehydrator temperature of 115 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, or 46 to 54 degrees Celsius, and dry for 5 to 10 hours. The fruit leather is ready if it peels readily at the edges and if you cannot see any indentations after you touch it in several places.

- Roll your strips of fruit leather and wrap them in plastic wrap. Fruit leather can be stored for a year in the freezer, several months in the refrigerator and a month or two at room temperature.

August 8th - The Last Day of National Farmer's Market Week - Enjoy Raw Food Year Round

August 2nd through August 8th, is National Farmer’s Market Week as declared by the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack. There are many reasons to support your local farmer's market, not just this week or today, but, all year round. Some great reasons include:

- Raw food bought locally contains higher levels of nutrients and antioxidants compared to nationally transported food which, on average, travels 1,300 miles from farm to plate.

- Eating raw food, versus cooked food, can increase nutrient intake by 50% to 70%.

- Studies have shown that raw food bought locally can result in 5-17 less greenhouse gases, versus nationally transported food, because of less truck transportation.

- Buying locally recycles more dollars into your community. Most U.S. states buy about 90% of their food from sources outside their own state.

- Use a food dehydrator to make dried fruits and dried vegetables and preserve your raw foods beyond the typical growing and farmer's market seasons.

Another Ground Beef Recall - How to Safely Make Jerky With a Food Dehydrator

More than 800,000 pounds of ground beef processed at a Fresno, California meat plant was just recalled due to concerns that the meat may contain salmonella. Most of the meat was sold through Safeway and Vons stores in California.

To protect against salmonella, e.coli or other pathogens that may be in ground beef or other meat, the following safe handling steps are recommended for making jerky (these steps should also be followed while making any meat dish:

•Before and after working with meat, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.

•Use clean equipment and utensils and wash them thoroughly after use.

•Clean the kitchen surfaces that will be used in making the jerky, both before and after working with the meat.

•Thaw frozen meat on the lowest refrigerator shelf so meat juice will not drip onto other food. Do not thaw meat on a kitchen counter.

•Keep meat and poultry refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

•Marinate meat in the refrigerator. Do not marinate meat on a kitchen counter. Do not reuse marinade.

•Before putting the meat in a food dehydrator, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends heating meat to 160 degrees+ Fahrenheit and poultry to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This is recommended to kill any harmful bacteria that may be present in the meat. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat.

•Dry meats in a food dehydrator at a temperature of at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.