Los Angeles Times, Nov. 7, 2001
"explores... of Northern California in a format as worthy of a cocktail table as a kitchen counter."


Oakland Tribune, June 6, 2001
"takes readers on a tempting tour-via pictures and recipes-of what to see and do in the area."


Contra Costa Times, June 2001
"...an honest book, something you can't count on in celebrity chef cookbooks."


Book Description
Arranged by season, this cookbook highlights the abundance of fresh foods cultivated in Northern California. In addition to our members' favorite recipes, which have been triple-tested in our own kitchens, California Fresh Harvest provides fascinating food lore, inspirational menus, wine pairings, cooking tips, and information on local events and special destinations. In the tradition of the treasured, original California Fresh cookbook, again the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay has created a classic for Northern California residents and visitors alike.


From the Author
Since 1935, the women of the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay have made a difference in the lives of children and their families in the San Francisco Bay Area. Proceeds from the sale of California Fresh Harvest will support ongoing children's services and implement important new programs for Children at Risk.


About the Author
The Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc., is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc. reaches out to women of all races, religions, and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism.


Excerpted from California Fresh Harvest by Junior League of Oakland-East Bay. Copyright © 2001. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
California Fresh Harvest: A Seasonal Journey through Northern California is the second cookbook in the California Fresh series from the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc. Capitalizing on the abundance of fresh produce and other regional foods, as well as exceptional seasonal events of the greater San Francisco Bay area, California Fresh Harvest is a cookbook that will appeal to both locals and visitors alike. In Northern California, we are fortunate to live in an area of agricultural abundance. According to the latest California Statistical Abstract, our farms and farmers are leading the United States in the production of more than thirty commodities, including peaches, chicken eggs, walnuts, strawberries, and artichokes. We have chosen sixteen of those commodities to feature in California Fresh Harvest and they are presented throughout the book in the seasons of their peak harvest. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, food and cooking trends have undergone tremendous changes. In the last decade, technology, combined with an interest in a healthier lifestyle, has led to a greater emphasis on using fresh ingredients to create full-flavored meals. The growing number of farmers' markets have bolstered an appetite for unadulterated, picked-at-its-peak produce. Many foods previously considered specialty items are now frequently found in supermarkets. Menus are inspired by the freshest foods in the market. Our bountiful harvest are possible in part due to Silicon Valley technology that has changed the science of agriculture. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and computers have led to Precision Farming. In the field today, a computer mounted on a tractor feeds information to navigational satellites. The GPS plots information so that every square food of the field can receive customized applications of fertilizer, herbidices, pesticides, and irrigation water. With this information, farmers are producing yields as never before and there is no turning back. Or is there? Organic farming-using methods of growing and processing foods that rely on the earth's natural resources- is one of the fastest growing sectors in agriculture today. Here again, California is leading the way. The birthplace of certified organic farming in the United States is Santa Cruz, California, where in 1973, the first organization to certify organic farms in North America was created. Organically grown produce is now readily available not only at farmers' markets, but increasingly in local supermarkets. Northern California is an incredibly rich and diverse region. From thistled artichokes in Castroville and sweet and juicy strawberries in Watsonville to aromatic garlic in Gilroy, fresh and appetizing foods are available year-round. Both Californians and visitors enjoy the many festivals and events that surround the harvest of these products. To celebrate our bountiful harvest, more than thirteen million people attend agricultural festivals and county fairs in California each year. Held in rural, suburban, and urban settings, these events offer much more than cotton candy and carnival rides. They help educate communities about the importance of agriculture and our diverse cultures through cooking demonstrations, tastings, informational hand-outs, recipe sharing, and juried competitions for the best grown produce. California Fresh Harvest provides information on California's most abundant crops and commodities and the festivals and destinations that celebrate the bounty, coupled with creative menus and recipes to entice both cooks and travelers to expand their horizons. The members of the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc. share with you their favorite recipes, triple-tested in our own kitchens, highlighting the best foods our region has to offer. We invite you to turn the pages of California Fresh Harvest and take a journey through the seasons of Northern California.