Bristol Farms

With energy costs skyrocketing, and an increased consciousness of our impact on the environment, there are numerous innovators that are seeking alternatives to the standard glass vessel. As the vast majority of wine consumers are traditionalists, it is not an easy transition away from the norm. Most recently, the Stelvin closure (or screw top) was the test tube for the elitists to poo poo, stating that only natural cork allows the wine to properly evolve, or breathe and mature into a more regal, stately beverage in maturity. And the detractors still exist. But there are a great many world class producers that are investigating the potential. I for one, am happy to utilize the easy, more efficient and certainly more neutral closure that completely decimates the potential for cork taint that ruins a bottle.

Next come PET (plastic), and Tetra Pack, along with aluminum and “The Pouch.” Each has its benefits and drawbacks, but each plays a role in alternative packaging by which to contain your favorite beverage. The main advantage of these alternative materials lies in the significant weight savings over the cumbersome, clumsy glass. Considering that bulky, heavy glass is transported from factory, to bottling line, to distribution hub, to retailer or restaurant. Multiply those fuel and handling costs when it comes from overseas. Added up, it is a big chunk of change and a significant source of carbon.

While professionals agree that glass is the best, most inert containment system for long term storage and aging, most of us don’t age wine, and we don’t need the long term benefits that glass provides. Studies convey that about three fourths of wines purchased are consumed in the very short term. This opens the door for the compact, efficient, less bulky and easily recycled formats that are more environmentally friendly. In comparison, a 9 ltr case of glass bottles can weigh 25 pounds whereas a 9 ltr case of aluminum would be under 3.

A new and unique entry into the marketplace is Flasq wines from California. Flasq offers a tasty, fun, compact and smart way to enjoy wine, with a conscience. The wines come in a slender, light yet sturdy aluminum canister, with a screw top closure. The wide mouth top was designed to make it easy to dispense, which one would assume was inspired by concerts in the park, picnics and other venues where one would not find convenient to tote your finest Riedel stemware. The can is lined, so there is no metallic taste (first thing that came to mind when the concept was presented), the wine is clean, fresh, and enticing. Ideal for outdoor activities, around the pool or patio, and for the adventurous, pack a picnic lunch and take a stroll and see the great outdoors that you are being instrumental in saving.

Flasq comes in a crisp Monterey Chardonnay, a delightfully fruity Paso Robles Merlot and the Cuvee Blanc which is an off dry-fruity blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Muscat. The wines retail for $6.99 for a 375 ml can, but in celebration of Earth Day, for the month of April we are offering them @ 2 for $10.  Stop by your local Bristol Farms, pick up a few cans for you and your friends, and come back and let us know what you think!

This year for Easter, Bristol Farms has hopped right over to our own beautiful backyard of lovely Oxnard, California. We are partnered with Deardorff Family Farms, a fully sustainable, California grower that has been delivering Southern Californians great tasting, organic, family farmed fruits and vegetables for 75 years!   We are happy to feature their tasty, fresh-picked, ripe strawberries as a delicious springtime treat!

Oxnard, California, a sunny growing region along the coastal highway 101 just north of Los Angeles, is one of the strawberry capioals of the USA.  Due to a Mediterranean climate, and 350 cool, breezy, sunny days a year, this part of California’s “Golden Coast” is home to over 8500 acres of strawberries.  Oxnard even hosts an annual Strawberry Festival every June!

Adventurous travelers who drive through the Oxnard area in springtime will be treated to the aroma fresh berries ripening all along the various farm roads between the coastal mountains and the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean.  We bring the berry patch right into our stores, offering farm stand fresh flavor from the fine folks at Deardorff Family Farms, one of Ventura County’s longest running family farming operations.

We like to take the biggest and plumpest of the strawberries and cover them in our favorite dark and milk chocolate, dip and design them in fun creative designs, and add them to the family’s Easter baskets.  Chocolate and strawberries just can’t be beat!  Beautifully decorated chocolate covered strawberries are the kind of Easter eggs you can really sink your teeth into!

Just like the fragrant flowering blooms and the accompanying cool breezy days, the sweet, locally grown strawberries of spring are a tempting treat not to be missed!  Come in and enjoy!

It is Organic California Hass Avocado Season at Bristol Farms!

The California Hass season will run March through September here at Bristol Farms.  The majority of our avocados this year will come from one local ranch in De Luz, CA – Ranch ACW.

Ranch ACW is located on the Riverside and San Diego County border, next to Camp Pendleton.  Del Rey Avocado Company in Fallbrook, CA will be packaging and marketing the avocados from ACW to Bristol Farms.  This will be the second year in a row Bristol Farms will be featuring organic Hass avocados from this ranch.  Below is a brief history of how Ranch ACW became one of the biggest organic Hass avocados ranches in California.

The planting of ACW started in 1977 at 125 acres of avocados.  Today it has grown to more than 800 acres of various fruits.  The majority of the acreage is made up of several varieties of avocados, with the largest amount of acres being 350 acres of organic Hass avocados.  The other varieties of avocados at ACW are Bacons, Reeds, conventional Hass, Lamb Hass, Etingers, and Zutanos.  Besides being a producing avocado ranch, ACW also has many other programs that help keep the ranch productive.  They have their own nursery that they use to grow their own avocado trees. They have a very large bee apiary on site to help pollinate the trees.  Lastly, they have their own organic manure pits made up of decomposing avocados, lemons, limes and other fruit mixed with dirt and worms. They use the manure throughout the ranch to help cut down costs and their carbon footprint.

ACW is almost totally energy self sufficient because it has nearly 8 acres of solar panels that help produce enough energy to power the ranch.  They are actually one of the largest privately owned solar energy producers in California.  When it comes to irrigation, ACW is not totally self sufficient yet.  They still have to purchase water from the local water district.  However, they do have several producing wells and four large reservoirs and one more in development to help ease the massive water usage it takes to irrigate a ranch of its size.  An acre of avocado trees uses over a million gallons of water per year.

Enjoy locally grown California Hass Avocados from Ranch ACW all season at Bristol Farms!  Come back and tell us about your favorite avocado recipes.

The New Orleans Carnival season is in preparation of the start of the Christian season of lent. This tradition of parades, masquerade balls, and parties has been observed for over 300 years and continues to grow today. The pinnacle of this celebration for most is known as Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, and what is a party without food? On February 21st we will be celebrating Mardi Gras in Bristol Fashion; our hot case selections will be focused on Southern favorites like cajun fried catfish, jambalaya, red beans & rice, collard greens, and several other traditional and unique items giving a whole new meaning to Fat Tuesday. Come on in and join us for the celebration!