Fresh Air Retreat – Palm Springs

We also had the opportunity to visit Palm Springs, see some sites and enjoy some hosted meals which did not disappoint!

California Dates: A Sweet Local Treat

If you want to try a unique local treat during your visit to Palm Springs, don't miss California Dates! The Coachella Valley, where Palm Springs is located, is one of the few places in the United States where palms grow due to the hot desert climate. These dates are celebrated for their natural sweetness, rich flavor and soft, chewy texture.

We had the opportunity to meet an enthusiastic, local date palm farmer California Date Commission Who prepared us a “date testing flight” which was very cool. I really enjoyed this part of our trip and learned a ton. We were even gifted a big box of dates which I have been eating ever since! Did you know that one date contains the same amount of potassium as 3 bananas? Crazy!

• 1. The famous Medjugal date. Medjool dates are the most popular variety grown in the region and are sometimes called the “King of Dates” for their large size and caramel-like flavor. They're delicious as snacks on their own, mixed into smoothies, or even stuffed with nuts or cheese to boost appetite.
• 2. Move the date. A trip to Palm Springs wouldn't be complete without trying to rock a date. This creamy, naturally sweet treat combines dates with ice cream or milk for a rich, flavorful shake that's both refreshing and filling. Shields Date Gardens, just outside Palm Springs, Indio, is known for its famous date shakes, which have been a local favorite since the 1920s.
• 3. Date festival. If you visit in early February, you might catch the annual Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival. The festival celebrates the region's date-growing heritage with everything from camel races to live entertainment and, of course, plenty of date-inspired food.
• 4. Bring the date home. Make a great souvenir of the date! Many local date farms and specialty shops offer freshly packed dates for you to bring home or give as gifts. Some farms even offer tours, so you can learn about the history and process behind date cultivation.

Happy eggs!

I love meeting the team at Happy Egg. They are very passionate about their chickens, which excited me too! There is a difference between free range and free versus cage free, and they require a minimum of 21.8 square feet of range for each bird, which equates to 10 acres for every 20,000 birds.

Inside each lucky egg, you'll find a rich amber yolk; Each egg has a quality you can see, and a difference you can taste They support small family farmers and currently work with 103+ small family farms across the Midwest. Make sure to check out Their store locator See where you can find them in your area!

Onion 52

A highlight was the luncheon sponsored by the folks at A Onion 52which works with farmers to supply quality onions 52 weeks a year. They are dedicated to using sustainable farming methods to ensure the quality and environmental responsibility of each onion. They pride themselves on quality products and have even created “Smiley” Sweet Onions that are virtually tear-free! I received a big box of these in the mail today and am over the moon excited! Store them in a dark, cool place and they will last for months!

Naturally tearless, smileys become sweet and gentle, transforming any meal into an enjoyable culinary experience without the discomfort of watery eyes. These onions develop their unique sweetness as they mature, making them versatile and suitable for both raw and cooked dishes.

Albertsons

Albertsons has organized a few different options across retreats featuring their brand, Select Signature. It was a gorgeous afternoon snack set up for us with all kinds of goodies including fresh fruit, their chopped salad, my personal favorite, nuts, veggies, and ice cream sandwiches!

Products like their pre-made chopped salads and veggie trays save me time in my busy life and are always a win for me.

Signature selections are available only at Albertsons Company family stores including: Safeway, Albertsons, Tom Thumb, Jewel-Osco, Acme Markets, Shaws & Vons.

California walnuts

Another highlight was the people once in the evening California walnuts Chef Tremmel spoiled us with a make-your-own charcuterie board party featuring 3 different walnut recipes. This was such a fun activity that I plan to make here at home! Walnuts taste sweet, and have a creamy, buttery texture that's perfect for pairing with baking this time of year!

Ripe walnuts – versatile and nutritious – have endless opportunities to incorporate into your favorite dishes for holiday entertaining. Pairing walnuts with their favorite/trending seasoning flavor profiles and using them to enhance holiday charcuterie boards and more…

grocery list

Besides eating we had a lot of time to learn and share with each other about current trends in influencer marketing, which is a big part of all of our businesses. Ben from Grocer's List came in and walked us through some new ways to help our readers and customers. New technology enables us to easily get our recipes across social media as well as allows you to purchase the ingredients for each recipe without creating a list! It makes it easy to navigate and get information about you and our platforms!