CALGARY, AB - A quick look at my editorial calendar this morning reminded me that Chinese New Year is just a few weeks away! February 16th will be the beginning of the Year of the Dog, and with it, celebrations involving all kinds of Asian and other ethnic produce items. In order to make sure your produce department has everything to suit the needs of observers everywhere, Thomas Fresh has announced six of its must-have items for Chinese New Year.

“Over 1 billion people around the world celebrate Chinese New Year, and these festivities stretch far beyond Asia,” Andrea Dubak Marketing Specialist shared with me. “This food-centered holiday is an optimal opportunity for retailers to boost sales during the winter season and to add a pop of color into their store’s produce section over these cold months! Thomas Fresh recommends supplying lokam oranges, dragon fruit, snow/snap peas, and gai lan/yu choy in the lead up to Chinese New Year. These items are in good supply and quality is high. They also are heavily important within Chinese New Year cooking and symbolism. For example, lokam oranges are viewed as extremely lucky and are thought to bring prosperity throughout the year.”

To find out more about each of the items Andrea and Thomas Fresh suggest, check out the company’s short descriptions below, or on the company’s blog.

Lokam Oranges

Lokam oranges are known as a sweet staple during Chinese New Year celebrations. They symbolize luck, prosperity, and bounty! Eat lokam oranges as a snack, give as gifts, or leave this fruit on your kitchen counter as a reminder that 2018 will bring plenty of wealth.

Gai Lan & Yu Choy

We recommend including a popular Chinese green in your store for Chinese New Year! Two great choices are gai lan and yu choy. The most noticeable difference between these two Chinese greens is their appearance; yu choy has thinner stalks when compared to gai lan. Both greens are commonly used as side dishes and as a key ingredient in stir fry. Check out this classic gai lan recipe: click here!

Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is not only beautiful, but has a fresh and delicious flavor. It's always a hot seller during Chinese New Year, as it represents beauty and luck! This fruit is one-of-a-kind when it comes to appearance, and can be taken to the next level by carving the flesh into gorgeous designs! If you're looking to eat dragon fruit—it’s extremely delicious raw, or when used in a variety of desert recipes. See our dragon fruit inspiration board, here.  

Snow Peas & Snap Peas

Snow and snap peas are classic ingredients to incorporate into many wonderful recipes for Chinese New Year festivities. Their sweet flavor mixed with a crisp crunch make them easy to cook with. Snow and snap peas also offer a good source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and potassium. Cook snap peas easily as a healthy and flavorful side dish: all you need is olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. Snow peas go great in stir frys: try making this simple recipe for your friends and family this February 16th—check it out, here!

For more on how to get these items in your produce department, check out the Thomas Fresh website, and stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more on this produce-heavy holiday!

Thomas Fresh