This area is so incredibly beautiful in April. Weather does everything in a 24 hour period, from hail to windy bluster, puffy clouds to full sunshine…and that keeps things interesting.
 
Our business trip to the East Coast was wonderful. We met a lot of great people and visited some fantastic stores in NYC and Boston. It was very exciting to see our juice and bars in those world-famous cities. Lil' o'l CoGo in the Big Apple? Wow!
 
Look for new juices all the time…you never know what’s coming next.
 
Thanks.
Cheryl

"Since Dave Hurson turned us onto your juices, we’ve yet to find one we aren’t in love with. Thank you for continuing to produce products with integrity (instead of added sugar!) and for employing fine people like David Hurson. [I’m] going to The Kiva tomorrow with a CoGo list…"

Mike McCool – Eugene, OR

Many thanks to CoGo employee, Dave Hurson, for growing the CoGo world!

We continue to demo our products everywhere we can. The photo this week shows our demo gal, Paula, with her new handtruck on her way to Oregon State University.

The Natural Foods Expo West Show is this coming weekend, and we'll be there with juice and bars in booths 4831 and 4832. If you're going, stop by and say hi, and get some yummy samples. In addition to showing off our fantastic products, we will tour the floor, hear presentations, meet with associates and friends, and set up potential sales meetings. It's always a great time, and leaves us feeling encouraged that the natural and organic food industries are growing so rapidly.

Our juice is doing fantastically back East... We are so excited to be "bi-coastal!" Thanks to all of you who support Cogo Juice and CoGoBars.

By the way...Look for new juices coming soon!!!

Our juice is doing fantastically! We try so very hard to bring people what they want, and we have a lot of wonderful loyal customers. We are really grateful for your support, especially when you don't see us at your favorite store and then tell them you want us. Sometimes the store's bottom line gets in the way of customer happiness, but they don't realize it until you speak up!

CoGoBars seem to do great once they get sampled. People definitely have their particular favorites (and non-favorites!), but it really varies. The little guy pictured here absolutely DEVOURED the chocolate CoGoBar. Please try them and let us know what you think. If you can't find them, email me and I will help.

I am really looking forward to all the blossoms, starting the middle of April. I'm sure our honey bees can't wait to get all that lovely pollen. The valley is so beautiful when it's all in bloom… glowing with color and bursting with the intoxicating scents of spring.

If you are wanting some winter comfort food, I recommend Apple Cobbler made with a really great apple like the Enterprise.

APPLE COBBLER FOR THE WINTER WEARY

Apple Filling:

2 1/2 pounds Enterprise apples, peeled and sliced
3/4 cup organic cane sugar
2 to 3 Tablespoons organic flour
1 Tablespoon organic lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon organic cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons organic butter

Peel and core your apples.  I use my old-fashioned apple peeler. The kids love doing this job.

In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, flour, lemon juice, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Let the mixture stand for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cobbler:

1 cup organic whole wheat flour
1/4 cup organic sugar
1/4 cup organic brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
6 Tablespoons cold organic butter
1/4 cup boiling water

In another bowl, combine the flour, sugars, salt, and baking powder.

Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter or a fork.  When it resembles peas or coarse sand, pour in 1/4 cup boiling water.

Spread the apples in a 10" baking dish and dot with butter.

Cover with the cobbler batter.  Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apples are bubbly.

Serve with organic whipped cream, ice cream, or creme fraiche. Also yummy with cheddar cheese melted on top.

Emeril has a great recipe for apple compote that I like to use with pork. Enterprise Apples are perfect for it.

Here at CoGo, we've been 100% organic for nearly 30 years. We grow most of our own apples, and what we purchase comes from organic orchards nearby, in Oregon and Washington.

The most recent apple juice scare began in the fall of 2011 when TV personality Dr. Oz announced that, through his own testing, he found dangerous levels of arsenic in some of the most popular brands of Apple Juice concentrate. Consumer Reports confirmed his findings with their own study in late 2011. It turns out these products are made with apples from as many as seven different countries where chemicals that are banned in America are being used freely.

We’re concerned that U.S. Inspectors are not spotting this type of contamination – after all, apple and grape juice concentrates are family favorites, and are also used instead of sugar to sweeten a lot of other foods. But we are encouraged that consumers are becoming more vigilant about where their food comes from. And we’re grateful to Dr. Oz and Consumer Reports for exposing the problem.

What advice does Dr. Oz give for people who might be concerned about their juice? Buy organic and make sure the fruit is grown in the U.S.

...That would be CoGo.

And here’s an added bonus we’re sure Dr. Oz would like: our apple juice is never cooked, concentrated, or reconstituted. It’s fresh-pressed, flash pasteurized, bottled, and in your fridge within a couple of days.

Columbia Gorge Organic: Small Farm, Big Flavor, Always Organic.

We have Canadian Geese wintering on our pond. They are so beautiful, and the family loves watching them. Speaking of critters, Ronny spotted a barn owl, so he had an owl house made for him. We hope he moves in and sticks around to provide eco-friendly rodent control!

We are delighted to now be offering our products throughout Utah! We are so excited to be hearing from new customers who love our juice and CoGoBars. Here's one from Ryan M.

Hello, I am a HUGE fan of your drinks!

"I really wish my nearby Whole Foods Market had ALL of your juices from your website, so that I could try them all. They all look so good! My favorite so far would have to be the Mango CoGo Smoothie Drink. It's packed with fresh fruit flavor, and I love the taste. Thank you for making such great products, and keep up the great work!"

Customer Nancy Craig sent us this ecstatic testimonial celebrating her New Plan for the New Year, fueled by CoGo Carrot Leafy Greens veggie juice. We could not resist posting her blog entry and photo (see permalink page)!

A liquid garden for your inner garden!!

"This is my New Years Resolution......A New Plan Resolution!! I wanted to incorporate more veggies into my life for my health....as well as get back to walking more.... I even want to do another half Marathon this Summer....so this is my plan.

I am actually on my sixth day of my new plan and I am loving it!!

I researched the area where I live to find some place that makes fresh juice drinks. Then I figured out the miles around the location. I walk half way, which is about two miles, to get my veggie juice and drink it on my last two miles home.

I buy bottled organic juice because there are not any fresh juice locations near where I live. That's where Columbia Gorge Organic comes in!

I usually get their Carrot and Leafy Greens drink. It has a load of veggies in it. This is what is in one 16 oz. bottle...you won't believe how many veggies are in it: 4 large carrots, 1 bunch spinach, 1/2 bunch romaine, 3 leaves kale, 3 leaves collards!

It says right on the bottle that it is a liquid garden for your inner garden! I love that!!

Everyone is different and everyone has different tastes and desires. Figure out what you like and what exercise works for you and make a New Plan Resolution and then just do it!!! The key is getting started and finding something you love. I LOVE WALKING!!! I LOVE the way I feel after I drink my liquid garden, and the way I LOVE the way I feel for completing the four miles!!

Here's to your health and new plan,

Peace and love,

Nancy"

 
All of our orange juice comes from longtime organic farms in California and Texas. We know our fellow growers well. We may pay a little more for US grown, organic oranges but you get what you pay for. Chemical free, fantastically sweet, premium orange juice.

Big news for Oregonians: Our amazing U of O football team won the Rose Bowl…Congrats Ducks!

We are so excited for 2012. Stay tuned for ongoing reports on new products, places, and people. We LOVE our customers, and look forward to growing the happy CoGo community of organic juice and gluten-free food bar fans all across the country.

HAVE A WONDERFUL 2012 EVERYONE! Thanks for your continued support for our little farm and big ideas!

On the business front, juice and CoGoBar demos are happening a bit this week, and will build at the start of the year. We are now in Andronico's in SF, and other new stores will be starting in January – really exciting to move into bigger markets, serving customers who appreciate supporting small family organic farmers while getting to enjoy the best quality juices and food bars on the planet!

We are expecting a very successful 2012, seeing our juice and gluten-free food bars in more and more locations across the country... Thinking back to when we first started farming here in the valley – the first organic farmers in the area -  I can hardly believe where we are now!

Oprah's website featured us in an article on green drinks, We're happy to see the efffort she and Dr. Oz are making to get the nation more healthy in 2012. We are all for that, and here to help!

The orchards are abuzz with pruning in preparation for spring budding. It will be going on for the next three or four months. Labor intensive, grueling work but it feels good to get every tree in tip top shape for the coming year. And we are happy to employ local workers to get the job done.

Here's hoping your New Years celebrations are safe and satisfying for you and yours. May we all continue to take care of one another!

Yours in Peace and Health

Cheryl Stewart

"Bosc are an elegant variety, with distinctive characteristics that set them apart from other pears. Those who are familiar with Bosc appreciate their crunchy yet tender flesh and their sweet-spiced flavor. A common misconception is that Bosc pears need to be peeled or cooked before being eaten, and that's simply not true. Those who have not tried a Bosc would most likely be surprised... and pleased that the brown skin hides a delicious, spicy and slightly firmer flesh.

Bosc pears stand out in a crowd for many reasons. Their long, curved stem and elegant elongated neck that widens gradually to a full rounded base creates a silhouette that is unique among pears. Bosc are also unique for their color: a warm cinnamon brown with russeting over the surface of the skin.

Russeting is a natural appearance for Bosc. The russeting may cover the entire surface of the pear or it may just be seen over a small portion of the skin. In either case, the quality of the fruit is not affected. In fact, many artists feature the russeted Bosc pear in their paintings, drawings, and photography because of the natural beauty it imparts."  From www.usapears.org

As for the rest of the CoGo World...

Winter has been pretty mild in the Northwest. We feel lucky to see so much sun up here in the usually gray season.

All of our winter drinks are out. Our customers love that we are able to offer truly seasonal products. Winter seasonals include juices made with Pears, Blood Oranges, Meyer Lemons with Ginger, and of couse delicious Tangerines. Get them now while you can and enjoy the crisp, tart, sweet, and tangy treats of Winter.

CoGoBars sustained us in Disneyland, and I'm still eating one a day. If you haven't tried them yet, do. Especially if you are looking for organic, gluten free food bars. They're made with our home grown organic pears!

Tomorrow we begin pruning - a bit earlier this year to stay on top of things. We'll start with pears, and it will take four or five months to prune all the trees in the orchard.

We continue to be delighted about the popularity of the new CoGoBars. Customers say organic and gluten free are big selling points. Plus they taste fantastic.

May you stay cheerful and healthy in the holiday season!

The whole family just got back from a great trip to Disneyland, which we gave ourselves after completing our biggest harvest year ever. We all needed the break, and we had a fantastic time.

Though all fruit has been picked, we'll still be packing it up for a few more days. The orchards are sleeping now. After the first of the year we will begin pruning in preparation for 2012 bloom!

Speaking of Local Heroes, we want to acknowledge Larry Hirst, our Chief Operations Officer, who has been making emergency product deliveries to our demo folks at New Seasons, Fisher's Landing, in Vancouver,WA. Twice, after a full day of work, Larry brought the goods to make sure our demos go well. We so appreciate our employees who take care of each other, our customers, and the company!

APPLE PEAR PORKROAST

Ingredients

1 large onion, sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

2 1/2 pounds boneless pork loin roast

1 Pint Columbia Gorge Organic Apple Pear Cider

1/4 C organic flour

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Combine flour, salt and pepper.

Dredge the roast in the flour mixture and brown in a hot skillet on all sides.

Arrange onion and garlic evenly over the bottom of the slow cooker, and then place the roast on top.

Pour Apple Pear Cider over the roast, cover, and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours, or on High for 3 to 4 hours.

Serve with potatoes or polenta, and some nice organic winter greens.

CoGoBars are still doing great...we are all so happy that they have been well-received. I'm thinking the gluten-free aspect is quite popular, as more and more people learn of wheat and gluten-related sensitivities. I usually get an email a day, about them. People are pleased that we make the bars with our own apples and pears. I know, I know... I'm always singing praises for CoGoBars, but honestly, for being so healthy, these bars are way too delicious, if I do say so myself!

Customers know our apples are at their peak of freshness, so they love the cider this time of year. We have a lot of seasonal juices, because we like to use the freshest fruit. Nature has cycles for a reason! Look for Apple Pear Cider, Ginger Apple Cider, Winter OJ Blend, Tangerine, and Blood OJ in the coming winter months.

Our juices are going fantastically! Seems like they're flying off the shelves. I think people are becoming more and more aware of the meaning of "always organic" and "small family farm!" Does any other juice company tell you exactly where the fruit came from? For example, the new photo on the front of our Amazing Ginger Apple juice is our very own Pinova. Source: the Portland Drive orchard by our farmhouse, full southern exposure, facing Mt Hood, overlooking the Hood River.

Speaking of apples, we are selling the heck out of our organic ciders. We can hardly keep up!

On the family front, Payton, my oldest grandson has a birthday on Sunday. He will be 11.

Happy Halloween from all of us. Check last week's blog for a creepy-cool party cider punch!

We've been taking CoGoBars with us everywhere during the busy school season. They're easy nutrition for just about any time of day. I always carry a few in my purse, and we stick them in the kids backpacks every day for healthy fuel. We even loaded them up in our travel packs for a trip to Disneyland. Saved money avoiding "park-priced" snacks and stayed healthy!

Now that fall is in full swing, our pure Meyer Lemon juice is available for both food service customers and in our Meyer Ginger Lemonade (one of my favorite "marinades" for chicken!). Meyer Ginger Lemonade has a bit of cayenne pepper in it, making it wonderful for flu season. It is also a popular drink for people on cleansing fasts or diets.

On the home front, football playoffs are this weekend. Both of my grandsons' teams made it to championship games… hurrah!

We're gearing up for Halloween around here. The grandkids are figuring out who (or what!) they are "going to be."

Here's our favorite Halloween Party punch:

• Pour one gallon CoGo apple cider into a stock pot
• Slice one orange and throw in the pot
• Add two or three cinnamon sticks
• Heat to get flavors infused, then pour into your favorite "cauldron"
• Once the punch cools down a bit, add plastic eyeballs and/or put a chunk of dry ice in a cheesecloth bag (to prevent getting a piece in a drink), and float in punch for creepy mist effect. Gummy worms around the edge are always a hit!

"We finally hit a crowd favorite with the Columbia Gorge Organic VitaSea with Superfoods ($4.29 for 16 ounces at Whole Foods). “It has 3000 mg of spirulina and 1000 mg of chlorella," they said. "The banana and pear give it a little balance. With a lot of these drinks, a particular fruit stands out alone, but with this one, no one thing stands out.” So go out and get some for your family... it's the world's tastiest way to get your daily greens!

As for farm life, the pear and apple harvests are still going strong: lots and lots of delicious fruit still to juice and pack. This is the busiest time around here. I love all the activity and beautiful bins of fruit coming out of the orchards, and the heavenly aromas of fresh pressed pear and apple juices wafting from the juicing room.

As I've mentioned before, I feel so lucky to have fresh CoGo juice right here in my kitchen, including some you'll never see in the store! My favorite morning combo right now are the pure varietal apple and pear juices, like Asian or Bosc Pear and Braeburn or Honeycrisp Apple, along with my tried and true favorite CoGoBar: Apricot Hemp. I'm probably one of the healthiest, happiest Grandmas in the valley.

Soon our seasonal cold-weather juices will be back. Speaking of cold, during cold season I drink the Super-C and and Cranberry Well-Balance Vitatritionals. Really helps me ward off bugs during the winter.

We should see some rain this month. Great for the trees, but I hope the real deluges hold off until we finish the harvest!