Fresh Air Retreat – Palm Springs

We did also get the chance to head out into Palm Springs, see some sites and enjoy a few hosted meals that did not disappoint!

California Dates: A Sweet Local Treat

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

We had the opportunity to meet with a passionate, local date farmer from the California Date Commission who prepped us a “date tasting flight” which was so cool. I really loved this segment of our trip and learned a ton. We were even gifted a big box of dates which I have been snacking on since! Did you know that one date has the same amount of potassium as 3 bananas? Crazy!

• 1. The Famous Medjool 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 a snack on their own, blended into smoothies, or even stuffed with nuts or cheese for an appetizer.
• 2. Date Shakes. A trip to Palm Springs wouldn’t be complete without trying a date shake. 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 Garden, just a short drive from Palm Springs in Indio, is known for its famous date shakes, which have been a local favorite since the 1920s.
• 3. Date Festivals. If you’re visiting in early February, you might catch the annual Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival held in Indio. This festival celebrates the region’s date-growing heritage with everything from camel races to live entertainment and, of course, plenty of date-inspired foods.
• 4. Bringing Dates Home. Dates make a great souvenir! Many local date farms and specialty shops offer freshly packed dates you can bring home or give as gifts. Some farms even offer tours, so you can learn about the history and process behind date cultivation.

Happy Egg!

I LOVED meeting the team over at Happy Egg. They are extremely passionate about their hens, which got me excited too! There is a difference between free range and free vs cage free and their hens require a minimum of 21.8 square feet of range for every bird, which equates to 10 acres per 20,000 birds.

Inside every Happy Egg, you’ll find a rich amber yolk; every 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 throughout the midwest. Make sure to check out their store locator to see where you can find them in your area!

Onions 52

A highlight lunch was sponsored by the folks at Onions 52, which work with farmers to supply quality onions 52 weeks a year. They are dedicated to using sustainable farming practices to ensure the quality and environmental responsibility of every onion. They pride themselves in quality products and have even developed at “Smiley” sweet onion that is virtually tearless! I will be receiving a big box of these in the mail today and am over the moon excited! Store them in a dark, cool spot and they will last months!

Naturally tearless, Smileys are grown to be sweet and mild, transforming any dish into an enjoyable culinary experience without the discomfort of watery eyes. These onions develop their unique sweetness as they mature, making them versatile and perfect for both raw and cooked dishes.

Albertson’s

Albertson’s hosted a few different options for up throughout the retreat featuring their brand, Signature Select. This was a gorgeous afternoon snack that was set up for us with all sorts of goodies including fresh fruit, their chopped salads, my personal fave, nuts, veggies,, and ice cream sandwiches!

Products like their pre-made chopped salads and veggie trays help save me time in busy lives and that’s always a win for me.

Signature Select is available only at Albertsons Companies’ family stores including: Safeway, Albertsons, Tom Thumb, Jewel-Osco, Acme Markets, Shaws & Vons.

California Walnuts

Another highlight was once evening the folks at California Walnuts spoiled us with a make-your-own charcuterie board party featuring 3 different recipes for walnuts that Chef Trimmel developed. It was such a fun activity an done that I plan creating here at home! Walnuts taste sweet, and have a creamy, buttery texture that is perfect for baking this time of year as well as pairing!

There are endless opportunities to incorporate seasoned walnuts – versatile and nutritious – into your favorite dishes for holiday entertaining. Pairing walnuts with their favorite/trending seasoning flavor profiles and using them to elevate holiday charcuterie board, and more…

Grocer’s List

Beyond eating we also had lots of time to learn and share with each other about the current trends in influencer marketing, which is a big part of all of our businesses. Ben from Grocer’s List came and walked us through some new ways to help our readers and subscribers. New tech enables us to get you our recipes easily via social media as well as allow you to shop the ingredients of each recipe without any list making! It’s all about YOU and making our platforms easy to navigate and get information from!