The Weekly Menu: Jones Soda and Pick Your Own

Jones Soda Co.

I have never been a cola fan. I went through a phase when I was a child where I could not live without it but abruptly stopped after I had surgery when I was 14 years old for reasons I do not remember. It always decreased my energy if I drank too much of it, and as an over achieving teenager I knew it was absolutely unnecessary for me.

However, a very close friend of mine whom I lived with while I was in Germany discovered Africola, a South African cola made from natural sugar rather than from corn syrup. The drink alone is much sweeter than other cola products, but the overall taste is so much fresher than its corn syrup counterparts. After experiencing such a drink, I have found it even more challenging to consume American cola products upon returning from my studies in Europe several years ago.

I was last minute grocery shopping on the Fourth of July and was oddly craving cola, probably due to the natural humidity I am not used to on a daily basis. I really did not want Coca-Cola or Pepsi, and just when I was about to give up searching I discovered Jones Soda, a Seattle-based soda company. After reading the label and becoming amused with the random pictures submitted by purchasers on the box, I knew I had to try it.

Result, not exactly like Africola, for Africola has a little more caffeine than Jones but definitely very similar. One can again notice that the cola is made with cane sugar and natural flavorings as opposed to the global giants. Jones also offers other products such as cream sodas, juices, energy drinks, vitamin water, and candy. What is more interesting is that Jones Soda Company makes it clear that their label is for the people by allowing consumers to submit their own photos and phrases to be printed on their products.

See for yourself and depending on where you are, give Jones or Africola a try: www.africola.co.za
www.jonessoda.com


Pick Your Own

While reading Michael Pollan?s The Omnivore?s Dilemma, I have been on a search to find a farm so I, too can conduct a little experiment with picking my own ingredients. Do not get me wrong; my local neighborhood in Georgia has plenty of them, but most farms in my area are private family farms and do not distribute to the public. I would have to drive for about an hour or two in almost any direction to find at least one farm open to the public, but different regions in Georgia have different produce readily available which leaves me undecided as to what produce should I pick?

Luckily, Pick Your Own, an organization committed to educating the public about their local produce and where to find it. The organization lists crop calendars, picking tips, how to?s, and most importantly, farm directories. Pick Your Own mostly reaches to American States but also lists farms in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, South Africa, Japan, and New Zealand.

I have not yet decided which farm to go to yet, but I do know what produce currently is in season: blackberries, tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, grapes, watermelons, and of course, peaches. So, I have much to select from and probably will make my decision before next week. In the meantime, check out their website: www.pickyourown.org .



Image from www.pickyourown.org