A Super Food for Rosh Hashanah
Lynda Resnick is known as pomegranate royalty. In 2003, only 12 percent of the U.S. population knew what a pomegranate was or how to use it. Today, due to Lynda’s efforts as co–founder of POM Wonderful, she is now known as the POM Queen! Pomegranates are in the forefront for taste, culinary use, and their much publicized and discussed health benefits. Her ever–thriving company has invested over $35 million dollars in pomegranate and health related scientific research.
POM Wonderful is now a global brand which ships to 55 countries. It is the only company that grows, harvests, processes, and ships their own pomegranates and is the largest grower of pomegranates in the U.S., with over 18,000 acres of “Wonderful” variety pomegranates in the San Joaquin Valley in Central California.
Pomegranate trees take about nine years to grow to full maturity and require loving cultivation. When the pomegranates are ready to harvest, they’re picked by hand and at Pom Wonderful, the juice is actually extracted right on–site. This company is committed to sustainable business practices including special drip–irrigation technologies to minimize use of water and making productive use of every single part of the pomegranate. (What’s left over is used as cattle feed – not in landfills!)
Pomegranates have ancient biblical roots and are traditionally part of the festive meals of Rosh Hashanah. Everyone looks forward to enjoying this fruit at the Yom Tov table, and of course in “counting” those 613 arils (seeds) said to match the number of 613 mitzvos (commandments) in the Torah.
In recent years, the pomegranate has also become a year–round fruit. And, thanks to Lynda Resnick and her company, now we even drink it. Pom Wonderful makes this easy, providing a bottled juice that is pure pomegranate – no additives, no preservatives, no sugar, and no seeds. We cook with it often. Each 16–ounce bottle contains the juice of four pomegranates.
Wishing our dear readers a year to match the numerous, healthful and delicious seeds of the pomegranate. May your days be filled with at least 613 opportunities to smile, enjoy the goodness of life, and to treat the world with kindness.
Toast the New Year with this Pomegranate Martini recipe and dress your salad with this delicious POM Salad Dressing recipe. Visit the Pom Wonderful website for additional recipes. To print a $1 off coupon for POM Wonderful, click here. Want to know more about pomegranates? Watch their video, Tree to Bottle.
Martha Stewart shares her incredibly easy way to seed a pomegranate – why didn't we think of it!
September 26, 2011