The story is this: Steve Sando opened his heirloom bean shop in Napa Valley  after being fed up with using produce from thousands of miles away, or even overseas. So on the subject of beans – instead of general dried beans, what about connecting with the farmers in Mexico and  importing heirloom beans, paying the farmers a fair wage to support their living? And that’s what Steve did.

What’s the big deal – beans in a bag? I could get dried pinto beans from the bin for far less money, you’re thinking. Oh, you could. But the taste would be inferior to Rancho Gordo’s New World beans! Once you eat heirloom beans, your life will have turned upside-down. You’ll eat these beans for the rest of your life.

And we haven’t even gotten to hominy (posole) yet! Posole – a staple in many Mexican stews, sides & main dishes. If you’re thinking that this is tasteless, mushy hominy from the 1950s that your mother had to eat at the dinner table, well – don’t think that. It’s glorious, delicious, tasty dried corn!

You can visit the store in Napa. You can go to the Ferry Building in the city. Or you can stop at Other Avenues – where we have a small selection in our grocery aisle. Ask us – we’ll trot you over to the Rancho Gordo subsection.

Local, Sonoma County-goodness from sweet whole Jersey cows. Real milk has this sort of buttery color to it. And we have it!

Drink up, everyone.

Banana Sam’s relative – the spider monkey – has a chocolate bar! A perfect Valentine’s Day gift.  Share this bar with your sweetie, and go to the Zoo on Valentine’s Day to visit the One & Only Banana Sam (who is a squirrel monkey).

A gourmet-like, crunchy bar with healthful ingredients to help us reduce stress and increase stamina.

With the combinations of hops, ginger root, raspberries, beneficial bacteria and open-air fermentation – and gluten-free & vegan – this will definitely be a winner.