The natural-foods movement has sent the health-conscious and adventurous on a hunt through grocery aisles in recent years, scouring shelves for the newest and most exotic in so-called superfood products.
Goji and acai berries were the latest antioxidant darlings that health foodies munched by the handful. Now, it's the tart and tangy goldenberry that's gaining attention and perking up taste buds.
Sometimes called Cape gooseberries or ground-cherries, the tiny golden fruits are native to Columbia, Peru and Chile, where they grow wild in papery husks. They've long been staples in upscale European shops and fruit stands, a popular ingredient in their gourmet jams and pies.
But the fruit has only recently found its way onto U.S. grocery shelves in its dried form, noted as an antioxidant that's high in protein, bioflavinoids and vitamins A, C and B12.
A fair-trade company, Kopali has partnered with farmers in Costa Rica on a restoration project to restore the crop. A snack-size 1.8-ounce bag sells for $3.99 at Whole Foods. The berries are also available from Navitas Naturals, whose 4-ounce bag (not certified organic) sells for $5.95.
Zaidman dubs himself and his team as "food explorers" who travel the world in search of the new and forgotten nutrition-packed foods that the market is hungry for.
"Once upon a time, people didn't know from a mango. I even remember when people started getting excited about this weird green fruit called a kiwi," says Zaidman.
The goldenberry, he says, has the same potential to explode in popularity as the goji and acai berries before them.
"They're getting a lot of interest," he says. "I say they're like a super raisin, like a superfood raisin. And we're obsessed with this whole idea of superfoods, because if you're going to eat something, it might as well be something that's really good for you."
Original Source : http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-noticed0626.artjun26,0,7068950.story
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