Zucchini or Squash? Squash or Zucchini? What's the difference?

Green zucchini

Whenever I heard people say zucchini and squash, I never realized
that it was actually the same thing.  Zucchini is squash and squash is zucchini!  They are related to both the melon and the cucumber and come in many different varieties.  Even though they can differ in shape, color, size and flavor, they all share one common characteristic – You can eat the entire vegetable, including its flesh, seeds and skin.  For some squash plants the flowers they produce are also edible.  The best squash are the summer variety.  The zucchini is the narrow squash that looks like a cucumber in shape and can come in green or yellow in color and can actually have stripes or specks.  The Crooked neck and straight neck squash generally have yellow skins.  The natural state of this squash is crooked (swan like neck) while their straight neck cousin has been genetically engineered to lose the crooked neck shape.  The Pattypan Squash looks like a saucer with wavy edges.  This can come in green or a golden yellow.  This is probably my favorite of the summer squashes because it’s a bit sweeter in flavor than the others.   Squash is great sautéed, grilled and raw and especially delicious as bread!  It’s filling, satisfying and really, really good for you.

Pattypan and Straight

Zucchini is very low in calories and high in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant and can provide protection against cardiovascular disease, and even cure asthma (due to anti-inflammatory properties).  This vegetable helps to prevent diseases like scurvy and bruising because of the Vitamin C.  Other nutrients include foliate, potassium and Vitamin A necessary for proper functioning of the human body.  Lutein coupled with the vitamin C is great for your eyes and vision.  Vitamin B6, riboflavin, manganese and phosphorus helps the body in the arrangement of capillaries and the building of healthy bones.  Manganese also helps to support a healthy immune system.  It aids in the digestion and use of essential fatty acids which is crucial for developing natural antibodies.  Magnesium in the vegetable has roles n increasing energy, metabolism along with improving muscle contractions and nerve impulse transmission.  Regular consumption can be beneficial in the prevention of colon cancer, heart disease and protects the cells from oxidation damage.

Crooked Neck 

Wild squash originated in an area between Guatemala and Mexico.  It has been consumed for over 10,000 years now and was first cultivated for their seeds because early squash was bitter and didn’t have much flesh to eat.  As time progressed, squash cultivation spread through the Americas and better varieties with sweeter tasting flesh were developed.  Christopher Columbus brought squash back to Europe from the New World.  Portuguese and Spanish explorers introduced their cultivation throughout the world.  Today the largest commercial producers of squash include China, Japan, Romania, Turkey, Italy, Egypt and Argentina.

I was surprised not to find California on the list, with all the squash and zucchini varieties sold at the Farmers Market each week!  Bon Appétit!

written by Autumn, 15 - El Camino High School

The Power Packed Pomegranate! Ultra-Healthy and Delicious!

As we enter the season of colds and flues, there is no better natural substance than the pomegranate!  This strange fruit with red rough skin and packed with tiny ruby-red juicy seeds is loaded with anti-oxidant nutrients, which act as an excellent immune booster.  Drinking pomegranate juice at the onset of a cold is a great way to prevent it from getting worse.  The anti-inflammatory agents in pomegranate juice will also significantly reduce the soreness and redness of your sore throat.


Pomegranates are categorized as a “super food” because of their many health benefits.  Other agents found in pomegranate juice have been found to fight against the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) by reducing the oxidation of the bad (LDL) cholesterol that clogs and clots and causes hardening of the arteries.  In fact studies have shown that regular consumption of pomegranates can actually reverse the progression of this disease, protecting and healing you from blood vessel damage.

As I researched further, I learned that other studies positively proved that pomegranates contain a powerful agent against cancer, such as breast cancer and especially prostate cancer.  The anti-oxidant content protects the cells from damage of free radicals, keeping cancer at bay.

The Value of Good Salesmanship: A Teen's Perspective

Honestly, when I started working at the Farmers Market I was mostly focused and excited about the opportunity to make some money.  For that, I knew I would have to perform some tasks to earn it.  However, I had no idea how valuable the experience would be for me, both personally and professionally.

Austin Hall assists in Sales for Woodsong Herbs

Personally the experience has helped me to both test and challenge my ability to communicate with people of all ages, cultures and experiences.  As a teen I believed that my age limited my ability to get adults to want to listen and engage with me in conversation.  Through this experience I have found it to be completely the opposite.  In fact, they were extremely kind and interested in what I had to say and share.  It really boosted my confidence.  I realized that my age had nothing to do with it.  It all had to do with how I was communicating.  I found that my passion and belief not only in myself, but in the products/services I was selling at the market made the biggest difference.  I was actually enjoying the process as I worked and I appreciated the new relationships I was establishing with the market patrons (customers) as they would visit my booth week after week.

As my communication skills developed and improved, my confidence soared, and so did my sales!  I realized that I had an innate ability to effectively communicate with people and engage them in conversation.  People smiled at me, complemented me, and were responding positively to my words and body language.  It was a benefit of the job I was not expecting.

I realized that professionally I was developing and refining my sales skills.  Which are skills I will use and take into any job, career and relationship I enter into for the rest of my life.  By listening to my customers and recognizing their needs and doing a good job of explaining things to them, I was practicing good “salesmanship.”  No matter what career I pursue as an adult I will always be involved in some form of sales because sales is really all about effective communication.  If you can communicate you can engage people and get them interested and vice versa and from there forge a relationship.  I learned that being a good salesman is not just about making the “sale” or “meeting your numbers”, indirectly in business that does matter, but more importantly it’s about the relationship you forge with your customers and co-workers.  If your customers “trust" you and you are in tune with what they want and need and you know that because you “listen” and are “aware” and you can provide it, you will not only make the sale, you will also gain “loyalty” from that customer.  The relationship has  to be mutually beneficial and that’s what matters most.  As my parents say a lot “win/win”.

Healthy Choices: What's in Season? Citrus, Beets & Broccoli

Paradez Farms Oranges at Sunrise Mall
Farmers Market by BeMoneySmartUSA

I eat citrus fruits and broccoli frequently, and eat beets every once in a while, but I never realized how beneficial these few foods were to my health until recently.  If these foods aren’t on your menu at home already, after reading this article you’ll be inspired to expand your repertoire!

With summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to make cold, refreshing citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits, your new favorite snack.  Citrus fruits not only contain vitamin C, but they also contain phytonutrients and antioxidants that are proven to decrease chances of heart diseases and some types of cancer.  In addition, eating citrus fruits once a day can reduce the risk of stroke by almost 20%.  While oranges are widely renowned for their vitamin C content, grapefruit is ranked among the highest for antioxidants.  Grapefruit also seems to help symptoms of inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatiod arthritis and lupus.

Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone! BeMoneySmartUSA Teen Shares Her Experience

Autumn and Alyssa get into the Farmers Market Spirit
with Face Painting creations by April May

At the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market we are asked to perform a myriad of different jobs. One of  the jobs we perform is Hospitality. In this job we greet customers who visit our market with a hardy and happy "hello" and then proceed to assist them with their groceries and/or to find a specific farmer or vendor they are looking for.  We also take the opportunity to sign them up for our weekly announcements and monthly newsletters where they have the opportunity to learn more about our markets and receive additional savings in coupons.  Engaging with customers in this way has really helped me develop my skills in both sales and customer service.  It's not always easy to walk up to a complete stranger and engage in conversation.  Getting this hands-on first hand experience affords me the chance to practice the skills we are taught in both the financial and business courses offered through BeMoneySmartUSA.

Before I could even begin to work at the Farmers' Markets, I had to first complete a financial and business workshop taught by BeMoneySmartUSA.  These classes were free and I was afraid they would also be boring.  Instead they were chock full of great information and facts about the economy that I had no idea about.  Most importantly I discovered that I had the power now at my age to begin the process of preparing for my own financial future.  My age was actually an advantage and I recognized both my own power to create my own future and my responsibility to understanding our own family's budget and spending.

What Constitutes A Certified Farmers Market in California

In the State of California there are three ways you can open and run a certified farmers market. You can either be an association, a government agency or a non-profit corporation. As a non-profit, BeMoneySmartUSA is permitted and licensed by the California State Department of Agriculture to run and manage a Certified Farmers Market (CFM) where all of the farmers and vendors are all certified by the State of California Department of Agriculture and under the regulation of the County Agricultural Commission. The CFM was created by the State of California to allow farmers the opportunity to sell their produce directly to the public exempting them from certain packing standards, labeling, and sizing requirements, which saves the farmers money and those savings get passed onto you! There are also regulations and permits through the County Department of Health that we must comply with in order to have non-certified products which would include prepared foods like bakery goods and sauces.

Patrons who visit any one of the Farmers' Markets sponsored by BeMoneySmartUSA can expect that everyone of the Farmers represented are certified and in many cases certified organic Farmers.  Each of them will display their updated permit - Certificate of Agriculture - that lists all of the produce they grow and sell at our markets.  They sell what they grow and they sell locally grown produce.  In addition to the local produce found at these markets, patrons can also enjoy gourmet specialty food items that include home made fresh pastas, sauces, and jams.  Other specialties include a variety of salsa blends, ground corn fresh baked tortilla chips, tamales, Soups to go, fresh breads, pastries and interesting healthy blends of dips, hummus, and many other delicious choices.  

BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers' Markets are locations includes: Saturday, 8 am - 1 pm in Citrus Heights, Sunrise Mall behind Sears; Sunday, 9 am - 2 pm at the Carmichael Park in Carmichael; Wednesday 9 am - 1 pm in front of the Veterans Hospital at Mather and in the evenings from 3 pm - 8 pm at the Fair Oaks Plaza Park on Main Street in the Old Fair Oaks Village. All markets are open all year round, rain or shine.

BeMoneySmartUSA supports farmers, community and youth as part of the mission to provide educational programs to youth in our communities! Thank you for your support!
Written by Austin, 18 – Sonoma State College

Meet the Winners of the Salsa Contest at the Carmichael Park Farmers Markets

On Sunday, September 18, 2011 over 1,000 tastings were offered to patrons who visit the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market at the Carmichael Park.  They all had the pleasure, yet difficult task of voting for their "Market Favorite Salsa".  Participants included both commercial/business entities and amateur/individual entrants.  Awards were given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in both categories.  Lines formed to taste fourteen different salsas!  Salsas entered included sweet salsas made with mangos, onions, and cilantro.  Others were more traditional with a combination of red tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro and spices.  There were mild and hot salsas that included some of the season's best jalapenos too!  There was something for everyone.  But, there was no doubt who had the best salsa and voted the Market Favorite(s).

BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market Offers Amazing Opportunities to Teens!

With economic times as tough as they are, teens too are in trouble when it comes to getting jobs.  That is why it is so fantastic that, through their  Farmers Markets, BeMoneySmartUSA offers a variety of job opportunities to teens not only to earn money but to learn valuable business skills.

Through the nonprofit’s Rent-A-Teen program, local farmers and vendors can hire youth who have been trained in the BeMoneySmartUSA business and financial literacy workshops to assist at the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market.  In addition,

BeMoneySmartUSA offers other paid positions.  Teens may work in hospitality, greeting and helping those who come to the Farmer’s Market. They can also act as freelance writers, interviewing customers and vendors and sharing information in the Farmer’s Market monthly newsletter.

In addition to training teens, BeMoneySmartUSA gives back to the community! Workers collect several pounds of fresh produce from the farmers to donate to local youth charities, such as WIND Youth Services and Our Youth Breakfast Club.  “The Farmers Market is just an extension of the relevant experience and education they are all getting by participating in the Rent-A-Teen program and we are truly blessed to partner with an organization that gives back to youth and the community,” states Kelly Grady, mohter of three teenage girls who attended the finance and business camps and all work with BeMoneySmartUSA.

The BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market is a win-win situation for everyone involved:  the farmers, the teens, the costumers and local charities.  “We want to provide a model of business that helps the teens, the community and the businesses who participate to experience something more than the status quo,” says Don Hall, Market Manager, in this month’s Carmichael Times and American River Messenger.

At BeMoneySmartUSA’s unique Carmichael Farmer’s Market, youth gain job experience while earning an income, and advance their confidence and social skills while working with the community.  If you have not yet experienced the hospitality and plentiful selection of produce at the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market,  please come for a visit!  It is open every Saturday at the Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and every Sunday at the Carmichael Park from 9 am to 2 pm, rain or shine, all year round!

BeMoneySmartUSA is featured this month in the Carmichael Times as well as in the American River Messenger!  The articles provided  an in-depth look at how BeMoneySmartUSA is using its Carmichael Farmer’s Market to further its goal to financially educate youth. Free copies of the articles are available this month!

BeMoneySmartUSA works with schools, churches, youth organizations and businesses to provide FREE finance and business workshops to both youth and adults.  For more information about BeMoneySmartUSA workshops visit www.bemoneysmartusa.org. To sponsor a BeMoneySmartUSA program, email info@bemoneysmartusa.org or call (916) 806-3989.

Written by Clayton, 16, Folsom High School

Who Knew "Fungi" Could Be Be So Good For You!

At the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market there are many vendors who come together to offer you a variety of foods.  The newest addition to the Farmer’s Market family is the Dragon Gourmet Mushrooms booth, overseen by Peter and Bobbi Gallagher and owned by Roxana Walker.

Dragon Gourmet Mushrooms sells fresh Shiitake mushrooms (their most popular item), Blue Oyster mushrooms (great in salads), and King Oyster mushrooms (good sliced on the barbecue). One basket
of mushrooms sells for $4 and two baskets for $6.  The mushrooms are grown in sanitized rice-straw without the use of pesticides.  They also sell a growing kit that includes everything you need to grow your own mushrooms at home.  “The mushrooms are all high in antioxidants and delicious in soups,” says Peter.

Visit the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market to purchase produce from Dragon Gourmet Mushrooms as well as from many other local growers.  The BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday at the Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Carmichael Park in Carmichael on Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and on Wednesday mornings at the VA Hospital at Mather from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and Wednesday evenings at the Old Village Fair Oaks Plaza Park from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm all year round, rain or shine!

written by Annina, 13 - Olympus Middle School

2011 First Annual Tomato Taste Off Contest was A Huge Success!

Display of tomatoes at Carmichael Park

BeMoneySmartUSA hosted two tomato taste off contest events at their certified farmers markets on Saturday, September 10 at the Sunrise Mall and on Sunday, September 11 at the Carmichael Park.  Many of the farmers from both locations proudly entered their many varieties of tomatoes to include heirlooms, cherry and hybrid varieties to compete for recognition as being the "best tasting heirloom tomato", the "most beautiful tomato", "the meatiest tomato" and the "sweetest tomatoes".  Patrons visiting the markets had the delicious and sometimes difficult task of tasting and only being allowed to vote for one tomato favorite in each category.

Teens earn while they learn at local Certified Farmers’ Markets in Citrus Heights and Carmichael

Chelsea uses her sales skills working for Mt. Moriah

Alex & CA Pistachios

While shopping the new Farmers’ Markets at the Sunrise Mall on Saturday and at the Carmichael Park on Sunday, both open from 8-1, it is not difficult to notice the many “red-shirted” teenagers hard at work behind the booths alongside the farmers and vendors who sell their produce and products at these weekly markets.   These young people are all students of a youth entrepreneurship program offered through BeMoneySmartUSA, a local non-profit who organizes and manages both of the farmers’ markets.  The venues provide opportunities for youth to participate in the organization’s “Rent-A-Teen” program to work jobs in communication, hospitality, marketing, media, journalism, event coordination, administration, and sales.  Students applying for these jobs are required to complete a minimum of 10-12 hours of financial and business training through the non-profit’s FREE education programs.  Once the students have completed the courses, they have the opportunity to apply for job positions offered at the markets. 

Meet Our Market Manager: Twyla Teitzel!

Twyla Teitzel - Market Manager for Sunrise FM

Twyla is the Market Manager for the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market at the Sunrise Mall.  She has always been a healthy eating enthusiast and as a vegan, she especially enjoys fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables as they make up much of her daily diet.  She has always loved attending farmers markets as a patron and has known the founder Marie Hall of BeMoneySmartUSA for many years.  When Don and Marie Hall opened the market at the mall they asked her to manage it as they knew she has always been interested in supporting healthy eating and supporting local farmers to bring locally grown produce to the communities.

Twyla also teaches yoga and has now for over eleven years.  As part of her teaching model, she always encourages her students to eat healthful healing foods.   Her oldest daughter, Danielle, graduated from Baumen Nutrition School and her younger daughter, Candiss, works at the strawberry booth at the Sunrise Mall Farmers Market as part of the Rent-A-Teen program.

Twyla tells me she is excited to make the Farmers Market a family tradition to visit. She wants the families to know that there's something for everyone here. Twyla says she also can't wait to bring more organic foods to the Farmers Market.

Twyla explains that one of the unique and important features about this market  is that it is run by the non-profit organization, BeMoneySmartUSA that offers free classes to teens that teach financial and business education.   Through programs like the Rent-A-Teen, youth have the opportunity to learn and earn a wage at the market when farmers hire them to run their booths. Teens gain experience working with the public, customer service, and marketing. These skills are especially important for developing their confidence and skills to be successful in the job market.

Written by Caysie, 13 - Barrett Middle School

BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market Rent-A-Teen Program A Rewarding Experience!

Candiss works with Success Valley Strawberries through the
BeMoneySmartUSA Rent-A-Teen Program

Working with the Rent-A-Teen program has been a very rewarding experience for me. I work for Success Valley Farms at the Strawberry Booth. Their strawberries are grown in Oxnard, which is below Santa Barbara, and we are selling a winter berry called the Ventana. The strawberries that are grown on their farm are not certified organic, but they do fertilize organically. They don’t use any methionine, they use a mustard-seed oil instead, which is organic.

I have learned many things while working for Success Valley Farms. One is how to make your strawberries last for 2 weeks. What you do is, take a plastic Tupperware container, put a few paper towels on the bottom, put your strawberries in the container, put the container in the refrigerator, and wash the strawberries right before you eat them, and they will last. Strawberries do not like moisture, so if you wash them as you put them in the refrigerator and let them sit there before you eat them, they are likely to spoil sooner.

Being able to work with the farmers gives me the chance to perfect my people interacting skills. I am constantly talking and engaging people in conversation for six hours every Saturday. I ask them how they are, and they in turn ask me how I am. They ask me about the strawberries I am selling them, and I answer their questions to the best of my abilities. Being able to interact with people and have an actual conversation is a great tool for now, and in the future when work becomes more serious. I know that being able to interact in this manner with people will definitely help me succeed in the future.

Along with people skills, I also get to exercise my math skills. Selling strawberries, or even anything at the Farmers Market involves money, and therefore math. I feel very lucky to be given the opportunity to exchange money, and make sure that I am giving back the right amount of change. I am thankful that I get the opportunity to do this at such an early age, because I know that I will have to do a lot more of this when I am older, so it is a good thing that I am being exposed to this now, as opposed to never being given the chance to like so many kids today. I know that in the future I will be very confident in giving back change, counting, and exchanging money, so I am very glad to have had this experience now. I always love to play Monopoly, and whenever I get a chance I will always ask my mom and sister to play with me. When I was younger I used to play Monopoly a lot, and would always insist on being the ‘bank’. So, on the first day of the Farmers Market, when I gave our first customer their change back, all I kept thinking in my head was, ‘I am so glad for Monopoly.’ A lot of customers that we have are very impressed that I am able to count back change, which I must say, I am very thankful for my mother always telling me to do that.

I love being able to go to the Farmers Market every Saturday and sell strawberries.


It is a wonderful community that I love to be in. I love offering people a strawberry and seeing the joy on their face that says ‘Aw, now this is what a strawberry should taste like’. I enjoy working with Success Valley Farms a lot and am very grateful that I am a part of Be Money Smart and the Rent-A-Teen program. I love working at the Farmers Market and could not have asked for a better thing to do on a Saturday.

Written by Candiss, 14 - Orangevale Open

BeMoneySmarUSA Farmers Market Opens at the Sunrise Mall

The grand opening of the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market at the Sunrise Mall on March 5, 2011 was a perfect day!  As people entered the market they were greeted by a smiling student employee dressed in “red” ready to help anyone seeking a special vendor and acquainting them with the layout of the new market.  There were over twenty new vendor/farmers out there, some of them familiar faces to patrons and many of them new to this venue.  Over 3000 people came in to celebrate with us on opening day.  Special entertainment was offered through the happy and talented Dilly Dally the clown who worked  hard to keep everyone adorned with balloon hats, wrist corsages and much more.  April May, was our featured face painter.  She created gorgeously elaborate designs on the eager faces of patrons of all ages.  You couldn’t miss the great toe-tapping sounds of the blue grass band “Ridin’ Shotgun” in the background with their distinct voices and cool steel guitar, banjos and drums!

Austins assists Upper Crust Baking
at BeMoneySmartUSA Sunrise Market

The BeMoneySmartUSA market is a Certified Farmers Market, which means all the farmers are certified by the state of California Department of Agriculture and many of them are also certified as organic farmers.  With products like beef, fish, eggs, organic citrus and vegetables, and a variety of specialty products that includes organic pre-prepared meals, almond butter, dried fruits and nuts, jams, sauces, homemade pasta, pizza, barbecue sauces, organic fresh spices/herbs and wine there is something for everyone!  You will not only get great healthy food but great service from the teens in “red” who are there to help out with your groceries, find a vendor and share the mission.  I really enjoy the market. I love the environment it brings and how every person just brightens up your day.

I am looking forward to future events that will be offered at the market that will include Free Healthy Cooking Demonstrations, Kids Cooking Classes, Raw-Foods Cooking, Canning Demonstrations, and other community events offered through community businesses and city programs.  Each week you can enjoy great local musical entertainment, balloon clowns, magicians, and face painting!

We look forward to seeing you out there each Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Sunrise Mall.  Come shop with us!

Written by Tabitha, 18 - El Camino High School

Local Charter School Takes Initiative to Provide Financial &Entrepreneruship Education to Their Students

BeMoneySmartUSA Foundation is partnering with the Sacramento Leadership Coop sponsored through the Horizon Charter School at the Our Lady of Guadalupe School in downtown Sacramento to bring entrepreneurial classes to students in grades 4 through 12.  Two courses, sixteen hours each, will be individually tailored to three age groups, all including fun games, activities, and demonstrations:

• 4th and 5th graders in the business course will be treated to a variety of interactive games helping them explore the basics of business, such as supply and demand.  In the financial education class offered by BeMoneySmartUSA, they will learn to better understand the value of money, how to save it and when to spend it.

• 6th through 8th graders in the business course will learn the eight main steps to starting a business, how to recognize market opportunities, and how to develop a stable, successful business plan.  The financial course for middle school students will discuss the economy, financial goals, investing and even give students the opportunity to create a mock investment portfolio.

• High school students in the business course will get an in depth view of business ownership and management while making real-world financial decisions and writing a feasible business plan.  In the financial class, they will learn about finances using a  hands-on approach.  They will work through an eleven unit lesson plan, including topics such as saving, investing and avoiding debt.

BeMoneySmartUSA looks forward to working with Our Lady of Guadalupe and providing a fun and educational experience for their students!

Annina, 13 - Olympus Middle School