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.

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