Melissa's Produce

Cinco de Mayo, Mom, and More!

Cinco De Mayo
This year, Cinco de Mayo falls mid-week on a Thursday! Cinco de Mayo has become an "American" celebration, with festivities happening nationwide. The holiday started with a celebration in the U.S. in 1863 to show solidarity against the French rule. During this national holiday, parades and mock battles — using fruits as ammunition — are the highlight of the day. Dances, parties, fireworks, and patriotic foods all celebrate the victory at Puebla. Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo as if it were one of their triumphs, which it is not. For them, it is merely another day of fun, food and festivities.

Melissa's has a complete Cinco De Mayo menu to help make your celebration the best!

We offer fresh and dried peppers to add flavor and heat to all your dishes (without the added sodium, too!). One of our trendiest ingredients is our Hatch Pepper Powder; sprinkle it on your favorite dish for the authentic flavor of Hatch, New Mexico. We have added a full line of over-the-top HOT dried peppers for all the pepper-heads. Use these sparingly — they are HOT! Fresh variety peppers like serrano, jalapeño, Anaheim and pasilla, along with Soyrizo®, Soy Taco®, Soy Ground®, and other fresh Melissa's ingredients, will also help make your Cinco de Mayo delicious!!

Mother’s Day
May is for Mother's! Mother's Day is credited to Anna M. Jarvis. Most historians believe that Mother's Day started at a church celebration in West Virginia in 1907. It was an exceptional service arranged by Anna M. Jarvis to honor the memory of her mother. Seven years later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day a national holiday. Mothers everywhere are showered with gifts and cards from children (many hand-made) and may be pampered by everyone in the family.
For many people, the most important holiday in May is Mother's Day. The second Sunday of May is always this special day to honor and celebrate mothers nationwide. This year Mother's Day is May 8. Spending time with your mom is a special treat, no matter how old the kids are! With COVID restrictions starting to loosen up, Zoom calls may become in-person visits, and the old tradition of taking Mom out to dinner or making something special at home is becoming popular again. Cooking at home is still a popular way to celebrate. Plus, there are so many services that can help you create the perfect meal at home!

Check out our website for some of our favorite Mother's Day recipes.

Breakfast in bed is always popular for moms, including trending bowls with delicious acai and fruit, or even quinoa and fruit. Barbecuing, including plant-based items and grilled vegetables, is perfect for casual family gatherings. Our French-style crêpes with dessert sauce sprinkled with a touch of powdered sugar make a quick, delicious dessert. Our Hollandaise Sauce will make eggs benedict super easy; just heat the packet for 10 seconds and top your dish — mom will love it, and so will everyone else!

Kentucky Derby
This year, the big race is on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The Kentucky Derby is a top-ranking horse race for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses. The horses race on a dirt track for 1 ¼ miles. Mint Juleps are the classic drink of the Kentucky Derby. They are served with tons of fresh mint and plenty of ice! Always have plenty of mint on hand when watching, so you’ll feel like you’re in Louisville with the racers!

Memorial Day
Memorial Day is Monday, May 30, 2022; this is an important holiday celebrated in the United States, honoring the U.S. men and women who died while serving in the military service. This national holiday allows many people the day off from work to gather at cemeteries and decorate the graves of those who have fallen. Depending on local COVID restrictions, many of these celebrations will be safer and smaller with fewer people. Many people will celebrate at home with plenty of food.
Grilled veggies are always a hit at barbecues. Simply choose your favorite vegetables, place them in a grill basket (or a piece of foil on the grill) and brush with a little olive oil and miso paste. Turn until they reach the desired crispness, then serve with a sprinkle of salt — delicious! Or, try our Hollandaise Sauce to really step it up! Check out some of our tasty DYP® recipes for side dishes and vegetarian dishes. Add peppers to your recipes for delicious flavor without adding sodium. From mild to hot, our Chile Pepper Cookbook has some great recipes for everyone!