It’s a nutritional powerhouse, containing nutrients such as protein, magnesium, and Vitamin E in significant quantities. It’s delicious. And it’s been unjustly maligned for years now for its high fat content. I’m talking about almond butter. It’s true; almond butter isn’t a low-fat food. But when you balance fat content against nutritional profile (never mind possible health benefits), you figure out very quickly that almond butter in moderation is a positive addition to almost anyone’s diet. Of course, it’s ideal for vegetarians, vegans, and folks who can’t eat peanut butter, too. You can get almond butter in a surprising number of places these days, and there are some good brands available. But I must tell you about the almond butter from Lagier Ranches, in Escalon, California.
Lagier Ranches 100% Organic Almond Butters: Raw Smooth, Raw Crunchy & Roasted Smooth.
I’ve been trying to remember how I found out about this small business, or exactly when I first tried their products. I can’t recall either piece of information, but it was absolutely love at first bite. The almond butter tasted so fresh and so sweet—and it still does, jar after jar. Don’t be alarmed; there’s no sugar (or salt, or oil) added to this almond butter. Almonds are a naturally sweet nut, and the sweetness and full flavor here come from the freshness and good quality of the nuts used by Lagier Ranches to make their product (#1 grade almonds — those of the best quality — are the only kind allowed in their almond butter). And attention, all you raw food enthusiasts — you can find raw almond butter here, in both Smooth and Crunchy varieties. Myself, I prefer the Roasted Crunchy, but I really have to remember to buy the large jar next time I order. This stuff disappears around my place as if by magic!
Lagier Ranches Organic Boysenberry Preserve.
Lagier Ranches Organic Bing Cherry Preserve.
Oh, and I’ve got to share my latest discovery from this place: their Boysenberry Fruit Spread. If you don’t know about boysenberries, they’re a cross between loganberries, red raspberries, and blackberries. They’re especially popular in the Western US (and with me). This is a sugar-sweetened fruit preserve, but there’s too little sugar in it for it to legally be called a jam. The minimalist sweetening allows the intense, slightly tart flavor of the berries to shine through, and it is a delight. In fact, it would go beautifully with the almond butter on whole grain bread. Hungry yet? Yeah, me, too.
Snacks: Cinnamon Almonds & Garlic Almonds.
Snacks: Mandarin Almonds & Salted Almonds.
If you’d like a change of pace from almond butter, that’s no problem. There’s an interesting list of raw, roasted, and flavored almonds offered in several sizes; I’m especially partial to the Mandarin Almonds. And did I mention that this company’s products are all certified organic? In fact, they’ve been fully organic since 1996, long before a lot of people jumped on the organic bandwagon. John Lagier, a 4th-generation farmer, initiated his own generational footprint on the land when he started to transition the farm. Besides being organic, the farm is also environmentally conscious in their use of water, energy and other resources.
Left: John Lagier. Right: the Lagier Ranches orchard.
For those of us who don’t live near California, Lagier Ranches offers the convenience of online ordering. Time to enjoy some healthy snacks!
Top photo: Tamari almond snacks.
Jane Alt
January 4, 2010
Sought out the Lagier Ranches almond butter and boysenberry spread at the Marin County Farmers Market yesterday — SUCCESS! And, it is indeed as delicious as the article says – thank you for turning us on to it! Bonus: my son is allergic to peanuts and a couple of other tree nuts but not almonds. This farm processes almonds and only almonds so, unlike other nut vendors, who share equipment with others nuts, Lagier Ranches is truly a safe source of almonds for us. Thanks, Goodlifer!