California Strawberries Star in Award-Winning PBS Series

California Strawberries Star in Award-Winning PBS Series

'Chefs A' Field: Kids on the Farm' Takes Kids to Strawberry Farm and Restaurant for Tasty, Educational Experience

WATSONVILLE, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning May 1, viewers across the nation will tune in to their local PBS station to see some kids' happy smiles as they visit a California strawberry farm, then take the berries they've picked to a San Francisco restaurant so they can learn how to prepare them.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070504/SFF045 )

It's all part of an innovative, award-winning series called "Chefs A' Field," that brings farmers, chefs and kids together to learn first-hand about where food comes from and how to use it in delicious recipes. The strawberry episode is the fourth installment of the series' third season.

Watsonville strawberry farmer Victor Ramirez brings his daughters, Kelsey, then 10, and Marie, 8, to fellow grower Ed Kelly's farm for the first part of the half-hour program. Joining them are San Francisco chef Mitch Rosenthal and his children, Eli, 7, and Athena, 4.

There, the kids and the chef learn how farmers grow this healthy, delicious berry in the cool, coastal area of California that is the perfect environment to grow strawberries. In fact, California produces 88% of the strawberries sold in the U.S.

In a field of ripe, red strawberries, the children quickly go to work picking -- and eating -- the strawberries, before packing some up to take to Town Hall Restaurant in San Francisco, a popular dining spot Rosenthal runs with his brother, Stephen. While learning about pest management, they talk with an expert "bug scout," and climb aboard the bug vacuum that sucks up the bad bugs that can destroy fruit quality and health of the plants.

At the restaurant, the kids roll up their sleeves and work with the chefs to create mouth-watering recipes like homemade strawberry preserves and scones with strawberries and cream.

"Chefs A' Field: Kids on the Farm" addresses issues that are at the forefront of public discussion such as sustainability and kids eating habits, as well as offering recipes ideas to viewers in a way that is family-friendly. It is beautifully shot, full of fun and laughter, and contains an abundance of interesting information.

Although the program debuts on high definition and digital PBS channels May 1, individual channels can air it anytime within five years. Most choose to air it within six months. Ninety-five percent of the PBS stations in all the major markets are expected to air the show. It will air on Sundays -- 5 p.m. EDT and 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. PDT.

The series was the first cooking-related program to be produced in high definition and has been awarded two prestigious James Beard's Awards, including Best National Television Cooking Program. The series has also receiving two CINE Golden Eagle Awards, two White House Photographers Awards and has been recognized by Food & Wine Magazine with their annual Tastemaker Awards.

To learn which stations are airing the program and viewing times, visit http://www.chefsafield.com/. There are also video clips, recipes, information on the chefs and farmers and a link to the California Strawberry Commission, http://www.calstrawberry.com/.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070504/SFF045
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: California Strawberry Commission

CONTACT: Peggy Dillon, California Strawberry Commission,
+1-831-724-1301, or pdillon@calstrawberry.org

Web site: http://www.calstrawberry.com/
http://www.chefsafield.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment