Eat like a farmer

Cowboy Caviar

Farmers are the experts when it comes to enjoying the fruits of the land in the best way possible. Learn to eat like a farmer, and your taste buds will be sure to thank you later.

Across the United States, farmers are working hard to bring high-quality foods from their fields and groves to grocery store shelves and, ultimately, to your pantry. Sometimes foods you may not even think about coming from a farm have been grown with the most tender, loving care.

One example is olives, which are typically bought in cans, far removed from the produce section people more typically associate with farms. In California, hard-working, multi-generational farming families produce more than 95 percent of the olives grown and con­sumed in the United States. The farms -- groves, to be exact -- are home to thousands of trees that bear olive fruit for harvest each fall.

It should come as no surprise that these families have fine-tuned some of the most appetizing olive recipes by passing them on from one generation to the next. These farmers don't just grow olives, they cook with them too, and are sharing some of their favorite recipes -- from snacks to salads and pasta -- using California Ripe Olives.

Find more California olive farmer-approved recipes at CalOlive.org.

Cowboy Caviar

Recipe courtesy of olive grower Natalie Jameson

Servings: 8-10

In medium bowl, stir together tomato, green onions, avocado, black beans and olives.

Toss with dressing and serve with corn chips.