Mango Salsa Recipe

By Deb Jenkins
Staff Writer

High Plains Reader: Why is it called Sydney’s and is it a locally owned store?

Darby: Sydney’s Health Market is a locally owned natural foods store. Stephanie’s daughter Sydney is the store’s namesake. Sydney has Celiac disease and is unable to eat any wheat, rye, or barley. At the time of Sydney’s diagnosis, there were not many foods available. Many others with dietary needs were also looking for better alternatives. Stephanie left her teaching career and started Sydney’s Health Market.

HPR: Please give our readers some background on you and your co-owner

Darby: Stephanie is the founder of Sydney’s Health Market. She started Sydney’s to provide a service to others who needed options for gluten free products, as well as other dietary restrictions. I have always been interested in nutrition. I have been an EMT and a health care specialist in the Army National Guard. Since my son was born, I have been very passionate about organic food, and the direction that food quality is going and the lack of safety. I want to be able to feed my family food that is safe and healthy for them, like food is supposed to be! Opening Sydney’s Health Market at its new location, as Fargo-Moorhead’s natural foods store allows all of us to have access to better options for our families.
HPR: Do you see an impact from your business with the F-M community?
Darby: I see Sydney’s Health Market having a positive impact for our community because people want to eat healthy, and we are providing a service for people to have access to the best foods at the best prices. Every time we make a purchase, we are making a vote. I believe that having the right options available to our community will allow us to move in the right direction as a society.
HPR: What can you offer at your store that we cannot find in the “Health Food Section of most stores?”
Darby: Service, knowledge, the best prices and selection in town. Our staff are experts in nutrition and food sensitivities. We care about our customers and our community. We also offer a lot of products exclusively.
HPR: What things I might I find in your store that I would purchase if I had gluten issues?

Darby: Some gluten-free items that Sydney’s offers are the following: pizzas, pastas, breads, cookie, crackers, candy, soups, sauces, cereals, snacks, ice cream, frozen dinners, cheeses, yogurts, supplements,and the naturally gluten free options that are always available such as locally grown organic vegetables, fresh fruit, organic grass-fed beef, and organic, glass-bottled, grass-fed, non-homogenized milk. There is a gluten-free option for virtually everything someone is looking for including everything from graham crackers and pretzels to ice cream cones, cakes, and pies.
HPR: Can you share with our readers a little about your farmers market?

Darby: Every Friday Sydney’s Health Market presents Fargo-Moorhead’s first-ever, only organic farmers market! There are several local organic producers offering the freshest, same-day-harvested organic produce. Our market offers organic produce at prices lower than conventional non-organic produce prices! Truly the best value in quality and price.
HPR: What do you find the most common misconception is when people read “organic” on food?

Darby: I think the most common misconception is, that just because something is organic, it’s healthy. Eating an organic cookie is WAY better than one filled with hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, and genetically modified ingredients, but most organic cookies are still going to be full of refined flours and sugars that will suppress immune function.
HPR: Do you think you would ever have any classes on organic cooking?

Darby: We will be presenting a number of cooking classes including healthy options, allergen friendly, and food dehydrating classes. We have several events coming this fall including health lectures from naturopathic doctors and other healthcare specialists, movie nights….
HPR: Do you have a recipe that I can share using any of your fresh products?

Darby: One recipe that is unique and exciting is mango salsa:

Mango Salsa:

1 ripe organic mango, diced
¼ medium organic red onion, finely chopped
½ organic red bell pepper, chopped
3 Tbsp fresh organic cilantro leaves, chopped
2 Tbsp organic lime juice
(optional):
1 fresh organic avocado
1 organic jalapeno pepper, minced (the ribs and seeds for a hotter taste if desired)
1 small cucumber, diced (Leaving the skin on will prevent indigestion from loss of the enzymes just under the skin.)
salt & pepper to taste
This is a very versatile recipe that allows you to adjust it to your individual liking. The mango has a flat elliptical-shaped seed in it. Hold mango vertically and cut from the top down on both sides just missing the seed. You will have two bowl shaped halves. Discard the middle section with the seed. Push up from the skin side turning the bowl inside out and score the flesh of meat of the mango in a criss-cross patter on each half. Cut the cubes off of the skin.
Mix mango cubes with all of the other ingredients in a bowl. Let mixture marinate for about 10-20 minutes in refrigerator. Preparation time: 20-30 minutes total. Makes 6 servings.

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