Remember the piece I wrote on Atlantic (aka “farm-raised”) salmon? Since then there’ve been articles everywhere. Marian Burros, New York Times, wrote that lawsuits accuse the fish farm industry of polluting the ocean, endangering dwindling stocks of wild salmon and failing to tell shoppers that they use artificial colors in fish feed to make the fish red. Did you know that 80% of salmon sold in the US are farm raised? And did you know that the Dept of Ag says Atlantic salmon contains more than twice the saturated fat and fewer beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than wild salmon? Atlantic salmon was found to have "consistently higher levels" of toxic contaminants, including 10 times the level of PCB's. And heavy infestations of sea lice from salmon farms attach themselves to wild pink salmon who swim near the farms, killing them. Wild salmon were reduced this spring from the expected 3.5 million to 147,000. Finally, Alaska has banned fish farms to protect its wild stocks.

So where can you buy wild smoked salmon? Right here in West Concord, in our store.

Serves 2-4

4 ounces wild smoked salmon	2 T chopped garlic
1 cup sliced green onions or red onion	1 t Spike or Celtic sea salt
1 tsp Spike seasoning.1 English cuke or several pickling	1 bunch watercress
4 T olive or flax oil	4 cups Mesclun salad mix
2 T fresh lemon juice	1 Hass avocado
1 t black pepper	½ t chili powder, optional

Mince smoked salmon and place in salad serving bowl. Slice green onions (white and green part) or use minced red onion. Cut cucumbers in half the long way and slice. Add onion and cucumbers to salmon.

Make dressing by combining olive or flax oil, lemon juice, garlic, and black pepper. Pour ½ of dressing over salmon and onions and cucumbers. Cover and chill for an hour.

When ready to serve, add watercress and Mesclun salad mix . Pour over remaining dressing and toss gently. Add Spike or salt to taste. Arrange salad on half of each plate. Peel and thinly slice avocado and fan slices on other half of plate. Shake chili powder on avocado. Ain’t that purty?!? Now eat and be happy!

*Once again – to get the most nutrients for your buck – buy organic. Shop Debra’s Natural Gourmet on Tuesdays because trucks with great organic produce arrive early in the morning. A real farmer’s market right here in West Concord! Scientists in the US suggest that fruits and vegetables grown organically have higher levels of antioxidants than conventionally grown foods thanks to the plants' natural defense system....