A Cashew Story
Continuing on with our Ferris Nut Blog Series, the next nut we are featuring is the cashew. The cashew, a favorite of many, has an exciting and rarely discussed story.

History
The cashew tree, native to the tropics of Brazil, is classified as a tropical evergreen tree. As a member of the Anacardiaceae family, the cashew’s closest relatives include the mango, poison ivy and sumac. The word cashew is derived from the Tupi word “acajou” which means “nut that produces itself”. This is most likely in reference to the fact that the cashew shaped fruit dangles below the fleshy, squash-shaped stem of the fruit (called the cashew apple). We think it looks like something Dr. Seuss would have illustrated... continue reading →

This Wednesday we’re flying out to the SCA’s (Specialty Coffee Association) Global Specialty Coffee Expo in Seattle, WA. The Expo is April 20–23rd. This is the largest international coffee show in the world, and the first time that we are exhibiting in Seattle! We can hardly wait to share coffee and ideas and network with other industry professionals.

If you’re attending, come visit us at our booth #1807! We’ll be serving coffee, espresso beverages, and our House Made Nut Milks. We will also be making appearances, and brewing coffee at the Wilbur Curtis booth (#1344) and the Ally Booth (#2433)!

Be a part of our journey to Seattle by following us on Instagram, Twitter... continue reading →

“We are the perfect collision of two worlds, being a coffee & nut company, so why wouldn’t we experiment with nut milks?” – Cody Gallagher

In recent years, nut milk has become an attractive beverage, even to those who are not dairy intolerant. There are many reasons why someone would want to drink it. On top of it being healthy, vegan, and environmentally sustainable, it can also be consumed for flavor profile and body.

Cody Gallagher, Ferris west side coffee shop Barista, concocts all the Ferris coffee shop's specialty drinks. You could say he is a sort of coffee mixologist! He has been experimenting with non-dairy milks for some time now. He noticed that many milk alternatives in the marketplace lack nutritional... continue reading →

Not All Fats Are Bad
You can have your nuts and eat them too! Many believe that nuts are not good for you because they are just too darn satiating. We want to make sure the high-in-fat-therefore-not-good-for-you stigma is set straight. Nuts are high in monounsaturated fats, also known as the good fats that reduce bad cholesterol in the body. According to the American Heart Association, intake of monounsaturated fats can lower risk of stroke or heart disease.

Live a Long Healthy Life
According to a recent study recorded by the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, nut and... continue reading →

If you have visited our West Side location lately, you’ve probably been introduced to Lush Gourmet Foods through the delightful smells of our latest batch of Rose and Pink Peppercorn Almonds or Hot Curry Peanuts. In case you haven’t heard, Ferris invested in Lush Gourmet Foods of Kalamazoo, MI last year. Bisera Urdarevik, founder of Lush Gourmet, has joined the Ferris team as Creative Director of Product Development. Today, we’re happy to officially announce that Lush Gourmet operations have successfully transitioned from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. Bisera has been getting settled in the new Lush production space behind the retail shop, we encourage you to follow your nose, stop by, and taste the... continue reading →