Brad Miller is the Executive Chef at Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon. He uses a Cryovac to break down the cell walls of Harry's Berries Seascape Strawberries, which helps to intensify their flavor. You can mimic the Cryovac at home by putting your strawberries in a Ziploc bag and wrap the bag in plastic wrap as tightly as possible. After two days the cell walls will be broken down and you will get a similar result to the chef's Cryovac technique. A recipe for Chef Miller's unique Strawberry Shortcake is on the Good Food Blog.
Tom Peltier owns Ladybugs Forever. His stand at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market sells beneficial insects like ladybugs, praying mantises, red wiggler worms and decolate snails. Decolate snails eat garden snails that can ravage vegetable gardens. Ladybugs are also helpful as they eat aphids and other soft insects. To prevent the ladybugs from flying away, spritz them with soda.
Music: "Bring Down the Birds" by Herbie Hancock