Salad bowl of the world crossword

Constructor: Paula Gamache

Relative difficulty: Easy

THEME: "KEEP" (57D: Hang on to ... or a word that can precede either half of the answer to each starred clue)

Word of the Day:SALINAS Valley (10D: California's __ Valley, known as "America's salad bowl") —

The Salinas Valley is the Central Coast region of California, USA that lies along the Salinas River between the Gabilan Range and the Santa Lucia Range. It encompasses parts of Monterey County. [...] Agriculture dominates the economy of the valley. In particular, a large majority of the salad greens consumed in the U.S. are grown within this region. Strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, and spinach are the dominant crops in the valley. Other crops include broccoli, cauliflower, wine grapes, celery, and spinach. Due to the intensity of local agriculture the area has earned itself the nickname, "America's Salad Bowl." [...] The Salinas Valley was the home of the Native American people today known as the Ohlone (Rumsen and Chalon), Salinan, and Esselen. The City of Salinas was founded after Mexico seceded from Spain in 1822 and began granting rancho lands. Named for a nearby salt marsh, Salinas became the seat of Monter

Across:
4.	The striped ___ in the zoo growled and then attacked the young man who was throwing stones at it.
7.	Most big cities in the USA have ___s where people can go to see animals from around the world.
9.	It's a little chilly outside; you don't need a heavy jacket, but you should wear a ___at least.
10.	I have chewing gum on the bottom of my left ___; I need to scrape it off.
12.	The blue ___ is the largest mammal and largest animal on earth. (A ___ isn't a fish, but it sure looks like one!)
14.	The salad bar has a ___ guard to protect the vegetables from people who ___. (A-choo!)
15.	She took a ___ out of the apple and saw a big brown spot.
17.	The house had a new carpet and fresh ___ on the inside and outside walls.
18.	I'm hungry. I'm going to have some potato salad, a bowl of ___, and a ham sandwich.
20.	She loves to paint her finger___s and her toe___s different colors.
21.	I feel bad; I hope it's just a ___ and not the flu.

Down:
1.	Many people consider purple and ___ to be the same color.
2.	Most people prefer to ___ and poo at home, not out in public.
3.	A delicious hot ___ has lo Quick crossword No 17,033 1Bowl, bath or pan (4) 1 across. Bowl, bath or pan. 4 letters. 3Taken in (8) 3 across. Taken in. 8 letters. 9Flat-bladed kitchen utensil (7) 9 across. Flat-bladed kitchen utensil. 7 letters. 10Fallible (5) 10 across. Fallible. 5 letters. 11Lacking originality (5) 11 across. Lacking originality. 5 letters. 12Vehement (6) 12 across. Vehement. 6 letters. 14Dishonest, but legal, business methods (5,8) 14 across. Dishonest, but legal, business methods. 5 letters and 8 letters. 17Anticlimactic change in tone (6) 17 across. Anticlimactic change in tone. 6 letters. 19First performance (5) 19 across. First performance. 5 letters. 22Salad or sandwich ingredient (5) 22 across. Salad or sandwich ingredient. 5 letters. 23Unsophisticated (7) 23 across. Unsophisticated. 7 letters. 24Deadly individual (8) 24 across. Deadly individual. 8 letters. 25Similar (to) (4) 25 across. Similar (to). 4 letters.