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THIS WEEK’S FRUIT
Navel Oranges
California Oranges, Springville, CA
California Navel Oranges are considered to be the best Navels for eating out of
hand. They have a thick skin that is easy to peel, are seedless, and have a meaty
and sweet flesh that makes them a perfect snack. Navels are also great for juicing
and cooking. Store out of sunlight for 2-4 days on the counter or up to two weeks in the
fridge.
Hass Avocado
Tomorrow’s Organic,Monterey, CA
Creamy in texture, nutty in flavor, with a small to medium seed. The Hass skin
is easy to peel and darkens from green to purplish-black as it ripens. Store on the
counter out of direct sunlight.
Ruby Grapefruit
Sundance Natural, Oceanside, CA
The Grapefruit is said to be a cross between the Jamaican sweet orange and the
Indonesian pomelo, first documented in 1750. Red grapefruit was an accidental
discovery of a red fruit growing on a pink grapefruit tree. They are prized for their
beautiful color and sweet flesh. Store out of sunlight for 2-4 days on the counter or up
to two weeks in the fridge.
Hayward Kiwi
Chieci Farm, Live Oak, CA
Originally known as the Chinese gooseberry due to its Chinese origins.
Hawyward Wright, a New Zealand nurseryman propagated his plants by grafting
and they eventually became the preferred cultivar of growers due to their sweet
flavor and thin skin. The kiwis are ripe and ready to eat upon arrival. Consume first
or store in the fridge.
Murcott Tangerines
Sundance Natural, Oceanside, CA
Murcott Tangerines are late season tangerines known for their rich flavor and
deeply hued flesh and juice. Their small size and sweet juice makes them a favorite
with little ones.Store out of sunlight for 2-4 days on the counter or up to two weeks in
the fridge.
Fuji Apples
Sundance Natural, Oceanside, CA
Fujis are a cross between Red Delicious and Ralls Janet, an heirloom apple dating
back to Thomas Jefferson. Fujis are loved by many for their crisp, sweet, and juicy
character. Store on your counter out of direct light for 4-5 days. Refrigerate after to
maintain crispness.
A NOTE FROM FARMER AL
Well! We dodged the Bullet! The “Brown Rot Blossom Blight” bullet, that is! It was the classic convergence of rain on the blossoms combined with warm temperatures. The same weather conditions occurred recently in two consecu- tive years, 2010 and 2011, causing total crop failures in our apricots for both of those years.
This year we have a full crop of “cots” in all varieties, with only minor infec- tions of the feared fungal pathogens widely scattered in the Goldensweet variety. The reason for this good outcome……compost! Over the past two years we’ve been applying about 10 ton per acre per year to the apricots. This has changed the biology of the soil ecosphere, and improved the structure of the soil as well, enabling the trees’ immune system to resist infection.
It’s still too early to assess other crops but each day we see more fruit on the branches of plums, nectarines, and pears, as the tiny fruits are shedding their blossom jackets and growing a little each day.
Farmers up and down the state are all doing the same thing, and we’re all wor- ried because of the extremely unusual winter weather we’ve just experienced. No one can remember another winter like it, with warm balmy days of tem- peratures in the 60’s even in December and January.
Even farmers, most of whom are ultra-conservatives, are now realizing that global warming is real… facing the double threats of severe drought along with the “too warm” temperatures of last winter. We’re facing more uncertainty than ever before.
2014 will be a pivotal year for us, and we will appreciate the support of our CSA members more than ever before.
