Follow

THIS WEEK’S FRUIT: 

 Hass Avocado
Churchill, Ojai, 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.

Fuji Apple
Cuyama, New Cuyama,CA
Fujis are a cross between Red Delicious and Ralls Janet, an heirloom apple dating back to Thomas Jefferson. They are one of the sweetest variety apples around making them a household favorite.

Pixie Tangerines
Churchill, Ojai, CA
Pixie tangerines are a late season variety that begin ripening in March and April. Their tough skin gives way to fruit with a very robust flavor.

Ruby Grapefruit
CCH Organic Farm, Riverside, CA
The Grapefruit is said to be a cross between the Jamaican sweet orange and the Indonesian pomelo, first documented in 1750. Under its thick, red-blushed skin you’ll find an aromatic, ruby red, juicy flesh with a perfect sweet tart flavor.

Strawberries
JW Farm, Watsonville, CA
Delight in the sweet flavor and firm texture of the seasons first strawberries!

A NOTE FROM FARMER AL

Dear CSA Members:

Driving through the orchards, row by row, my spirits are lifting each day as more and more of the small developing fruits begin to size up and turn a lighter shade of green becoming more and more visible. The fruit-set on the peaches and nectarines is looking really good. In fact, way too good on some varieties: the Flavorcrest variety is so over loaded with fruit the branches look like knotted ropes instead of tree branches. Even the leaves are stunted because of the fruit dominating the energy consumption of the trees. My thinning team is struggling to “thin” the fruit as fast as possible, in order to restore balance of energy use in the trees. Even our Gold Dust variety, normally a “shy bearer” is LOADED to the max this year! Long ago I would have removed this particular variety due to its lack luster fruit production. As a CSA member you’ll get to taste it due to our director begging us to keep it for the CSA – it’s her favorite peach. So, when you taste this delightful peach, be sure to send a thank you to Lael!

I’m sure you will all be delighted to hear that “yes!” we do have cherries this year!!! Not a bumper crop, but still, CSA members will get to enjoy at least two varieties this year: Rainier and Bing. The only real disappointment this year is the Warren Pear crop. This year will be the lightest crop we’ve ever seen. The cause? Rain every day during the entire bloom period. Can’t complain too much, we needed the rain!

So although we don’t have a “grand slam” for fruit this year, we’re hoping for a triple with runners on 2nd and 3rd (a little baseball humor in honor of baseball season opening) …

Organically Yours,
Farmer Al