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THIS WEEK’S FRUIT:
Fuyu Persimmons
Chiechi Farm, Live Oak, CA
The Fuyu has a crisp texture with a rich honey sweet flavor. They have a beautiful orange to red hue when ripe, often with tiny brown speckles on the skin. They can be eaten out of hand with skin on or peeled. To read more about the fine folks at Chiechi please see our previous blog post at http://bit.ly/2gZUvT5.
Hayward Kiwis
Chiechi 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.
Pomegranates
Twin Girls Farm, Yettem, CA
Native to the regions of Persia and the Western Himalayan range, pomegranates have been cultivated for several millennia. When sliced open a beautiful array of jewel-like seeds are displayed. The aril is the colorful casing that surrounds the edible seeds and has a sweet tart flavor. Enjoy the arils alone or use them in salads, desserts, or beverages. To read more about the fine folks at Twin Girls Farm please see a previous blog post at http://bit.ly/2fnFf2m
Owari Satsuma Mandarins
Abounding Harvest, Los Gatos, CA
Satsumas are typically seedless with a thin skin that is loosely attached to the flesh making them very easy to peel. The flesh of the mandarin is very sweet and delicate leaving them susceptible to bruising, so handle with care. To read more about the fine folks at Abounding Harvest, please see previous blog post at http://bit.ly/2dPH3uI.
Clementine Mandarins
Olsen Organics, Lindsay, CA
Clementines are very sweet, juicy, easy to peel, and usually seedless, making them very popular with children and adults alike. Store out of sunlight for 2-4 days on the counter or up to two weeks in the fridge. To read more about Ken Olson, please see previos blog post at http://bit.ly/2grsBOE.
Fuji Apples
Cuyama Farm, 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.
…all varieties are subject to change…
A NOTE FROM FARMER AL:
Dear CSA Members
Today I was giving a tour of the farm to a man I’d met recently at our Summer Solstice Dinner in the orchard last June. He was keenly interested in every aspect of the farm and for me it was a most enjoyable two hours for two reasons. First, because I was talking about something I love . . . . the farm, its landscape, it’s people, it’s fruit, and it’s history. Second, because it was such a beautiful day. The wind had come up and swept away all remnants of cloud or haze revealing the vast open space all the way across the great central valley to the snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains 100 miles to the east.
As we were passing along the irrigation canal he asked why it was empty of water. I explained to him that not much is irrigated in this area. During winter, most trees go dormant, and winter crops like kale, lettuce, chard, broccoli, spinach, etc. do just fine on the limited rainfall we get here.
I also pointed out that the central valley is really almost a desert with only 10” – 12” of rain per year, all coming only in winter. All of the agriculture of the central valley is made possible by these amazing mountains we could see off in the distance covered today in a white mantel of snow. All made possible by the amazing engineering accomplishment of early 1900’s – the “Central Valley Project”. Turning winter snow into the golden globes of luscious summer fruit.
On this day in early December it is really good to see that snow accumulating so early. Gives me hope that we might get a wet year this time.
All the best,
Farmer Al
