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THIS WEEK’S FRUIT:
Shinko Asian Pears
Frog Hollow Farm, Brentwood, CA
The Shinko has a round shape which is slightly flattened. The skin is bronze with brown russeting and its juicy, creamy white flesh has a subtly rich flavor. One of the last pears to pick, it comes off the tree with a butterscotch note to its sweetness
Warren Pears
Frog Hollow Farm, Brentwood, CA
Featured in Martha Stewart Living and Oprah’s Favorite Things List, this is Frog Hollow Farm’s signature pear and for good reason. The Warren pear has a classic European texture – very soft and juicy – with a silky sweetness that avoids the typical grittiness found in most varieties.
Pomegranates
Frog Hollow Farm, Brentwood, 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.
Fuji Apples
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.
….all varieties are subject to change…
A NOTE FROM SARAH:
Pomegranates!
Who doesn’t love them? But what a pain, right?!? Not so fast. Removing the edible arils from the pomegranate is easy when you know how to do it. The easiest way is to cut around the diameter of the pomegranate, split it into two, and then pound the back of each half with the back of a large serving spoon. The flavor and health benefits of pomegranate make the effort well worth it. Did you know they are one of the best fruits you can eat for your body? The pomegranate is native to Iran and the Himalayas in northern India and has been cultivated and naturalized over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. It is widely cultivated throughout India and the drier parts of southeast Asia, Malaya, the East Indies and tropical Africa. The tree was introduced into California by Spanish settlers in 1769. Below are some of the health benefits.
Anti-Cancer:
- Pomegranates have anti-inflammatory effects that may protect against cancer and other chronic diseases.
- Pomegranates have anti-angiogenic properties, meaning that they may help to prevent growing tumors from acquiring a blood supply, preventing those tumors from receiving the nutrients that would allow them to grow larger.
- Pomegranate is one of the few foods (mushrooms are another) that contain natural aromatase inhibitors. This means that they inhibit the production of estrogen, which can reduce breast cancer risk.
- After treatment for prostate cancer, two studies have shown that pomegranate juice or supplements slowed the increase in PSA.
Protects Against Heart Disease:
- Pomegranate phytochemicals reduce LDL oxidation (a contributor to atherosclerotic plaque development).
- Pomegranate phytochemicals have blood pressure-reducing properties.
- In a study of patients with severe carotid artery blockages, after one ounce of pomegranate juice daily for one year, there was a 30 percent reduction in atherosclerotic plaque. In striking contrast, in the participants who did not take the pomegranate juice atherosclerotic plaque increased by 9 percent.
Guards Memory and Brain Function:
- Pomegranate supplements taken before and after surgery prevented the postoperative memory dysfunction associated with coronary artery bypass or heart valve surgery.
- In those with mild memory complaints, individuals drinking pomegranate juice daily performed better on a memory task compared to the placebo and displayed increased brain activation measured by functional MRI.
We hope you enjoy the pomegranates as much as we do!
Good Health!
Sarah
