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THIS WEEK’S FRUIT:
Zee Lady Peaches
Frog Hollow Farm, Brentwood, CA
Renowned horticulturist Floyd Zaiger is responsible for many of our favorite varieties, and the Zee Lady is another Zaiger gem. The Zee Lady is a good sized peach that’s a real beauty, with a vibrant red blush dusted over a warm golden skin. This freestone peach is as great for baking as it is eating out of hand.
Summer Flare Nectarines
Frog Hollow Farm, Brentwood, CA
Our Summer Flare trees produce some of the largest and juiciest nectarines we see. Rich in flavor, they’re often solid red with hardly a streak of yellow in the skin. A clingstone, the Summer Flare is an ideal variety to bite right into and eat out of hand.
Flavor King Pluots
Frog Hollow Farm, Brentwood, CA
A dark-skinned pluot with red flesh, it has an intense rich flavor combined with sweet, spicy tones that are reminiscent of the Santa Rosa. A nice acid bite and firm texture that softens beautifully as the fruit continues to ripen, the Flavor King is amazing out of hand and equally good for baking.
Dapple Dandy Pluot
Frog Hollow Farm, Brentwood, CA
Playfully called the “dinosaur egg” pluot, the Dapple Dandy has marbled pink and green skin over delicate white flesh threaded with rose. Kids especially love this pluot for its distinctive coloration and the lack of tartness in the skin.
A NOTE FROM FARMER AL:
CSA Members,
There is a service to Farmers provided by the University of California called Ag Extension, also known as “University Cooperative Extension”, or “Co-op Extension”. This system was created by Congress in 1914 with Smith-Lever Act. It is operated by Land-Grant Universities (originally established by President Abraham Lincoln) as a way of keeping farmers informed of the latest research in agriculture, home economics, and related fields.
From my personal perspective, Ag Extension has been wonderfully helpful. As a matter of fact, it was a farm advisor for Ag Extension who originally helped me get started here in Brentwood 40 years ago. Ross Sanborn was his name, and recognizing me as an eager young greenhorn, he took personal interest in me and provided thoughtful and expert guidance in helping me get started on my original 13- acre parcel.
Most significantly, Ross taught me how to prune peach trees. He was a masterful teacher, for his lessons remained etched in my brain, from the fundamentals to the fine points, for pruning is a cornerstone of growing fruit trees.
Our present farm advisor, Janet Caprile is amazing. Her knowledge of Ag is encyclopedic, but she is exceptionally gifted when it comes to pruning. Pruning fruit trees is complex, and different from peaches, to apricots, to pears, to apples, etc., etc. This list goes on and on and Janet knows them all, including the subtleties and pros and cons. She also happens to be a great teacher who is graciously helpful.
Over the 40 years I’ve been farming this land I’ve benefited profoundly from this wonderful service and the gifted teachers who care so much about agriculture and those of us who struggle with it.
Regards,
Farmer Al
