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THIS WEEK’S FRUIT:
Tarocco Blood Oranges
Frog Hollow Farm, Brentwood, CA
A beautiful orange to deep red flesh is revealed when you slice open a Tarocco. The flesh of the blood orange is firmer and more dense than an orange and its flavor is a little more tart. These beauties sweeten and darken in color as the season progresses.
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.
Navel Oranges
Twin Girls Farm, Yettem, 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. To read more about the fine folks at Twin Girls Farm please see a previous blog post at http://bit.ly/2fnFf2m.
Clementine Mandarins
Olsen Organics, Lindsay, CA and/or Homegrown Organic Farm, Porterville, 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.
Pink Lady Apples
Cuyama Farm, New Cuyama, CA
Pink Lady’s are a cross between the Golden Delicious and Lady Williams. They are a crisp and juicy apple with a tart finish. Pink skins and a creamy white colored flesh that resists browning make this an excellent apple for salads and slicing.
Fuerte Avocados
Eco Farm, Temecula, CA
A California variety prized by specialty growers for it’s ability to withstand freezing and was aptly named “Fuerte” or strong in Spanish. It has a smooth, thin, grass green skin with pale green flesh. Fuerte are less oily than a Hass, but are rich and nutty in flavor.
…all varieties are subject to change…
A NOTE FROM SARAH:
Happy New Year!
Well, by the time you all read this we’ll know what the predicted storm did or didn’t bring us in the way of wind and rain. What it has already brought to us here at the farm, before it has even hit, is the cancelation of ALL of our weekend farmer’s markets. This is a first. We have canceled individual markets here and there for one reason or another (normally either vehicle issues or staffing snafus) but not in 30+ years, since we started doing markets, have we canceled every market for an entire weekend. And, this is the VERY first time we have EVER canceled the SF Ferry Building farmer’s market. This says we are listening to the forecasts and unwilling to put ourselves, our crews and our customers at risk. Anyone ever tried to drive a loaded van across the Bay Bridge in rain with wind gusts of 25-30mph? It’s isn’t for the faint of heart!
We’re picking the blood oranges today in an effort to ease the load on the trees and prevent wind damage as well as protect the actual fruit from being damaged. We’re making sure all the gutters on all the buildings are cleaned out and all the debris is cleared from any potential water path. We’ve put 200 yards of gravel down at our farm worker housing area to make sure the roads are ready for the predicted deluge of rain.
What’s left? Brace ourselves, hope everyone is safe, and no damage happens to persons or property. Let the rain begin.
