This Week’s Fruit

Summer Lady The Summer Lady is a variety that developed naturally in a commercial orchard in Fresno and was discovered in 1982. An early-ripening variant of the O’Henry, it is similarly well-balanced and aromatic. Slightly more round and uniform than its O’Henry parentage, the Summer Lady has deep burgundy streaks at maturity and delights our tastebuds almost a full two weeks earlier. Fantasia Nectarines Quickly becoming one of our best-known and most popular varieties, the Fantasia is a large, tapered heirloom variety. It’s deep golden flesh is amazingly sweet and smooth, and its marbled bright red skin makes for exceptionally beautiful presentation. Like many of our more unique and heirloom varieties, the Fantasia is a far more fragile fruit than most farms will even consider growing. Like the Suncrest peach that often ripens at the same time, the Fantasia is easily bruised when allowed to ripen properly on the branch, but we’re sure you’ll agree that the taste is well worth the risk. Flavor King Pluots 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. Storage Recommendations During the summer season, we recommend keeping two – three days worth of fruit out on the counter top and storing the rest in the fridge to be enjoyed later in the week. A Note From Farmer Al Dear CSA, Fast & Furious The summer is flying by and every day is a headlong rush of fruit picking, fruit packing, fruit drying, fruit freezing, jam making, pastry baking, truck loading, sales calls, and accounting reports. All of these productive activities are on a daily basis viewed by visitors who want a tour. Seems like a tour-a-day around here! Meanwhile, the process of actually “farming” also continues at a fast and furious pace, as orchards must be irrigated, fertilized, weed controlled, gophers gunned down, squirrels scuttled, birds abated, and worms befuddled. Is it war? Or is it an elaborately choreographed dance, or a Greek Comedy? I really enjoy checking in with my Tree Team – the picking crew. The team leader, Antonio, a man of few words, always knows exactly what’s going on with each variety of fruit. Together we look at fruit in picking totes as it’s coming off the trees to evaluate ripeness, sizes, defects, and quantities. Then we discuss which block of trees needs to be picked next, based mostly on stages of ripeness. It is such a pleasure to work with someone who is passionate about his work and who knows the fruit so intimately. As we examine the fruit together the sounds of a happy picking crew bring a smile to my face as I listen to them singing and joking with one another! Fruit picked for us with lots of laughter and good cheer! The Ground Team’s work is grimmer….grinding roots and branches in a wood shredder is not for the faint hearted! The wood is heavy and hard to handle…gloves required! The work is noisy, dusty, and dangerous. I am very grateful to these guys for what they do to help make compost happen for us. The rodent control work is in stark contrast to the teamwork of the ground and tree teams. It’s the work of a single man, done in stealth and solitude. It’s mostly quiet work, occasionally punctuated by the sharp crack of a shotgun, signifying a successful kill. Another dead gopher, another tree saved. This part of farming is probably in the “war” category. At the end of the day, I feel like the maestro having creatively conducted another dramatic performance of Mother Nature’s opera!