Archive for January 2020
Pluots
June – October from California. Best of Season late July – early August. When selecting pluots in the store; look for firm fruit with a smooth and shiny surface. You may notice a little dust-like bloom on the fruit. The same thing is found on grapes and plums and occurs naturally to protect the fruit…
Read MorePink Lady Apples
Best of Season in October, year-round from storage A sweet tart apple that is crisp and juicy. This apple stores very well in the refrigerator and becomes even sweeter with time. A cross between a Golden Delicious and Australian variety Lady Williams. It originated in Australia and is now Grown in California and Washington. Select…
Read MorePersimmons
September – December from California Two Major varieties of Persimmons are available in the stores today. The Hachaya and the Fuyu. There are other varieties like the Chocolate Persimmon Mostly available at farmers markets and the Cinnamon Persimmon, which is bound to hit the stores heavily by next season. For now, the Hachaya should be…
Read MoreNorthwest Pears
September – December from Oregon and Washington, Storage through spring Unlike Summer Bartlett, pears from the Northwest do not change color as an indication of ripeness. They ripen from the inside out so gently applying pressure at the stem end on the neck is enough of a test. If it gives a little, it’s ripe.…
Read MorePeaches & Nectarines
April – October from California Do you want a ripe piece of fruit ready to eat now? Find fruit that has a good give to it. Place the fruit in the palm of your hand and give it a gentle squeeze. Don’t rolf it! That will just get your produce person a little ticked off at…
Read MoreOkra
June – November from California Fresh Okra is a very delicate crop. The ground temperature must be over 60° F and can fall victim of numerous pests from germination through fruit bearing maturity. The plants also battle certain fungus’ that are present in the soil and air. Post-harvest Okra must be handled gently and stored…
Read MoreMinneola Tangelo
December – April This cross between a Grapefruit and a Dancy Tangerine without doubt is identifiable by the knobby stem end. This fruit is deep orange inside and on the surface. The skin is very oily and sprays the smell of citrus blossoms into the air when peeled by hand. It has a mild tang,…
Read MoreMeyer Lemons
October – March from California Meyer Lemons vary in color from yellow to orangey-yellow when fully ripe. The skin is much thinner than a regular Eureka or Lisbon Lemons (common produce department lemons). The juice is sweeter and is very popular amongst chefs. In fact, most of the Meyer Lemon sales at Dan’s Fresh Produce…
Read MoreSummer Melon Varieties
July – October This time of year (summertime) a sweet aroma is an indication of a good melon. Don’t always expect them to always be ripe, so ask your produce person to help you find the perfect one. The ripest melons are ready to eat within a day or two and not hold up much…
Read MoreMangoes
Year-round from Mexico and Peru, June – October from California A ripe mango will “give” to a gentle palm squeeze. An aromatic fragrance at the stem end is another ripeness indication. A red color to the skin is nothing more than a sunburn and is NO indication of ripeness. What you look for is the…
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