Archive for January 2020
Kiwifruit
October – November and through March from California When selecting Kiwi in the store, look for firm fruit free of blemishes. Stay away from shriveled ends and soft spots. Size varies and does not affect the quality of the fruit. Ripen at room temperature until the fruit yields to gentle pressure in the palm of…
Read MoreJuice Oranges
April – October from California, winter – late spring from Texas Juice oranges are loaded with lots of tasty juice. More oranges with a light-colored scarred surface. The most popular coming from Texas. Varieties include Hamlin, Marrs, & Pineapple oranges. My favorite being the Pineapple Orange. Its juice is thin and light, but very sweet.…
Read MoreJazz Apples
October – April from Washington and New Zealand and Chile March – September Jazz Apples originate in New Zealand as a cross between two New Zealand varieties: Braeburn and Royal Gala. The perfect mixture of the tartness of a Braeburn and the sweetness of the Gala along with the extra firm crispness of both makes…
Read MoreItalian Prunes
July – October from California Grown in the northern part of the state and in Oregon Italian prune plums have been a local favorite for over 150 years in California. The water to meat ratio makes them ideal for cooking because they maintain their shape, it is also perfect for drying. They make an excellent accompaniment…
Read MoreItalian Sweet Red Onions
Summer – Fall Like all Sweet Onions, Italian Sweets are not choice for long term storage. They will begin to break down faster than a storage onion due to high moisture content. Pick onions that are firm, feel the stem end by gently pressing your thumb into the top. You’re looking for any break down…
Read MoreHoneydew melons from California
July – October from California Summertime is when California Honeydew Melons are picked at the peak of ripeness. This is when they are sweet and juicy too! So, if you’ve been deceived by a honeydew in the winter when it tastes like nothing more than a mildly sweet cucumber, then this is your time! Honeydews…
Read MoreHoneycrisp Apples
September – October fresh harvest and through May from storage The Honeycrisp apple is the perfect salad apple combining sweet with tart, crispness with juiciness. Out-of-hand eating, sauces and baking are all great uses for this versatile gem. It’s also the perfect apple for kids and teens for healthy snacking because they love the crunch,…
Read MoreHeirloom Tomatoes
May – December from various regions of California including hot houses Rule #1 Keep tomatoes out of the refrigerator! Your best bet is to purchase ripe ready to eat tomatoes and keep them stem up on the counter. If you must refrigerate them, make sure that they are fully ripe. Don’t keep them in the…
Read MoreHeirloom Apples
Late summer and fall in most states There’s Gowan Apple Ranch in Philo, Hale’s Apple Farm and Devoto Gardens in Sebastopol. These growers bring such varieties as the Crispin or Mutsu, Orange Cox Pippin, Golden Russet, Rhode Island Greening, Pink Pearl, Gravenstein just to name a few. When selecting any apples in the store, look…
Read MoreGreen Beans
Year-round from California and Mexico When selecting green beans in the store, look for firm beans with a velvety texture and good color. A good bean will snap when broken in half. Avoid beans that are dull in color and have brown spots especially on the ends. Over mature beans will show the overgrown bean…
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