Archive for January 2020
Blood Oranges
December – May from California and September – November from Australia This distinct flavored orange was discovered in Spain in 1929. They called it Sanguinelli. It is the common orange in Europe especially Italy. Two varieties are most common in California The Moro and the Tarocco. The Tarocco is mild in color both on the surface…
Read MoreBelgian Endive
Available year-round from California Pronounced “on-deev” in France, called Belgian chicory in Great Britain and witloof (Dutch for “white leaf”) in Belgium, this member of the chicory family is the white shoot that we most commonly refer to as Belgian (and sometimes French) endive. Here in the Golden State we have our very own name:…
Read MoreBartlett Pears
July – November from California Driving down the highway in Kelseyville with Bartlett pear orchards on each side of the vehicle is absolutely breathtaking. California Summer Bartletts come from two major growing districts. The early “River Pears” grown along the Sacramento River in both Sacramento and San Joaquin counties come to us in July and…
Read MoreAvocados California Hass
January – September When selecting avocados in the store, it is recommended to buy them firm and ripen them at home to the stage ripeness that you desire. When selecting ripe avocados ready to use, hold the fruit in the palm of your hand and apply gentle pressure. If there is a mild “give” in…
Read MoreAvocados in Winter Hass
October – February This is the time of year for New Crop California Hass Avocados. Folks will be happy to see them on the produce stand again because since September of last year (end of the Calif. Season) we have had only Chilean and Mexican Hass Avocados available to us. However new crop avocados will…
Read MoreAussie Citrus
July – October in US For the past few decades we have been enjoying the presence of Australian citrus amidst our local summer fruit and man-o-man, does it add a tasty blast to a fruit salad. I used to enjoy in season Valencia oranges in fruit salad, but it was a lot of messy work.…
Read MoreAsparagus
Best of Season March, April May from California, June from Washington. Available year-round from Mexico and Peru When selecting asparagus in the stores look for spears that have tightly furled tips & firm stalks. Ideal asparagus will be bright green from tip all the way down. In older varieties at times due to growing conditions, weather,…
Read MoreArtichokes
Best of Season March, April May. Available year-round from California When selecting an artichoke, look for large, firm globe. Pick it up by the stem because the tops of the leaves have small thorns that can really get under your skin. Feel the artichoke from the same stem end. Give it a firm but gentle…
Read MoreApples
July – October and year-round from storage and imports. Apples originated thousands of years ago. The earliest writings from Egypt, Babylon and China mention apples. In fact, they were budding and grafting fruit trees as far back as 2000 years ago. The apple made its way to new lands as a product of love and war.…
Read MoreApriums
Late Spring – Mid Summer Apriums are 75% Apricot and 25% Plum, the reverse of a Pluot. The appearance of an Aprium is like that of a large apricot. The sugar content is higher than an apricot and higher than a plum. They bruise very easily so take notice if you are using them for…
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