Satsumas Go Through December
Satsumas from Side Hill citrus in Lincoln, CA got started early this year and we anticipate them going through Christmas depending on the weather. Typically the season goes for about 4 to 6 weeks and we are hoping it will last 8 weeks this year. Click here for the full blog.
D’Anjou
Juicy D’Anjou pears from the Pacific Northwest are great for cooking and for eating out of hand. The biggest thing to note about D’Anjous is that the color will stay fully green when ripe. Their egg shaped appearance is easy to recognize and they are the second most recognized pear after the Bartlett.
As with all pears, gently apply pressure at the neck at the top of the pear. If it gives slightly it is ripe and ready to eat. Remember pears ripen from the inside out so don’t wait until the entire pear becomes soft.
Satsumas Are Early This Year
Satsumas from Side Hill Citrus in Lincoln, California started two weeks early this year. For the first fruit of the season they already have full color with virtually no green and great flavor. We are not exactly sure why the flavor is so developed this early in the season but we won’t complain! We have found the smaller pieces of fruit are more consistent in their flavor although they are not as easy to peel. As the season progresses we can look forward to even more delectable fruit.
Newtown Pippin
Newtown Pippin is a very aromatic late season apple with an intense sweet flavor. It is one of the oldest apples varieties in America and was made popular by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. It can be eaten fresh out of hand, used for cooking or pressed for hard cider.
Pomegrante
The outside of a pomegranate is very hard and only the inside arils which cover the seeds in a red translucent material are edible. It may seem like a lot of work to get to the arils, but it is well worth it. For the full post click here.
Quince
Quince has very hard and bumpy green/yellowish skin that looks like a cross between a pear and an apple. But beware! Do not try to bite into it like an apple, the tart and astringent flesh demands to be cooked before eating.
Seckel Pears
Seckel pears, also known as sugar pears, are only a few inches long but packed full of sweet flavor. The olive green skin has a dark maroon blush. Perfect for snacking, they are in season through January. Seckel pears are difficult to find so count yourself lucky if you find them in your grocery store.
Pears ripen from the inside out. Ripen them at room temperature until the area near the stem yields to gentle pressure. We recommend eating them immediately. You don’t want to ripen the pear first and then put it in the refrigerator or it will turn mushy.
If you would like to keep them longer store them in the coldest part of your refrigerator until you are ready to eat and then ripen them at room temperature. Unlike many pear varieties, Seckel’s don’t turn brown immediately upon cutting.
Charantais Melons
Charantais melons ending soon! The charantais is a beautiful petite heirloom melon that originated in France in 1920. It is a type of cantaloupe with an extremely fragrant scent and an ambrosial flavor. Get them while you can!
From local grower Durst Organics in Yolo County about an hour northwest of Sacramento. Jim and Deborah Durst are 4th generation farmers and have been growing organically since the 1980’s.
Kiwiberries
The kiwiberry, also called hardy kiwi, arctic kiwi or baby kiwi, is a small fruit resembling the larger kiwifruit but without the fuzzy exterior; their skin is hairless. Eat them when they are soft and the flesh yields a bit. A small amount of wrinkling can occur with ripening, but don’t let this trick you into thinking its old it just means it will be perfectly sweet! Read the full blog here!
Now Is The Time To Eat Figs!
There are hundreds of varieties of figs but the most popular are the Adriatic with light green or yellowish skin and pale pink to reddish lightly sweet flesh, the Kadota with light green skin and sweet white flesh, the Brown Turkey ranges in color from brown to copper with a very fragrant flavor and the Black Mission has a deep purple to black skin with sweet pink flesh.
Black Mission Figs
