MANDARINS and PERSIMMONS

 We are getting some cool days and cool nights.  Temps seem to hover around 40 to 47 degrees day and night.  This temperature should be good for chill hour accumulation as trees prepare for next season's production.  As for us California humans, it is just cold.  We are hoping for some rain and snow, badly needed for our crops and community.

Citrus do respond to the cooler weather.  Mandarins are maturing in the foothills before Otow Orchard mandarins.  There are many Placer county farms offering fresh mandarins at this time.   You can check the PlacerGrown.com web site for a list of farms.  Pleasant Hill Farm in Lincoln and Tudsbury Orchard in Loomis are bring mandarins to us.  They are sweet, juicy and citrus-y. Easy to peel and few seeds.

The hoshigaki process is slowing due to the low temperatures.  Half of this years crop is waiting for the final steps.  The other half is still hanging, waiting for their surfaces to dry out a bit. Normally we do not add heat but this year may be an exception.

 

 

Please note, we will be closed Christmas Day and New Years Day.  Hours in January will be 10 am to 4 pm.  Closed on Mondays.  We will try to  accommodate requests for alternate times. We will be recovering from cataract surgery and were warned to avoid lifting and straining. Our staff will be supporting us.

 

 

 Hours

    Tues thru Sat  10:00 am to 6:00 pm

    Sunday 11:00 to 5:00

    Closed on Mondays 

Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard.

PERSIMMONS

FUYU:  These are low acid, firm, sweet and crisp.  People love them because they are always sweet. They can be eaten firm or softer depending on your preference.  

Back row: Nagamaru (Chocolate,Tsurunoko), Hyakume (cinnamon), Hachiya. Front row  Maru, Coffee Cake (Nishimura Wase), Fuyu.

Hachiya:  Hachiya are tall, orange, acorn shaped persimmons that cannot be eaten till soft as pudding in a bag.  They become soft, sweet and juicy. It was suggested that you bite a little hole in the skin and suck out the contents for a sweet treat.  Watch out for the seeds.

Gyombo:  These are tall, conical shaped persimmons.  Like Hachiya, they remain astringent till very soft. They are very sweet and juicy.  It is suggested that you bite a little hole in the skin and suck out the contents for a sweet treat.  Watch out for the seeds.

Maru, Nagamaru, and Chocolate: These persimmons  are brown fleshed when pollinated.  They are sweet and can be eaten hard  or softer.  For the novice, our recommendation is to cut the persimmon to see the sweet brown flesh before biting into the fruit.  Often less than half of the persimmon is edible.

Hyakume:   These persimmons  have speckled, cinnamon color fleshed when pollinated.  They are sweet and can be eaten hard or softer.  For the novice, our recommendation is to cut the persimmon to see the sweet brown flesh before biting into the fruit.  Often less than half of the persimmon is edible.

Vodka:  These are not actually a varietay.  They are astringent Hyakume  persimmons that have been treated with Vodka  to make them sweet and enjoyable. They are  yellow or brown fleshed.  They can be eaten hard or soft.  When soft they are juicy and very smooth.

 

   

Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They are hand massaged while they dry over a period of four to eight weeks.  Some are firm, others are soft and moist.  All are coated with naturally formed white persimmon sugar.  No sugar added and no preservatives used. We strive to make the best hoshigaki without any shortcuts.  This takes time and attention during the drying season.  The last hoshigaki for this season were peeled  at the end of November.  These will dry slowly for the next four to six weeks.  December and January are usually the best time to get hoshigaki. We are currently selling hoshigaki at the farm stand. For on farm orders of more than 1 pound it is best to email or call us to make a pre order.  For mail orders please use our mail order form.

 APPLES          

Reinette Simirenko, Fuji, Granny Smith, Striped Red Delicious

Fuji:   Our Fuji apples are green with light red blush.  I blame this on our warm weather compared to cooler apple growing regions in the Northwest. Nonetheless our Fuji apples are sweet, crisp and full of juice. They are mostly used for fresh eating but also good for baking, cooking, drying and adding to salads. 

Pink Lady:  (Cripps Pink) Beautiful deep pink skin.  Sweet tart flavor. Great for eating fresh, slicing into salads, and baking.  Resists browning when sliced. 

ASIAN PEARS  

Okusankichi:  Also known as Late Korean.  This is the last Asian pear we grow.  Mildly sweet, juicy and crisp.  The brown thick skin helps it to have a long shelf life.  It becomes sweeter as it is stored.  This winter treat offers a crisp refreshing treat in the middle of winter.

POMEGRANATES

Wonderful Pomegranates:  Very popular crimson seeded red pomegranates.   Sweet-tart and so flavorful. 

 

Quince:  Related to pears and apples, quince are firm, fragrant, and tart. They contain pectin which promotes gelling. Seldom eaten raw, it is usually cooked with sweetener for jam jelly, candy or added to stews. Quince sauce pairs nicely with pork. Thinly sliced raw quince can be added to tea or water.

Pecans:  Sweet and nutty and thin shelled.  Hand harvested before the crows got them!!!  I really have no idea but they look like Shawnee variety.

Local Honey  Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard is also available.

⚘ Calendula  Salve and Lip Balm:  Wonderfully thick salve for healing dry skin, bug bites and scrapes.   

Here is what we have from other producers:

Tudsbury Orchard in Loomis:  Bags of mountain grown mandarins.  Sweet tart and flavorful.  Easy to peel and seedless.    

Pleasant Hill Farm in Lincoln:  Sweet and juicy mandarins.  Easy to peel and seedless. 

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.  Chickens are currently molting so egg production is low.  Also, production is limited by short daylight hours. Production should increase in February.  Limited supply.

     Vanilla Exract:  Homemade in Loomis, CA at La Bella Vito Farm. Fragrant vanilla flavoring from Madagascar vanilla beans.

 

Kijani Farm in Granite Bay.  No spray practice:  

 Butternut Squash:  Sweet nutty winter squash. Orange flesh is concentrated in the neck of this squash.

 

The California Persimmon:  A book published by the ANR covering history and background of persimmons. Contains many new and traditional persimmon recipes.