SUMMER IS SETTING

The display is full.  It is the time of year when summer meets fall.  There are still peaches, plums, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers.  And now we are adding apples, Asian pears, grapes, Jujube, and figs.  Soon enough there will be European pears, pomegranates, persimmons and quince.

 We have had a gentle summer but this week we will be seeing triple digit temperatures.  I'm having trouble keeping up with the cherry tomatoes.  For one, I  don't much like being out in the hot weather, and two, the heat is encouraging them to ripen quickly. By the time I get out there, many are split or just fall off the vine as I pick adjacent cherry tomatoes.  The squash and cucumbers are slowing down.  Now they produce smaller fruit that take longer to grow to maturity.  I think the vines have worked hard this summer and are getting tired.  I hope you were able to get some tomatoes this summer. It seems that the best are gone.  The production is slowing down and the tomatoes are getting smaller and not so pretty.

Most of the summer fruit trees are empty.  It may appear that this is a non-productive time for them.  In fact, they are preparing next year's crop.  The twigs are developing buds that will produce flowers in the spring and fruit in the summer.  Even though there is no fruit currently on the trees, we continue to water the trees in hopes that the next season will be a good one.

Along with the start of some fall crops, we are starting to prune trees that have finished their production for the year.  Some trees need to be lightly pruned before the wet weather sets in. Trees get less disease when pruned during dry weather.

 

 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.

PEACHES  

Summerset:  Yellow, freestone peach. Juicy and sweet for eating out of hand, baking or freezing.  Fine texture.   (Limited supply.)   

Fairtime:  Yellow freestone peach. Red blush over yellow skin. Sweet and juicy. (Limited supply.)

PLUMS

Casselman:  Yellow fleshed plum.  Very sweet and flavorful.  Becomes more sweet and juicy when stored.    

Empress:  Yellow flesh European plum. Often used for baking. (Limited supply.)

FIGS

Brown Turkey:  Brown speckled skin with sweet, pink flesh. Mild sweetness with thoughts of honey.

Black Mission:  Black skin with tan, caramel flavored flesh. Sweet and chewy.

Panache (Tiger Stripe):  Greenish brown striped skin.  Very sweet, pink flesh .

JUJUBE

Li jujube:   Large sweet and crisp or soft and chewy. 

Sugar Cane:  Small and very sweet and crisp. 

      

 

Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They were hand massaged while they dried 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.  A limited supply of Hoshigaki are now available in the farm stand.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com. We usually begin processing the new season hoshigaki in October.

Hoshigaki strips:  These are pieces of hoshigaki sliced for easy snacking.

 

Gala Apples:  Sweet, crisp apple.  Red blush on skin over light yellow skin.   Great for snacking.

GRAPES 

Thompson Seedless:  Small, sweet, yellow grapes.

Kyoho:  Large, sweet, purple grapes with seeds. Flavorful and juicy. 

ASIAN PEARS  

20th Century:  Yellow skin. White, crisp flesh.  Sweet and very juicy.

New Century:  Yellow skin. White, sweet, crisp flesh. 

Kosui:  Yellow skin. White, crunchy flesh. Sweetand juicy  

Hosui:  Brown rough skin. Very Sweet with crunchy flesh. 

EUROPEAN PEARS

Bartlett Pear:  Sweet and juicy European pear. Flesh is white with soft texture and mild fragrance. Used for fresh eating, canning poaching and baking.  I love mine with a scoop of cottage cheese.

 

D'anjou Pear:   Sweet and juicy European pear. Enjoyed when it is a little firm.  Can be eaten out of hand or sliced into cereal or yogurt.  May be poached or used in baking.  Skin remains on the green side.  Ready to eat when neck area begins to soften.

 

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

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.   

Summer Squash:

Green and Yellow Zucchini.

Yellow crookneck  

Cucumbers:

Armenian:  Light and dark green in color.  Young cucumbers have few seeds.  Background flavor of melon. 

Asian cucumbers:  Bumpy or spiny. Long green seedless cucumbers. Sweet, flavorful and often burpless. Melon rind-like flavor.

Lemon cucumber:  Small, round, green, tender cucumber unless I wait too long to pick it and it becomes yellow and seedy.

Tomatoes:  Red tomatoes for slicing and adding to salad. (Limited supply.)

Cherry tomatoes:                            

Sungold (orange) 

Sweetie (red)

Other Vegetables: (Limited supply.)

Japanese eggplant

Bell peppers 

Shishito peppers 

Aoshiso leaves 

Here is what we have from other producers:

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.  Limited supply.

Fresh Bouquets: of colorful in-season flowers from La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis. (Limited supply.)

 

Lupi Farms in Granite Bay. No spray practice:  

Black Mission Figs:  Dark skin over rich, sweet, jammy flesh.  

Thompson Seedless:  Small, yellow, sweet seedless grapes.

Dark grapes:  Unknown name.  Small, purple, sweet, seedless grapes. 

Kijani Farm in Granite Bay.  No spray practice:

 

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

PEACHES, APPLES, AND FIGS

 At the moment we are going strong with Fay Elberta peaches.  When that moment is gone we will have a small crop of O'Henry and Summerset peaches to harvest and then the peach trees will be empty till next June (2026).    

The apple harvest is now starting.  We have Gravenstein and Gala apples. The Gravenstein are an old variety with unique fragrance and tartness.  It is used for sauce and cider or a good sour apple crunch. Gala have a red blush over light yellow skin.  They are a sweet crisp apple great for snacking.

It seems I have been waiting a long time for the second crop of figs to get ready.  Slowly they are starting to come into the farm stand.  We will get a boost from Lupi Farm in Granite Bay that will be bringing us Black Mission figs this week. 

The vegetable garden is at its peak. We are getting tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans, peppers and eggplants.  The days are getting shorter and the veggies seem to know.  When I harvest the cucumbers, squash and tomatoes, I can tell that my boxes are lighter than they were last week.

We have an opening at our farm for a worker who  can work in and around the farm stand part time 2 to 4 days per week. Hours will increase as we get into persimmon season.

 

HELP WANTED

Job Posting: Farm Stand worker.  10 to 30 hours per week (hours vary by the season).  $16.50 to $17.50 per hour.

Otow Orchard, 6232 Eureka Rd. Granite Bay

Otow Orchard is a direct-to-consumer farm market. Personal contact with and respect for customers is important to building our business and our community. Produce is grown without sprays or chemical fertilizers. Harvest occurs when produce is mature and at its peak. We support local feeding programs and area farms.  The pay is not great but the experience is rewarding.

We are looking for an honest, reliable, hardworking, self-directed individual who has an interest in growing good food. This is an opportunity to work day to day on a farm and learn about our crops and methods.  Pay is not great but the experience can be enriching.

Job Title: Farm stand and produce associate

Job description:

Assist in farm stand marketing and sales.

Cleaning, inspecting, and restocking the display.

Maintain and clean the fruit stand area and farm yard.

Sorting produce for quality and distribution.

Harvest, irrigate and help maintain vegetable garden.

Build positive relationships with customers and coworkers.

Assignments may require use of hand tools and power tools.

Seasonally and with experience, the job description will change as needed.

Responsibilities:

Work safely and ask for help when needed.

Follow heat stress and food safety guidelines.

Be observant and report or take care of things that are out of line.

Clean up and put away tools and equipment.

Make good use of time.

Requirements:

Reliable transportation.

Be able to safely lift 40 pounds.

Work during extremes of weather: hot, cold, wet, dry.

Dependable attendance.

Good math basics.

Good communication skills (listening and speaking).

Please submit resume and inquiries in person or through email: otoworchard@yahoo.com

Request job history and references. 

 

 

 

 

 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.

PEACHES  

Fay Elberta:  Yellow, freestone peach. Juicy and sweet for eating out of hand or baking and canning.  Known for its melting texture.

Opale:  White freestone peach.  Low acid, sweet and juicy. 

Paradise:   White freestone peach.  Low acid, sweet and juicy. 

PLUMS

Eldorado:  Yellow fleshed plum.  Often eaten hard and crisp.  Very sweet. 

Laroda:  Yellow fleshed plum.  Sweet/tart and juicy.  Pleasant flavor.

Kelsey:  Green skin over yellow flesh.  Firm to soft. Always sweet and juicy. 

LSR:  Yellow flesh sweet tart plum.   

FIGS

Brown Turkey:  Brown speckled skin with sweet, pink flesh. Mild sweetness with thoughts of honey.

Black Mission:  Black skin with tan, caramel flavored flesh. Sweet and chewy.

Panache (Tiger Stripe):  Greenish brown striped skin.  Very sweet, pink flesh .

      

 

Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They were hand massaged while they dried 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.  Hoshigaki are now available in the farm stand.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com. 

Hoshigaki strips:  These are piec
es of hoshigaki sliced for easy snacking.

Gravenstein Apples: Tart and flavorful apple. Often used for sauce or in cider. (limited supply.)

Gala Apples:  Sweet, crisp apple.  Red blush on skin over light yellow skin.   Great for snacking.

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.

Summer Squash:

Green and Yellow Zucchini.

Yellow crookneck  

Cucumbers:

Armenian:  Light and dark green in color.  Young cucumbers have few seeds.  Background flavor of melon. 

Asian cucumbers:  Bumpy or spiny. Long green seedless cucumbers. Sweet, flavorful and often burpless. Melon rind-like flavor.

Lemon cucumber:  Small, round, green, tender cucumber unless I wait too long to pick it and it becomes yellow and seedy.

Tomatoes:  Red tomatoes for slicing and adding to salad.

Cherry tomatoes:                            

Sungold (orange)

Sweetie (red)

Suncherry (red) 

Other Vegetables: (Limited supply.)

Japanese eggplant

Bell peppers 

Green beans 

Shishito peppers 

Aoshiso leaves 

Here is what we have from other producers:

Sunnyslope Farm: conventionally grown peaches from Granite Bay.

Fay Elberta Peaches:  Very popular variety. Big and beautiful, yellow freestone peaches.  Sweet and Juicy with wonderful flavor and smooth texture. 

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.  Limited supply.

Fresh Bouquetsi of colorful in-season flowers from La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis. 

 

Lupi Farm in Granite Bay. No spray practice:  

Black Mission Figs:  Dark skin over rich, sweet, jammy flesh.  

 

Nest of baby birds in the tomato vine.

 

 

PEACHES AND TOMATOES

 Tomato season has arrived.  It always amazes me.  We provide a tiny seed with soil, water, and heat in the middle of February and now we have 6 foot tall bushy vines supporting green and suddenly red tomatoes.  It has been happening every year but it is still a wonder to witness.  We have a few big red slicers and many junior slicers.  Then there are those for slicing into salads.  Also red and yellow cherry tomatoes are available. Last week while harvesting tomatoes I became aware of high pitched tweets.  There was a gray bird with light red breast feathers flittering among tree branches near by.  I recalled this happening last year. I began searching the tomato vine canopies. And there it was. A bird nest with three tiny light blue eggs.  I will try not to disturb the nest and hope to watch skinny looking baby birds  as they develop feathers and eventually take flight.

The peaches are a little slow right now.  We are harvesting a few Gene Elberta and Suncrest yellow peaches. The Gene Elberta are about done and the Suncrest are starting.  We are also getting conventionally grown big beautiful Suncrest peaches from Sunnyslope Farm. The white peach season is slowing down.  Just a few Silver Logan and Babcock peaches remain to be harvested.  On the horizon are Fay Elberta  and 49er peaches.

Plums are showing their diversity.  We are still offering Santa Rosa Plums.  The yellow flesh plums are: Eldorado, Red Roy and Laroda.   Red fleshed plums are: Frontier and Mariposa.  European plums: Tulare Giant. 

 In addition to tomatoes, the garden is producing several varieties of cucumbers and squash.  There is a good supply of Asian and Armenian cucumbers. Both are so crisp and tender.  Zucchini squash are very happy but the yellow squash and patty pan squashes are giving it some competition.  Green beans and bell peppers show up occasionally.

 A little later than usual is the Gravenstein Apple harvest.  Not much this year. This red striped green apple is tart and flavorful.  Famously used for applesauce.

 

 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.

Blackberries:  These are wild blackberies that grow on our property.  They are painstakingly picked from thorny vines for your eating enjoyment.  Sweet/tart and soo flavorful.  Usually only in-season during July.

 

PEACHES  

Gene Elberta:  Yellow, freestone peach. Juicy and sweet for eating out of hand or baking and canning.     

49er:  Yellow freestone peach.  Juicy and sweet with a smooth texture. Good for fresh eating and baking or canning.

Sugar Lady: White freestone peach.  This pink to red skinned white peach is sweet and fragrant.  Can be enjoyed on the firm side or left to become soft, juicy and sweet.

Silver Logan:  White freestone peach.  Beautiful pink skin color over white.  Flesh has pink streaks in white flesh.  Intense sweet flavor with some tang to it.

Babcock:  White freestone peach. Sweet, delicate flavor. Red to pink skin  over white flesh (limited supply).

PLUMS

Santa Rosa:  Old sought after variety for their rich aromatic flavor.  Early season Santa Rosa have yellow flesh that is sweet tart. Late season Santa Rosa have red flesh and are all sweet.  Their fragrance will fills our farm stand. They are great for fresh eating and have been known to win jam contest for their flavor and sweet tart contrast.

Frontier:  Red fleshed  plum.  Sweet and juicy with mild flavor. 

Eldorado:  Yellow fleshed plum.  Often eaten hard and crisp.  Very sweet. 

Laroda:  Yellow fleshed plum.  Sweet/tart and juicy.  Pleasant flavor.

Mariposa:  Juicy, red fleshed plum.  Very sweet.  (Limited supply.)

Red Roy:  Red skin over yellow flesh. Sweet firm plum.

Kelsey:  Green skin over yellow flesh.  Firm to soft. Always sweet and juicy. 

Tulare Giant: Elongated purple European plum.  Yellow fleshed, freestone plum. Often used in baking. (Limited supply.)

  

      

 

Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They were hand massaged while they dried 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.  Hoshigaki are now available in the farm stand.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com. 

Hoshigaki strips:  These are pieces of hoshigaki sliced for easy snacking.

Eureka Lemons:  These are very tart lemons. Great for contrast in sweet and sour recipes like:  lemonade, lemon meringue pie, sweet and sour pork, and lemon bars.

Valencia Oranges:  Sweet juicing oranges. 

Gravenstein Apples: Tart and flavorful apple. Often used for sauce or in cider. (limited supply.)

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.

Summer Squash:

Green and Yellow Zucchini.

Yellow crookneck  

Cucumbers:

Armenian:  Light and dark green in color.  Young cucumbers have few seeds.  Background flavor of melon. 

Asian cucumbers:  Bumpy or spiny. Long green seedless cucumbers. Sweet, flavorful and often burpless. Melon rind-like flavor.

Lemon cucumber:  Small, round, green, tender cucumber unless I wait too long to pick it and it becomes yellow and seedy.

Tomatoes:  Red tomatoes and a few heirloom varieties. 

Cherry tomatoes:                            

Sungold (orange)

Sweetie (red)

Suncherry (red) 

Other Vegetables: (Limited supply.)

Japanese eggplant

Bell peppers 

Green beans 

Shishito peppers 

Aoshiso leaves 

Here is what we have from other producers:

Sunnyslope Farm: conventionally grown peaches from Granite Bay.

Suncrest Peaches:  Very popular variety. Big and beautiful, yellow freestone peaches.  Sweet and Juicy with wonderful flavor.  

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.  Limited supply.

Fresh Bouquets of colorful in-season flowers from La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis. 

 

 

 

 

 

FINALLY A TASTE OF SUMMER

     This week we started harvesting some peaches and plums.  Slowly we are beginning to see peaches, plums, pluots, and nectarines ripening on the trees.  Not enough to make all our customers happy.  Hopefully they can be patient.  And when we let a small tray go out the door we try to caution people to let the fruit set on the counter a couple days to bring out the flavor and sweetness and juice.

       In the peach department, we are harvesting Flavorcrest, a yellow freestone peach.  I never think these early freestone  peaches like to come apart as easily as the later peaches.  Red Haven and Regina peaches are coming off the trees.  Two favorite varieties of many of our customers.  They will be at their peak for a week.  So don't miss out.

      In the plum department, the Santa Rosas are quickly coming to maturity.   I'll be sorting a hundred boxes this week.  These all time  favorite plum will be available for about a month.  Occasionally we get a few red flesh plums: Burgundy, Black Splendor, and Frontier.

     Apricot season was unusually productive.  We are winding  down the apricot season with Royal Blenheim. 

     We have cleaned up the citrus trees. Next year's crop is already hanging on the trees.  They are still very small and very green. This year's Eureka lemons and Valencia oranges that we harvested will keep nicely in the cool room for a few weeks.  

     The time we put into our gardens is starting to pay off.  Slowly we are getting zucchini and yellow summer squash. Armenian and Japanese cucumber are also starting their harvest.  The tomatoes are still green although I am beginning to pick some cherry tomatoes.

 

 

 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.

Apricots:

Blenheim (Royal): Old and very popular variety. Although small, this variety is aromatic and full of flavor.  Don't be fooled by the greenish shoulders, the Blenheim is juicy and sweet with tangy background. Customers keep coming back for them. Blenheims are used for canning baking, drying and fresh eating.

 

PEACHES

Flavorcrest: Yellow freestone peach. Tasty early season firm fleshed peach. Juicier and sweeter when left to ripen on the counter.

Regina: Yellow freestone peach.  Sweet and juicy as it ripens.  

Red Haven:  Yellow freestone peach.  Great flavor, sweet and juicy. 

June Pride:  Yellow freestone peach with dark red skin and intense flavor. Enjoyed on the firm side but will ripen to be soft and juicy. 

Sugar Lady: White freestone peach.  This pink to red skinned white peach is sweet and fragrant.  Can be enjoyed on the firm side or left to become soft, juicy and sweet.

PLUMS

Santa Rosa:  Old sought after variety for their rich aromatic flavor.  Early season Santa Rosa have yellow flesh that is sweet tart. Late season Santa Rosa have red flesh and are all sweet.  Soon their fragrance will fill our farm stand. They are great for fresh eating and have been known to win jam contest for their flavor and sweet tart contrast.

Burgundy:  Dark skin over red flesh.  Sweet, mild tasting plum with firm flesh.

 

Jade Nectarines:  Sweet and tasty white nectarine.  Limited Supply. 

 Figs:  Black Mission and Panache figs.  Breba crop. Limited Supply.

 

  Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They were hand massaged while they dried 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.  Hoshigaki are now available in the farm stand.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com. 

 Hoshigaki strips:  These are pieces of hoshigaki sliced for easy snacking.

 Hachiya Pulp:  Frozen Hachiya persimmon pulp is available. Often used to make cookies, puddings and breads.  Many customers put it on yogurt and oatmeal  or add it to their smoothie.

Eureka Lemons:  These are very tart lemons. Great for contrast in sweet and sour recipes like:  lemonade, lemon meringue pie, sweet and sour pork, and lemon bars.

Valencia Oranges:  Sweet juicing oranges. 

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.

Summer Squash:

Green and Yellow Zucchini.

Yellow crookneck  

Cucumbers:

Armenian:  Light and dark green in color.  Young cucumbers have few seeds.  Background flavor of melon. 

Asian cucumbers:  Bumpy or spiny. Long green seedless cucumbers. Sweet, flavorful and often burpless. Melon rind-like flavor.

Here is what we have from other producers:

Stoney Point Orchard,  Loomis, CA organic certified:

    Rio Red Grapefruit:   Juicy and sweet with a bit of tartness. Flesh is pink.

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.  Limited supply.

Onions:  La Bella Vito Farm is bringing us red, yellow, and white onions sustainably grown in Loomis, CA. 

Fresh Bouquets of colorful in-season flowers from La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis. 

 

The California Persimmon Recipe Book:  Introduction to basic persimmon knowledge followed by recipes for the different types of persimmons.

Krumel Family no spray:  Black mission figs.