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.

NOT WINTER BUT SUMMER

 It's not winter, so hoshigaki season is on the back burner. It is still available at the farm stand but not through mail order.  And now we switch our attention to things of summer like stone fruit and veggies.

The peach season has started but it seems that they sell almost as soon as they are brought into the farm stand.  Don't worry, much more is on the way.  A few lucky customers were able to snag some of the Springrose or Springcrest peaches.  There will soon be Maycrest and Junecrest.  Then we will start harvesting Flavorcrest and Regina peaches.  

Apricots are happy this year.  I'm not sure why but something in the weather we were handed was agreeable to them.  Robada and Royal Rosa apricots sold out quickly.  Now we are bring in Blenheim (Royal) and Patterson.  Both are excellent varieties.

It is an unusual year. Not only do we have a good harvest of apricots but there are also respectable nectarines on the trees.  Meaning they are not quite as scarred up and cracked as we normally have.  There will be a limited amount of white Jade nectarines in the near future.

Loquats are now producing small, sweet and juicy fruit.  Between the large brown seed and the firm yellow skin is sweet juicy flesh.

SANTA ROSA plums are starting ripen.  These are the most popular and sought after variety of plums. They  have a distinctive flavor and enticing fragrance. They are both sweet and  sour at the beginning of the season.  Later ones are all sweet and juicy.  

We are now offering flowers.  The fresh flower bouquets are coming from La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis. The bouquets are garden fresh and contain colorful in-season blooms.  Come check them out.

Slowly the gardens are starting to produce.  Green and yellow summer squash have both made their debut.  A few Sungold cherry tomatoes are getting ready.  Sorry, but big tomatoes and cucumber are weeks away.

 Last fall we dried and massaged persimmons to make hoshigaki.  The ones that did not sell were stored in the freezer.  We will be slowly selling these at the farm stand.  Most of the hoshigaki that we will be selling are firmer or not as sugared as we like.  Nonetheless they retain the favor of hoshigaki.  We cut firmer hoshigaki  into strips and are sold in snack bags.  All this this say hoshigaki is not available through mail order at this time.  Most likely mail order will be available late November and December.  People are encouraged to look for the 2025 Mail order form in October and send their order in early.

 

 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:

 Patterson:  This apricot has good flavor and can be used for canning, baking drying and fresh eating.  When ripened it is both flavorful and sweet with tangy background. 

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.

Loquat:  A subtropical fruit popularized in Asia.  Loquat are small round or pear-shaped fruit that grow in clusters.  They are covered with a downy orange skin. The flesh is also orange containing 2 to 4 oval brown seeds.  The taste is tangy, sweet and juicy. We often refer to these as memory fruit.  Children walking to school would sampling them from landscape trees along their route to school.

 

PEACHES

 Maycrest:  Yellow freestone peach.

Junecrest: Yellow freestone peach.

Flavorcrest: Yellow freestone peach.

Regina: Yellow freestone peach.

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.

  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.

Yellow grapefruit:  Sweet tart grapefruit with yellow flesh.  This variety has great flavor.

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.

Peach trees:  We have a few peach trees for planting.  Regina peaches are  a yellow freestone peach that is harvested around the end of June. 

Pakistani Mulberries:  Long dark mulberries. Very sweet. Available only to those on the request list. Call to get on the list.

Summer Squash:

Green and Yellow Zucchini.

Yellow crookneck  

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.

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.

 

 

 

 

SUMMERTIME ON ITS WAY

     How quickly summer is approaching.  Not only is the weather telling me this but the fruit on the trees are showing signs.   In the blink of an eye the first variety of early peaches are gone. Not many trees and only a few lucky people got them.   Our ume crop was very damaged but a few customers are trying their best to process them.   If successful,  I'm sure it will taste fabulous.   

 

    We are about ready to begin the Spring Crest peach harvest.   These are yellow flesh, freestone peaches. It doesn't happen every year but we are surprised to have apricots this year.   The first variety is Royal  Rosa.  It will be followed by Robada and then Blenheim or Royal.

 

    The farm stand hours will revert to our regular hours on Tuesday June 3.  Starting June 3 our hours will be:  

    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:

     Royal Rosa:  Our first apricot of the season.  It is sweet with mild, low acid flavor. 

     Robada:    Our second apricot of the season.  This one is very attractive with its size and beautiful reddish blush.  Robada has orange flesh, good flavor and fragrance.

Loquat:  A subtropical fruit popularized in Asia.  Loquat are small round or pear-shaped fruit that grow in clusters.  They are covered with a downy orange skin. The flesh is also orange containing 2 to 4 oval brown seeds.  The taste is tangy, sweet and juicy. We often refer to these as memory fruit.  Children walking to school would sampling them from landscape trees along their route to school.

 

Peaches

Springcrest: Our first of the season yellow freestone peach.  Beautiful red and yellow fuzzy skin over juicy orange mild flesh. We call it an early season peach.

  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.  For mail orders please use our 2024  mail order form.

 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.

Yellow grapefruit:  Sweet tart grapefruit with yellow flesh.  This variety has great flavor.

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.

Peach trees:  We have a few peach trees for planting.  Regina peaches are  a yellow freestone peach that is harvested around the end of June. 

Pakistani Mulberries:  Long dark mulberries. Very sweet. Available only to those on the request list. Call to get on the list.

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.

 

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

 

 

  I don't recall a year with so many apricots. I searched the internet for what to do with apricots.   I found a tempting photo of Apricot Clafoutis by Oventales.  The recipe was easy enough and the results were delicious.  I will make this again with apricots or other fruit, like European plums.

Santa Rosa plums are starting their season. They are already sweet, juicy, fragrant and flavorful.   These plums are an all time favorite for so many folks.  Many recall the tree planted in their childhood backyard and in many cases, continue the tradition. 

We finished the early peaches and are now waiting for the next varieties to mature. Regina, Red Haven and Flavorcrest should begin harvest by the end of June.  These three varieties are yellow freestone peaches. We are hoping for a bigger harvest than last year. 

I have tasted the first cherry tomatoes. They are slow to start but this warm weather should give them a boost.  Hope I can sell my first basket full this week. There are many green standard tomatoes on the vine. I'm hoping to have some to sell by mid July.   The Japanese cucumbers are getting a jump start.  We are harvesting a box of them a day.  These cucumbers are seedless and thin skinned.  They have wonderful fresh cucumber flavor.  Many people enjoy them for a healthy cold crunchy snack.  Of course they are great in salads, sandwiches and just sliced.  We will be getting peppers, eggplant and beans from the garden in a few weeks.

The first of the figs for the year have suddenly arrived.  It will be a short season.  In August, we are expecting the second fig crop.

We were able to get some persimmon trees to sell.  Let us know if you want a Fuyu or Hachiya persimmon tree to plant.

 We continue to have a supply of hoshigaki (Japanese dried persimmons) in the freezer.  These are sweet and tender with traditional persimmon flavor.  They are coated  with hoshigaki sugar.  A sweet treat.  They are available at the farm stand.  Mail order may restart when the weather cools down.

REGULAR HOURS

Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, 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

Plums:  Santa Rosa: Sweet, and juicy, One of the all time  most   popular  varieties.  They are very flavorful and fragrant.   Don't miss out.

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. The hoshigaki is available in the farm stand. You may drop in for on farm pick up.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com.  Mail orders may restart when the weather cools.

Valencia Oranges:  These oranges have thin skin and high juice content. Used for  juicing or fresh eating.  Slice them in half and cut them into smiles.😋

Persimmon:  Frozen Hachiya persimmon pulp.

Apricots:    

   Royal: Sweet tart apricot with a background of honey when soft (limited supply).

   Patterson: Large firm apricot with good flavor (limited supply).

Figs:   The first crop, Breba, is now available for a short time.  

    Black Mission figs are dark, with sweet fig flavor.  Popular variety.

    Panache or Tiger Stripe figs have red strawberry pulp. Very popular for it's sweet berry-like flavor.

Summer Squash:  Green and yellow zucchini. Very fresh and easy to cook.

Japanese cucumbers:  Seedless and tender. So crisp and refreshing as  a snack on a warm summer day.We love the flavor of these cucumbers and are always sad when they are gone. 

Sungold cherry tomatoes:  Sweet orange cherry tomatoes.  Fruity flavor. The most popular cherry tomato at our farm for years. (Limited Supply).

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

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

Here is what we have from other producers:

Mihara Farm in Newcastle, conventional practices:

    Black Beaut Plums:  Sweet tart plums with dark skin and yellow-red flesh. Very juicy when soft.

Sunnyslope Farm in Granite Bay, conventional practices:

    Flavorcrest Peaches:  Yellow freestone peaches.  Juicy and firm sweet tart flesh.  (Limited Supply.)

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

REGULAR HOURS

Beginning Friday May 31, 2024 we  will go back to our regular hours:

 Tuesdays through Saturday:   10:00 am to 6:00 pm

                            Sundays :  11:00 am to 5:00 pm

                            Closed on Mondays 

 

We are starting off the summer season with apricots, plums and peaches.  Spring Rose is an early season white peach. For unknown reasons three varieties of apricots are ripening at the same time.  We have Robada, Royal Rosa, and Royal Blenheim.  Loquats are also in season.

We are continuing to thin our fruit trees.  Many have a heavy crop that needs to be thinned out and blemishes removed.  If we don't do this we will have tasty but small fruit. 

The gardens are starting to fill in. I am battling bind weed and an unknown insect that likes to eat tender baby cucumber and bean plants.  Weeding is a daily chore.  We have covered several rows of vegetables with Agribon to protect them.  Summer squash has not had these problems and are now producing. 

 This year, the ume season was fast and furious. Suddenly it was ready to pick. Not just one variety, but all of them.  A few people were able to get enough to make their annual supply of umeboshi, umeshu, ume syrup, and ume vinegar. I will start taking orders for next years crop in April 2025.

 We continue to have a supply of hoshigaki (Japanese dried persimmons) in the freezer.  These are sweet and tender with traditional persimmon flavor.  They are coated  with hoshigaki sugar.  A sweet treat.  They are available at the farm stand and through mail order.  For mail order, please use our 2023 mail order form.

REGULAR HOURS

Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, 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:  Spring Rose: Early season white peach. Not as flavorful as later varieties. Still delicate, sweet and juicy.

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. The hoshigaki is available in the farm stand. You may drop in for on farm pick up.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com.  For mail orders please use our mail order form  for the 2023 season.

Valencia Oranges:  These oranges have thin skin and high juice content. Used for  juicing or fresh eating.  Slice them in half and cut them into smiles.😋

Persimmon:  Frozen Hachiya persimmon pulp.

Plums:  Red Beaut plums:  These early season yellow fleshed plums are sweet and juicy.

Apricots:   Royal Rosa:  early apricot.  Sweet, mild apricot with good flavor. 

    Royal Blenheim:  Well known variety with balance of sweetness and tartness and great flavor. Best if enjoyed with a green blush. 

    Robada:  Large orange apricot with red blush. Apricot fragrance and flavor.

Loquat:  Small but sweet and juicy with a citrus background. (Limited Supply)

Summer Squash:  Green and yellow zucchini. Very fresh and easy to cook.

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

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

Here is what we have from other producers:

Stoney Point Orchard in Loomis, Certified Organic:

Ruby Red Grapefruit:  Sweet-tart and juicy with pink flesh. Great flavor.

Valencia Oranges:  very juicy and sweet. Great for juicing or slicing.

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

 

CITRUS SEASON AND HOSHIGAKI SPECIAL

         On our farm it is a time of renewal. Most trees are bare so we can see an unobstructed view of the orchard.  This view will change as the trees put on leaves.  But for now we see the rolling hills of our foothill orchard and the bare branch structures of our trees.  They are waiting for life to return to their limbs. A few trees have started to bloom. I wonder if we got enough chill hours (Temperatures below 45 degrees F.) this winter to push a robust growth.  A delayed and erratic bloom season is one of the responses to the warmer climate we are experiencing. We like it, but it is confusing to the trees which then can't react in their normal ways.

          We are having a Hoshigaki Valentine Special. For customers coming to the farm, we are offering discounts ranging from $1 to $6 per pound.  The greatest savings are for those who purchase 5 pounds or more.  Special sale will end February 15, 2024.

(I know it will be confusing.  The above offer is for hoshigaki picked up at the farm.  The offer described below is for orders sent in the mail.)

        We are offering a VALENTINE SPECIAL  at this time, good for hoshigaki mail orders received between Jan. 22 to Feb. 15, 2024.  

              Buy 3 pounds at $60 per pound and receive one pound free.

  Total order must be sent to a single address.  

Use the second page of the order form with the description "Valentine Special 2024"   $180. 

Each "VALENTINE SPECIAL"  must be sent to only one address.  Please call or email  if you need clarification. otoworchard@yahoo.com  or  (916) 791-1656.

We are now moving onto citrus season. With the cold weather citrus fruits can add to your intake of vitamin C.   We have mandarins, oranges, grapefruit, lemons and yuzu.

 

HOURS:

Tues through Sat  10:00 am to 6 pm 

Sunday  11:00 am to 5:00 pm

CLOSED ON MONDAYS 

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

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 began peeling persimmons in October.  We peeled the last persimmons at the beginning of December. The hoshigaki is available in the farm stand. You may drop in for on farm pick up.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com.  For mail orders please use our mail order form  for the 2023 season.  See Valentine Specials described above.

Apples: 

        Fuji: Known for being sweet juicy and always crisp.

Yellow Grapefruit:  Sweet tart and a bit bitter. Very tasty.

Navel Oranges:  Sweet and Juicy.

Blood Oranges:  Sweet and juicy with dramatic red flesh. Good for fresh eating, juice, marmalade, or adding to salads or drinks.

Satsuma Mandarins:  Sweet, juicy, and easy to peel.  Very popular this time of year. Great flavor and an easy healthy snack. Can be added to desserts, salads, and drinks. Zest can be used to flavor sauces and marinades.

Clementine Mandarins:  Sweet and juicy. Easy to peel with delicte membrane.  They are more mild than oranges and make an easy healthy snack.  Can be added to salads and desserts.

Asian Pears: 

    Okusankichi:  Large winter Asian pear.  It is a good keeper.  It is sweet with a hint of tartness.  Juicy and crisp.  Limited supply.

Persimmons:

    Hachiya:  Tall acorn-shaped persimmon.  It is astringent until soft and jelly-like. It becomes very sweet soft and delicate. Fresh eating right out of its skin or often used for baking cookies and pudding. Used for making hoshigaki.

Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard.

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

English Walnuts:  In the shell.  You have to crack them.

Here is what we have from other producers:

Mihara Farm in Newcastle, CA, Conventional practices.  Satsuma mandarins. Sweet, juicy.

Kijani Farm

in Granite Bay, organic practices:

     Kabocha, Japanese winter squash (pumpkin).  Butternut winter squash

Stoney Point Farm, Organic certified, Loomis, CA: 

Oro Blanco Grapefruit:   Easy to peel white grapefruit. White flesh that is sweet or sweet-tart. Skin is greenish to yellow.

Yuzu:  Aromatic citrus fruit like a mandarin or lemon with uneven skin.  Valued for its fragrant zest (skin) and tart juice.  Much like lemon, yuzu is used to flavor sauces, dishes, teas and drinks.  Supply is limited.

Lupi Farm  in Granite Bay, no spray:  Meyer Lemons:  Tasty and flavorful lemons, low in acid.

  

GET READY FOR PEACHES

Our early peach varieties are finished.  There is a little break in our peach harvest.  By the end of June we will be harvesting middle season peaches: Flavorcrest, Red Haven, and Regina.  We hope to have white peaches after the fourth of July.

      Meanwhile Santa Rosa plums are starting to ripen.  With them come a delicious fragrance in our fruit stand on harvest days. Santa Rosas have tartness in their skin that is overwhelmed by its flavor, fragrance and sweetness. There is a reason this one of the most popular heirloom varieties.  These red plums start off with amber flesh, and as they mature the skin turns dark purple and the flesh becomes redder, all the while developing more juicy flavor and sweetness.

     Now and then we will have the breba crop of figs.  This is a small early crop of figs.  Both the black mission and brown turkey varieties are coming into the farm stand.  If you miss out on these early figs, they will be back at the end of July for their second crop of the summer.

      This is a good year for apricots on our orchard.  There is both Royal Blenheim and Patterson apricots. Both are good for eating, baking and making jam.

A future tractor driver.

       Hoshigaki, dried persimmons, are available in the farm stand.  On warm days you may need to ask for them.  We have to keep them in a cool place so they don't melt.  Hot weather makes shipping Hoshigaki through mail order a bit risky.  For mail order, it's best to call us for a discussion of the possibilities.

Peaches are great!

 

HOURS:

Tues. through Sat.      10:00  am to 6:00 pm           

 

          Sunday         11 am to 5 pm

Closed on Mondays

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

🍑 Peaches:  Flavorcrest, Red Haven, Regina. These are yellow freestone peaches.

Apricots:  Royal Blenheim apricots are an heirloom variety known for their great sweet tart flavor.  Patterson apricots have a delicate sweet flavor and hold their color and shape when cooking.  

Santa Rosa plums:  These plums are known for their amazing flavor and fragrance.  They are sweet tart and as the season goes on they become red fleshed, juicy and sweet

Hoshigaki:  Tender and moist dried persimmons with naturally formed dusting of fruit sugars on the surface.  These were hand massaged and  dried slowly for 4 to 8 weeks.

Loquat:  These small orange fruit are sweet with peach-like texture.

Eureka Lemons: deep yellow skin and tart juicy flesh.  🍋 Best  lemons to bring out the brightness desired in  lemonade and lemon meringue pie.

Valencia Oranges:  Juicing oranges, also good for just peeling and eating.

Vegetables:    Asian cucumbers, Summer squash.

Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard.

Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard

⚘ Calendula Salve and Lip Balm

Here is what we have from other producers:

WoodRose Country Garden in Granite Bay: 🥗 zucchini, crookneck squash, cabbage, Anaheim chiles, tomatoes 🍅, cucumbers, beans, eggplant, potatoes, white onions, basil, 🌿rosemary, Greek oregano, and thyme.  She will be adding more to her offerings this summer.

Sunnyslope Farm: Yellow freestone Flavorcrest peaches

Top O' the Hill Apiary in Granite Bay: Comb honey  can be used in tea, coffee, yogurt, oatmeal, ice cream, fruit salads and on toast or bagels.  Top of the Hill Apiary also has Bees wax 🐝, and Honey.

Nastase Honey Farm in Lincoln:  This Honey 🍯 is unfiltered and raw. 

Two Feather Farm in Granite Bay:  🐔🥚  Eggs.  Egg production is slowing down.  The hens think it is getting too warm.  🌞

Jams 🍑 from the Good Stuff. We currently have Peach Cardamon, Chili Apricot, Pepper Pomegranate, Fig Orange Brandy, and Chili Blackberry.