PERSIMMONS AND MORE PERSIMMONS

Peeled persimmons hanging in the sun.

Late nights and long hours, the whole farm is focused on making hoshigaki, that sweet, chewy, tasty dried persimmon.  Picking, sorting, peeling, hanging, squeezing, protecting from the rain, squeezing, moving, bagging, freezing, tossing, squeezing, sorting, and  packaging are some of the steps for making this delicacy.  The persimmons we peeled in October are now for sale in the farm stand.  Now that the weather has turned cooler, we should start to get more tender hoshigaki. If you need hoshigaki to be sent out, please fill out the mail order form and mail it to us with your check.  Hoshigaki is available at the farm stand in limited grades.  If you want premium hoshigaki, it is best to call ahead (916) 791-1656 or email to inquire or reserve. 

Fuyu persimmons are in the height of their season.  For crisp, sweet fruit, now is the time to enjoy. Soon the weather will get too cold and the fuyu will start to get more tender.  Hachiya persimmons like the cold temperatures and start to soften more quickly.  It is those soft, pudding-like hachiya that are so good for fresh eating, cookies, puddings, or topping for yogurt or ice cream.

This has been a disappointing year for chocolate persimmon lovers. 
Perhaps there was too much rain last spring during pollination time.  The crop is very light and late.  The sweetness may be limited to just half or less of the fruit.

Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays we have fresh harvest of winter vegetables from Barley Oats Farms.  Fall in love with your greens all over again. You may also special order vegetables by visiting the Barley Oats farms web site and pick up your order at the farm stand.  We see fresh beets, kale, bak choi, lettuce, peas, radish, beets, cilantro, kohlrabi, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, leeks, green onions and more at the farm stand.

Here is what is available in the farm stand:

Persimmons: Fuyu, Hachiya, Gyombo, Nagamaru, and Vodka
Hoshigaki
Asian Pears:  Shinko, Okusankichi
Quince
Apples: Granny Smith, Fuji, Reinette Simerenko, and Pink Lady
Pomegranates:  Wonderful red, White
Walnuts
Kabocha
Local honey from our orchard
Persimmon cook books
Beeswax candles: 100% beeswax, they burn for 100 hours
Calendula lip balm and salve

2018 Master Gardener Calendars

From Barley Oats Farms: a beautiful array of winter vegetables