TIME TO MAKE JAM

     Santa Rosa Plums came on quickly.  Now is the time to make plum jam.  Santa Rosa, with their fabulous balance of sweet and tart, and wonderful fragrance, make an especially delicious jam.  
      I use 5 pounds of Santa Rosa plums and a box of pectin to make a batch of jam.  I often need to boil the jam a little longer (3 to 7 min) than recommended since our fruit usually has more  juice than expected.  The skins make it a deep magenta color.

      Peaches are now coming into the farm stand with a little more reliability.  Red Haven, Regina and Flavorcrest are three yellow freestone varieties that we are currently harvesting.  At this point we often advise customers to leave them on the counter for a day so they can mature and develop more flavor and juice. 

       It will be just a tease.  We had a few figs for sale last weekend.  The early crop (burber) of figs got burned in that late frost we had.  Only a few escaped and are now maturing.  Look for the next crop of figs to appear in late July or August.

      We are selling hoshigaki from last season.  It is available at the farm stand as strips or whole pieces.   Give us a call if you want to order by mail so we can discuss the possibilities.  We are hesitant to ship mail orders due to the heat. (916) 791-1656

HOURS:

Tues through Sat   10 am to 6 pm

Sun.                       11 am to 5 pm

Closed on Mondays

Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard:
Santa Rosa Plums: Dark skin with yellow flesh. Sweet-tart taste with intense flavor and fragrance
Red Beaut Plums: Red skin, yellow flesh, juicy, mildly sweet flavor
Frontier Plums: Dark skin, sweet, red flesh.
Flavorcrest Peach:  Yellow freestone
Regina Peach:  Yellow freestone
Red Haven peach: Yellow freestone with a distinct flavor
Jade Nectarine:  White flesh
Figs: Black Mission (limited supply)
Valencia Orange:  Sweet and juicy
Eureka Lemons:  Tart
Hoshigaki:  whole and strips
Honey from bees at Otow Orchard
Calendula Salve and Lip Balm
Summer Squash
Asian cucumbers
Asian eggplant
Tomato plants

Here is what we have from other producers:
Yellow Peaches from Sunnyslope Farm (conventionally grown)
Honey from Nastase Honey Farm in Lincoln

Orange Blossom Honey from our bee keeper
Eggs from Two Feather Farm in Granite Bay
Jams from the Good Stuff. We currently have Plum (Santa Rosa), Peach Cardamon, Chili Apricot, Pepper Pomegranate, Fig Orange Brandy, Chili Blackberry, and Quince Marmalade

SANTA ROSA PLUMS

We are at the beginning of the Santa Rosa Plum harvest. The flavor and fragrance of these heirloom plums is remarkable.  I guess that is why they have been so popular with people for a long time.  This fruit has definite flavor.  They are not only great for fresh eating but also make a spectacular jam.

     Many customers are patiently waiting for peaches. We hope to get them rolling into the farm stand soon.  We just can't hurry nature along or we will all be disappointed.  By the end of June I hope we will begin to harvest three yellow freestone peaches:  Red Haven, Regina and Flavorcrest.

When harvested, fruit come with a protective coating of yeast.

     While waiting for peaches, don't miss out on Royal Blenheim apricots.  They often have a hint of green on the skin. We find them to be tastier with a bit of texture. 


 

Official Statement:  We have NO pick your own activities.

HOURS:

Tues through Sat   10 am to 6 pm

Sun.                       11 am to 5 pm

Closed on Mondays

Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard:
Royal Blenheim Apricots: Sweet and flavorful with a background of tartness.  
Red Beaut Plums: Red skin, yellow flesh, juicy, mildly sweet flavor.
Santa Rosa Plums: Dark skin with yellow flesh. Sweet-tart taste with intense flavor and fragrance.
Valencia Orange:  Sweet and juicy.
Yellow Grapefruit:  Yellow flesh, sweet and tasty.
Eureka Lemons:  Tart.
Hoshigaki:  whole and strips
Honey from bees at Otow Orchard.
Calendula Salve and Lip Balm.
Summer Squash
Tomato plants

Here is what we have from other farms:
Yellow Peaches from Sunny slope Farm (conventionally grown) (limited supply)
Honey from Nastase Honey Farm in Lincoln

Orange Blossom Honey from our bee keeper
Eggs from Two Feather Farm in Granite Bay
Jams from the Good Stuff. We currently have Plum (Santa Rosa), Peach Cardamon, Chili Apricot, Pepper Pomegranate, Fig Orange Brandy, Chili Blackberry, and Quince Marmalade

FEELS LIKE SUMMER

      The Farm Stand is now open in its new format.  Wear a face covering, maintain 6-foot spacing,  one customer at a time, we will serve you from behind the plexiglass window.  On the table you can view pre-measured trays of plums, pluots, peaches, and oranges.

     Triple digit temperatures did not wait  for actual summer to grill us.  We have been closely monitoring the trees need for water and adjusting the frequency and duration of the irrigation.   We, ourselves, are reminded to drink  more water.

     Amazingly, peaches, plums, and pluots are responding to the warmer weather and longer days.  We are now harvesting Red Beaut plums and Flavorrosa pluots. We have harvested  a small crop of 4 varieties of early peaches. They sold about as fast as we could pick them.  Now there is a brief pause in harvest of peaches till the next varieties are ready. Hoshigaki is available in the Farm Stand, along with local honey, Calendula Salve, eggs and jam.

       Although the peaches  from Otow Orchard are limited at this time, we do have peaches from Sunnyslope Farm in Granite Bay.  They are bringing us Bon Jour yellow freestone peaches.  Small but very tasty.

Official Statement:  We have NO pick your own activities.

HOURS:

Tues through Sat   10 am to 6 pm

Sun.                       11 am to 5 pm

Closed on Mondays

Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard:
Yellow peaches (limited supply).
Red Beaut Plums: Red skin, yellow flesh, juicy, mildly sweet flavor.
Flavorrosa Pluots:  Dark skin, red firm flesh, intense flavor (limited supply).
Flavor Supreme Pluots:  Mottled green skin, firm sweet juicy red flesh (limited supply).
Loquat (limited supply).
Valencia Orange:  Sweet and juicy.
Yellow Grapefruit:  Yellow flesh, sweet and tasty.
Eureka Lemons:  Tart.
Hoshigaki:  whole and strips
Honey from bees at Otow Orchard.
Calendula Salve and Lip Balm.
Summer Squash
Tomato plants

Here is what we have from other farms:
Yellow Peaches from Sunny slope Farm (conventionally grown)
Honey from Nastase Honey Farm in Lincoln
Eggs from Two Feather Farm in Granite Bay
Jams from the Good Stuff. We currently have Plum (Santa Rosa), Peach Cardamon, Chili Apricot, Pepper Pomegranate, Fig Orange Brandy, Chili Blackberry and Quince Marmalade