HERE COMES 2022 AND HOSHIGAKI UPDATE

          2022 will soon be here. I am looking forward to another good year of seasonal fruit. These days we cannot count on the weather to bring expected seasonal conditions. Weather and other events are challenging and sometimes unexpected. Fruit and vegetables live and grow in the outdoors so they are more sensitive to any changes however minor.

 

           Unusual and even amazing this season is that we are still selling Fuyu persimmons, courtesy of our warmer fall weather. Persimmons often begin to soften when there is cool weather down in the 40 degrees. This did not happen till after Thanksgiving. The Fuyu we are selling are not as crisp as earlier. They are getting sweeter and more peach-like in texture.

           The hoshigaki process is still going on. In a couple weeks the process of making hoshigaki will be finished for the 2021 season. We will likely have extra that could be purchased and ordered. For hoshigaki that will be picked up at the farm stand, it is best if you call if you need more than a pound. If you want hoshigaki shipped to you, use the 2021 mail order form.  Hoshigaki orders are about filled and it looks like we have enough to continue taking orders. Although our family has been making hoshigaki for almost a century, I don't recall any history about persimmons plopping off the sepal as they were drying. We were alarmed to see this happen and stopped accepting new orders until we were assured that there would be product to sell. Sorry to have so many customers on hold. Every year is a new challenge. 

 

        Out in the orchard we finished picking the last of the mandarins. Not in time to save them from rain damage. I have many boxes of mandarins with light brown spots on them created by the rain sitting on the skin. Often the damage is only in the skin and the flesh is undamaged or only the section under the damaged skin is damaged. The rest of the mandarin is good. We often eat these ourselves. Better yet is squeezing them to make juice. It is so tasty, delicious and good for you. These mandarins have a lot of juice packed in them. In the next week or two you will be able to get these mandarins at a heavy discount. 

 

         Lupi Farm is a no spray farm in Granite Bay.  They are bringing us Meyer Lemons.  These lemons are less tart than regular lemons, with floral fragrance and bright taste.   Great for adding to your water or tea. Can also be used in salad dressings and sauces.

 

 

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:

Brown Asian Pears: Okusankichi. These pears are mildly sweet, juicy, and crisp. They are good keepers. 

Apples:  🍎 Fuji  (limited supply)

Quince: Yellow fruit in the pear/apple family. Seldom eaten raw. It can be baked like apples or sauced like apples. High in pectin, they are often used for jelly and Dulce de Membrillo (Quince candy). Naturally sour but full of aroma and flavor, can be added to stews.

Pink Pomegranates: These light skinned, Ambrosia, pomegranates have sweet pink arils.

Red Pomegranates: These pomegranates have dark red arils that are sweet and tangy. A brilliant taste. 

Persimmons:

Hachiya : These persimmons must be very soft to be enjoyed. They are sweet and succulent. They can be eaten out of hand, added to cereal, yogurt, or smoothies. These are used in baking cookies, breads, and puddings. 

Chocolate Persimmons: Maru, and Nagamaru (tsurunoko, chocolate),  are brown fleshed persimmons that can be eaten hard or softening. If they are successfully pollinated in the spring they will turn brown fleshed and sweet. These are getting soft and sweeter.

Fuyu: These popular yellow fleshed persimmons are always sweet. Normally enjoyed when they are hard and firm. This late in the year they are getting softer and sweeter.

Vodka Persimmons: These are brown or orange fleshed persimmons treated with Vodka to insure sweetness. Also getting softer and sweeter.

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. 

Winter squash:  Black Futsu and Kabocha. (Limited supply.)

Pecans

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:

Pleasant Hill Farm in Lincoln: Satsuma Mandarins 

Lupi Farm in Granite Bay: No spray Meyer Lemons, known for flavor and fragrance.

Top O' the Hill Apiary in Granite Bay: Honey🍯. Top of the Hill Apiary also has bees wax 🐝. 

Two Feather Farm: 🐔🥚 Eggs. (Extremely limited supply. As the days lengthen, we will begin to see egg production go up. The height of production is usually March, April and May.)

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