TIME FOR PEACHES

    Here we are at the beginning of July and the peak of the peach season is upon us.  Just in time for your July celebrations.  If you are a peach fan, don't wait till August to start buying peaches. The varieties are ripening one after another.  And we don't seem to have a large crop.  Procrastinators may miss out this year.  We are harvesting yellow freestone peaches:  Red Haven, June Pride, Frost and PF 11. We are harvesting white freestone peaches:  Sugar Lady, Babcock, and Silver Logan.  On the horizon are Suncrest, Gene Elbertas, Rio Oso Gem and Nectar.  

     Sunnyslope Farm is again filling the display with their beautiful, conventionally grown peaches.   They have Flavorcrest and June Pride. 

     The plum crop may also disappear for those who delay.  There are not many this year.  We currently have Santa Rosa and a few Satsuma, Black Amber, Frontier, and Laroda.  

       Ahaaa, fresh vegetables.  Squash and Japanese eggplants and Asian cucumbers from our gardens are starting to produce.   WoodRose Country Garden, organic registered, in Granite Bay  is supplying us with vegetables from their farm.  Their most unique item is purple potatoes.  Try them not just for their bright color but for their many health benefits.  We are also getting fresh organically grown kale and chard from Kijani Farm in Granite Bay.

         Many people are inquiring about tomatoes.  Slowly a few are coming into the farm stand. These gems of the season take a long time to mature.  It will be worth the wait.

         Although I grew up with several Gravenstein apple trees on the orchard, Gravenstein apples are often associated with Sebastopol in Sonoma County.  It is known for its sweet tangy honey flavor. It is great for making sauce or cider.  It makes a delicious pie when balanced with some sugar.  We have five young trees bringing us this old time flavor for those who would like to reminisce or try for the first time.

REGULAR  SEASON HOURS:

TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY  10:00  TO  6:00

                            SUNDAY      11:00 TO 5:00

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

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

Plums:

          Santa Rosa: Dark red purple skin over yellow flesh.  These are an all time favorite for their sweet tart burst of flavor and fragrance.

          Satsuma: small, round, red fleshed sweet plum.

RED HAVEN

           Frontier:  dark purple skin with sweet red flesh.

            Laroda:  Yellow-fleshed, sweet-tart plums with great flavor.

Valencia oranges:  These are great for juicing or just eating.

Eureka lemons 🍋 these are sour

Yellow freestone peaches:

         Red Haven:  Great tasting sweet tart peach with a unique flavor.  It is juicy with a pleasing smooth texture. Good for fresh eating, desserts, canning and freezing.

         June Pride:  Intense sweet tart flavor with good fragrance and holds its texture.  Good for fresh eating, desserts, canning and freezing.

SUGAR LADY

         Frost:  This peach has a bluish yellow blush. It is sweet and very juicy.   It is one of the most cold hardy peach trees and that is how it got it's name.

         PF 11:  Bred in Michigan by horticulturalist Paul Friday.  This variety is  sweet tart with firm yellow red flesh.

          Suncrest:  Sweet and juicy. Flesh tends to be red.

White freestone peaches:

           Sugar Lady:  Sweet and delicate. Can be eaten firm or soft.

           Babcock:  Heirloom peach variety. Delicate, sweet and juicy (limited supply).

           Silver Logan:  Sweet and juicy with a hint of tartness.

Hachiya:  frozen pulp 

Gravenstein Apples:  Early season apples. Crisp, tangy and sweet. Great for cooking, baking, and drying. 

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

⚘ Calendula Salve and Lip Balm 

Summer Squash:  Zucchinis, Yellow squash

Japanese Eggplant

Garlic

Tomatoes (limited supply)

Asian cucumbers:  Crisp and flavorful. Seedless and burpless.

Yellow wax beans: Use like green beans (limited supply).

 

Here is what we have from other producers:

SunnyslopeFarm, Conventionally Grown in Granite Bay.  June Pride yellow fleshed, freestone peaches.

WoodRose Country Gardens in Granite Bay: (organic practices) Red, white and purple potatoes, white bulb onions 🧅, Shallots, garlic, summer squash, lemon cucumbers, bell peppers, 🌶 Anaheim peppers, Banana peppers, Jalapenos, summer squash, Greek oregano, rosemary, thyme, and basil.  If you are lucky, there may be a tomato or two.  We are also getting nectarines and peaches from WoodRose Garden.

Kijani Farm in Granite Bay:(organic practices)  Swiss chard, kale, cabbage, and red onions.

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

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

 

A LITTLE EARLY THIS YEAR

 

          We have been connected to farming all of our lives.  We didn't earn the title of farm operator till 22 years ago.  Still, every year is like no other we can remember.  Each year there are surprises and differences.  When people ask about crops I am learning to add that every year is different and I can't reliably predict.  I thought things were going to mature later than usual this year but as it turns out, early fruit was a bit earlier. We have already finished 4 varieties of early peaches and about ready to start the mid season peaches.  Suddenly there is the fragrance of Santa Rosa plums filling the air in the farm stand. Santa Rosas don't usually come on till mid June. 

       Check out our Facebook page:  Chris Otoworchard

       Mid season peaches:  Flavorcrest, Red Haven and Regina are getting some color.  We are now selling Flavorcrest peaches in the farm stand.  These are firm crisp yellow freestone peaches. They  have red skin and good flavor. As you wait they get sweeter and juicier.

        Also a little early are the apricots.  The large round Robada apricots came and are now gone.  We seem to have a decent crop of Royal Blenheim apricots.  Although small in size, they are big in flavor, juicy and sweet.  A popular heirloom variety.

        Citrus fruit are still available in the farm stand.  We have both white and pink grapefruit, Eureka lemons, and Valencia oranges,  all are great for juicing.

        Our tomatoes will not be ready till July. The vines are growing but the fruit is still green.  Sungold cherry tomatoes are starting to color. Hope to have a basket of them by mid June. 

       WoodRose Country Garden is a step ahead of us in the tomato department.  Start looking for her tomatoes in a week. She is currently bringing us summer squash, potatoes, onions, herbs, basil,  peas and beans.

       

          

REGULAR  SEASON HOURS:

TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY  10:00  TO  6:00

SUNDAY                           11:00 TO 5:00

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

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

Plums:  Santa Rosa: Dark red purple skin over yellow flesh.  These are an all time favorite for their sweet tart burst of flavor and fragrance.

Apricots:  Royal: small and flavorful

Valencia oranges:  These are great for juicing or just eating.

Yellow grapefruit :  sweet tart and very flavorful

Eureka lemons 🍋 these are sour

Peaches:  Flavorcrest a sweet, firm yellow freestone peach.

Hachiya:  frozen pulp

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:

Stoney Point Orchard in Loomis (organic certified): Pink grapefruit.

WoodRose Country Gardens in Granite Bay: (organic practices) Red, white and purple potatoes, beans, snow peas, 🥬lettuce, white bulb onions 🧅, Greek oregano, rosemary, thyme, and basil.  If you are lucky, there may be a tomato or two.

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

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