It has not happened for a few years. The timing was just right. We actually have a few cherries to offer some lucky customers. Although we are delighted to have cherries from our orchard we recognize this as a bright beginning of a new summer season that will be less productive than usual. Seems that all that rain we are so thankful for, did not allow the peaches, plums, apricots, or nectarines get a chance to pollinate. Their production will be very limited this year. 😢
The gardens are mostly planted. Tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans, eggplant, peppers and okra are starting to grow. I am battling bugs in my cucumber, long bean, and okra rows. I've had to reseed and try to get past the tender stage. Meanwhile the weeds don't seem to have any trouble with bugs. Weeding keeps me busy in addition to trying to trap a hungry gopher. The tomato vines are quickly filling their cages and I am starting to harvest squash.
WoodRose Country Garden made their first delivery this week. They offer lettuce, spinach, spring onions, fresh garlic, and several herbs.
We are about finished harvesting ume, Japanese sour plums. There is one old tree with small fruit left to pick. We are also getting ume from the neighbor. Red shiso, often used in ume processing, is available as plants at the farm stand.
WEEKDAY ROAD CONSTRUCTION: The water line is being replaced on Eureka Road in front of the orchard. Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, you may have to enter Eureka Road past the barricade at either Barton Road or Auburn Folsom Road depending on where the crew is working on that day. Please drive carefully.
Please note that we have now returned to regular season hours:
Tues through Sat 10:00 am to 6 pm
Sunday 11:00am 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. They should be stored in the freezer if not consumed within a day and definitely kept cool at all times. You may purchase these at our farm stand or order them using our mail order form.
Cherries: Very limited supply.
Peaches: Very limited supply.
Valencia Oranges: Juicy, sweet with some tartness. These are juicing oranges and also good for eating fresh
Yellow Grapefruit: Flavorful and juicy. Sweet tart with a wonderfully bitter background.
Eureka Lemons: These are the tart lemons. Great for lemonade or Lemon Meringue Pie.
Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard.
Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard.
⚘ Calendula Salve and Lip Balm
Dehydrated grapefruit and lemons
Summer Squash: zucchini and yellow squash
Plants: We have a few plants available. Red tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, paste tomatoes, shiso, flowering quince and California Fuchsia.
Here is what we have from other producers:
WoodRose Country Garden in Granite Bay, organic practices: lettuce, spinach, spring onions, basil, Italian parsley, cilantro, rosemary, oregano, thyme and fresh garlic.
Top O' the Hill Apiary in Granite Bay: Honey🍯. Top of the Hill Apiary also has bees wax 🐝.
Stoney Point Orchard in Loomis, certified organic: pink grapefruit.
Sunnyslope Farm in Granite Bay: Japanese Ume plums: These small very tart apricots are pickled for Japanese cuisine. They are commonly pickled in salt, sugar, honey, or alcohol.
Kijani Farm in Granite Bay, organic practices: Red beets, Red Russian Kale.
