Tomato season has arrived. It always amazes me. We provide a tiny seed with soil, water, and heat in the middle of February and now we have 6 foot tall bushy vines supporting green and suddenly red tomatoes. It has been happening every year but it is still a wonder to witness. We have a few big red slicers and many junior slicers. Then there are those for slicing into salads. Also red and yellow cherry tomatoes are available. Last week while harvesting tomatoes I became aware of high pitched tweets. There was a gray bird with light red breast feathers flittering among tree branches near by. I recalled this happening last year. I began searching the tomato vine canopies. And there it was. A bird nest with three tiny light blue eggs. I will try not to disturb the nest and hope to watch skinny looking baby birds as they develop feathers and eventually take flight.
The peaches are a little slow right now. We are harvesting a few Gene Elberta and Suncrest yellow peaches. The Gene Elberta are about done and the Suncrest are starting. We are also getting conventionally grown big beautiful Suncrest peaches from Sunnyslope Farm. The white peach season is slowing down. Just a few Silver Logan and Babcock peaches remain to be harvested. On the horizon are Fay Elberta and 49er peaches.
Plums are showing their diversity. We are still offering Santa Rosa Plums. The yellow flesh plums are: Eldorado, Red Roy and Laroda. Red fleshed plums are: Frontier and Mariposa. European plums: Tulare Giant.
In addition to tomatoes, the garden is producing several varieties of cucumbers and squash. There is a good supply of Asian and Armenian cucumbers. Both are so crisp and tender. Zucchini squash are very happy but the yellow squash and patty pan squashes are giving it some competition. Green beans and bell peppers show up occasionally.
A little later than usual is the Gravenstein Apple harvest. Not much this year. This red striped green apple is tart and flavorful. Famously used for applesauce.
Hours
Tues thru Sat 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 to 5:00
Closed on Mondays
Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard.
PEACHES
Gene Elberta: Yellow, freestone peach. Juicy and sweet for eating out of hand or baking and canning.
49er: Yellow freestone peach. Juicy and sweet with a smooth texture. Good for fresh eating and baking or canning.
Sugar Lady: White freestone peach. This pink to red skinned white peach is sweet and fragrant. Can be enjoyed on the firm side or left to become soft, juicy and sweet.
Silver Logan: White freestone peach. Beautiful pink skin color over white. Flesh has pink streaks in white flesh. Intense sweet flavor with some tang to it.
Babcock: White freestone peach. Sweet, delicate flavor. Red to pink skin over white flesh (limited supply).
PLUMS
Santa Rosa: Old sought after variety for their rich aromatic flavor. Early season Santa Rosa have yellow flesh that is sweet tart. Late season Santa Rosa have red flesh and are all sweet. Their fragrance will fills our farm stand. They are great for fresh eating and have been known to win jam contest for their flavor and sweet tart contrast.
Frontier: Red fleshed plum. Sweet and juicy with mild flavor.
Eldorado: Yellow fleshed plum. Often eaten hard and crisp. Very sweet.
Laroda: Yellow fleshed plum. Sweet/tart and juicy. Pleasant flavor.
Mariposa: Juicy, red fleshed plum. Very sweet. (Limited supply.)
Red Roy: Red skin over yellow flesh. Sweet firm plum.
Tulare Giant: Elongated purple European plum. Yellow fleshed, freestone plum. Often used in baking. (Limited supply.)
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. We strive to make the best hoshigaki without any shortcuts. This takes time and attention during the drying season. Hoshigaki are now available in the farm stand. Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com.
Hoshigaki strips: These are pieces of hoshigaki sliced for easy snacking.
Eureka Lemons: These are very tart lemons. Great for contrast in sweet and sour recipes like: lemonade, lemon meringue pie, sweet and sour pork, and lemon bars.
Valencia Oranges: Sweet juicing oranges.
Gravenstein Apples: Tart and flavorful apple. Often used for sauce or in cider. (limited supply.)
Local Honey Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard is also available.
⚘ Calendula Salve and Lip Balm: Wonderfully thick salve for healing dry skin, bug bites and scrapes.
Green and Yellow Zucchini.
Yellow crookneck
Cucumbers:
Armenian: Light and dark green in color. Young cucumbers have few seeds. Background flavor of melon.
Asian cucumbers: Bumpy or spiny. Long green seedless cucumbers. Sweet, flavorful and often burpless. Melon rind-like flavor.
Lemon cucumber: Small, round, green, tender cucumber unless I wait too long to pick it and it becomes yellow and seedy.
Cherry tomatoes:
Sungold (orange)
Sweetie (red)
Suncherry (red)
Other Vegetables: (Limited supply.)
Japanese eggplant
Bell peppers
Green beans
Shishito peppers
Aoshiso leaves
Here is what we have from other producers:
Sunnyslope Farm: conventionally grown peaches from Granite Bay.
Suncrest Peaches: Very popular variety. Big and beautiful, yellow freestone peaches. Sweet and Juicy with wonderful flavor.
La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens. Limited supply.
Fresh Bouquets
of colorful in-season flowers from La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis.
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