NOT WINTER BUT SUMMER

 It's not winter, so hoshigaki season is on the back burner. It is still available at the farm stand but not through mail order.  And now we switch our attention to things of summer like stone fruit and veggies.

The peach season has started but it seems that they sell almost as soon as they are brought into the farm stand.  Don't worry, much more is on the way.  A few lucky customers were able to snag some of the Springrose or Springcrest peaches.  There will soon be Maycrest and Junecrest.  Then we will start harvesting Flavorcrest and Regina peaches.  

Apricots are happy this year.  I'm not sure why but something in the weather we were handed was agreeable to them.  Robada and Royal Rosa apricots sold out quickly.  Now we are bring in Blenheim (Royal) and Patterson.  Both are excellent varieties.

It is an unusual year. Not only do we have a good harvest of apricots but there are also respectable nectarines on the trees.  Meaning they are not quite as scarred up and cracked as we normally have.  There will be a limited amount of white Jade nectarines in the near future.

Loquats are now producing small, sweet and juicy fruit.  Between the large brown seed and the firm yellow skin is sweet juicy flesh.

SANTA ROSA plums are starting ripen.  These are the most popular and sought after variety of plums. They  have a distinctive flavor and enticing fragrance. They are both sweet and  sour at the beginning of the season.  Later ones are all sweet and juicy.  

We are now offering flowers.  The fresh flower bouquets are coming from La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis. The bouquets are garden fresh and contain colorful in-season blooms.  Come check them out.

Slowly the gardens are starting to produce.  Green and yellow summer squash have both made their debut.  A few Sungold cherry tomatoes are getting ready.  Sorry, but big tomatoes and cucumber are weeks away.

 Last fall we dried and massaged persimmons to make hoshigaki.  The ones that did not sell were stored in the freezer.  We will be slowly selling these at the farm stand.  Most of the hoshigaki that we will be selling are firmer or not as sugared as we like.  Nonetheless they retain the favor of hoshigaki.  We cut firmer hoshigaki  into strips and are sold in snack bags.  All this this say hoshigaki is not available through mail order at this time.  Most likely mail order will be available late November and December.  People are encouraged to look for the 2025 Mail order form in October and send their order in early.

 

 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.

Apricots:

 Patterson:  This apricot has good flavor and can be used for canning, baking drying and fresh eating.  When ripened it is both flavorful and sweet with tangy background. 

Blenheim (Royal): Old and very popular variety. Although small, this variety is aromatic and full of flavor.  Don't be fooled by the greenish shoulders the Blenheim is juicy and sweet with tangy background. Customers keep coming back for them. Blenheims are used for canning baking, drying and fresh eating.

Loquat:  A subtropical fruit popularized in Asia.  Loquat are small round or pear-shaped fruit that grow in clusters.  They are covered with a downy orange skin. The flesh is also orange containing 2 to 4 oval brown seeds.  The taste is tangy, sweet and juicy. We often refer to these as memory fruit.  Children walking to school would sampling them from landscape trees along their route to school.

 

PEACHES

 Maycrest:  Yellow freestone peach.

Junecrest: Yellow freestone peach.

Flavorcrest: Yellow freestone peach.

Regina: Yellow freestone peach.

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.  Soon their fragrance will fill our farm stand. They are great for fresh eating and have been known to win jam contest for their flavor and sweet tart contrast.

  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.

 Hachiya Pulp:  Frozen Hachiya persimmon pulp is available. Often used to make cookies, puddings and breads.  Many customers put it on yogurt and oatmeal  or add it to their smoothie.

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.

Yellow grapefruit:  Sweet tart grapefruit with yellow flesh.  This variety has great flavor.

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.

Peach trees:  We have a few peach trees for planting.  Regina peaches are  a yellow freestone peach that is harvested around the end of June. 

Pakistani Mulberries:  Long dark mulberries. Very sweet. Available only to those on the request list. Call to get on the list.

Summer Squash:

Green and Yellow Zucchini.

Yellow crookneck  

Here is what we have from other producers:

Stoney Point Orchard,  Loomis, CA organic certified:

    Rio Red Grapefruit:   Juicy and sweet with a bit of tartness. Flesh is pink.

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. 

 

The California Persimmon Recipe Book:  Introduction to basic persimmon knowledge followed by recipes for the different types of persimmons.

 

 

 

 

LITTLE GREEN FRUITLETS

      Many little green fruitlets are now visible in the orchard. I have seen  plum, plout, peach, fig, apple and Asian pears.  We are starting to thin peaches, plums and pluots to get better size and quality.  It is a tedious and important task.  I like to stand on a ladder and listen to the "plink plink" sound the fruitlets make as they bounce off the aluminum ladder.

 

     We were tempted but glad we didn't.  The weather has been warming up so we thought about planting vegetables.  With the few cold mornimg we have been having, it would have been a sad start for them.  Hopefully we soon will be getting tomatoes, eggplants and  peppers  in the ground.  Also we will be seeding squash, cucumbers, beans, and okra.

 

      We are watching the ume, " Japanese pickling plum" slowly grow. If we can dodge hail and freezing weather for the next month, we will have a medium size crop.   If you want to reserve ume, please call us at (916) 791-1656 or email us at otoworchard@yahoo.com

GREEN UME

Sadly, this 100 year old tree

 will not produce ume again.

 

 

SLOW SEASON HOURS:

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY  11:30 TO 1:30

FRIDAY, SATURDAY                              10:00 TO 6:00

SUNDAY                           11:00 TO 5:00

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

Since we are often at the farm anyway, you may call us to arrange for other times. 

Farm Stand:      (916) 791-1656

Mobile phone:   (916) 300-0720

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

Kiwi

Yellow grapefruit 

Eureka lemons 🍋

Hachiya:  frozen pulp 

Cilantro         

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 is an organic certified orchard.  They are bringing us Pink grapefruit and Limequats.

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

WoodRose Country Gardens  in Granite Bay:  🥕 Organic carrots.

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

Jams 🍑 from the Good Stuff. We currently have Quince Marmalade. 

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

 

BLOSSOMS ANNOUNCE THE START OF A NEW SEASON

    Where is the rain, you know,  the wet stuff?  The coming season of produce really needs rain.  Not just rain but a snow pack up in the mountains would be a nice way to start the irrigation season.  We would like to wait another month before starting to irrigate but mother nature has to helps us out.  

     The Orchard is just starting to come alive.  Plum trees are in full bloom. Their branches are full of snow white blossoms.  Soon they will be followed by the pink blossoms of peach apricot and nectarine.  It is a nice time of year to view the blossoms if you want to go for a walk in the orchard.

     Out in the orchard  the stone fruit and pome fruit trees have been pruned and much of the prunings have been chopped up to return to the soil.  The persimmon pruning is still in the process. With the warm weather the orchard floor is greening up.  It looks beautiful but we know there are many competitive weeds in the mix.  Vetch is a mixed blessing.  While it is often recommended to fix nitrogen in the soil, it loves to grow  up the trunk and into the branches. We have to watch it carefully so we can get just the right benefit before it chokes the tree.  It is the time of year to think about grafting and planting new trees.  No new trees are going in this year.  We are looking at old trees and trees with suckers and trees that are not producing.  Some of these will be prepared for grafting. Usually we graft varieties that can no longer be found in the nursery. By grafting these varieties can be preserved.

 

      We are cleaning up our vegetable gardens and starting to add mulch. The first tray of tomato seeds is starting to germinate in the hot house.   I see 43 tiny tomato plants pushing their way out of the soil and spreading their leaves. We will keep planting more seeds for the next couple weeks.  As the weather warms we will start eggplant and pepper plants.

SLOW SEASON HOURS:

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY  11:30 TO 1:30

FRIDAY, SATURDAY                              10:00 TO 6:00

SUNDAY                                                 11:00 TO 5:00

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

Since we are often at the farm anyway, you may call us to arrange for other times. 

Farm Stand:      (916) 791-1656

Mobile phone:   (916) 300-0720

 

 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.

Blood Oranges:  limited supply

Kiwi

Yellow grapefruit 

Eureka lemons 🍋

Hachiya:  frozen pulp          

 

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. (limited supply)

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 is an organic certified orchard.  They are bringing us Pink grapefruit and Limequats.

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

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

Jams 🍑 from the Good Stuff. We currently have Plum, and Quince Marmalade.

SLOW SEASON HOURS

 The orchard is sleeping, it is preparing for the 2022 season. What it will produce depends on how much sleep it gets in the winter months.  We are reducing our farm stand hours till around mid May. That is when the early peaches, and loquat start to color.

 

SLOW SEASON HOURS:

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY  11:30 TO 1:30

FRIDAY, SATURDAY                              10:00 TO 6:00

SUNDAY                                                 11:00 TO 5:00

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

Since we are often at the farm anyway, you may call us to arrange for other times. 

Farm Stand:      (916) 791-1656

Mobile phone:   (916) 300-0720

 

 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. 

Navel Oranges: limited supply

Blood Oranges:  limited supply

Clementine Mandarins:  limited supply

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.

Hachiya:  frozen pulp          

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. (limited supply)

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

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:

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

Mihara Farm in Newcastle:  Kiwi

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

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

COOLER WEATHER

           We are transitioning into the needs of another year:  pruning, cleaning up the orchard, cleaning up the hoshigaki rooms, ordering seeds, sorting old boxes, cleaning buckets, repairing equipment, etc.  Most of the orchard is dormant.  Leaves have fallen, branches are bare. Garden debris is waiting to be removed or has been incorporated.  Yet, here and there in the orchard we see a citrus tree preparing for harvest or a Japanese apricot tree pushing pink or white blossoms.  So the cycle continues.

       In the citrus department we have a few Satsuma and Clementine Mandarins, and some Navel and Blood Oranges.  We are waiting for Eureka lemons and yellow grapefruit.  Lupi farm in Granite Bay is bringing us bright yellow Meyer Lemons.

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.

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

Persimmons:

Hachiya:  frozen pulp          

 

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:

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

Mihara Farm in Newcastle:  Kiwi

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.

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.

 

GIFT IDEAS

       Quickly the gift giving season will be upon us. We have a few things that might please someone on your gift list. We have honey from our orchard as well as honey and beeswax from a neighboring apiary. The jams we carry are made by "The Good Stuff" using fruit from our orchard. The interesting flavors are Best Plum Jam, Chili Apricot, Peach Cardamon, Fig Orange Brandy, Chili Blackberry, Quince Marmalade, and Pepper Pomegranate. For those looking for ways to use persimmoins we have 2 cookbooks available. We have a limited supply of Calendula Salve and Lip Balm. New to our offerings is Luffa Soap. These bars of soap are great for the clean exfoliating feel. They come in several fragrances of essential oils: Lavendar, Eucalyptus, Citrus, and Cucumber Melon. Also on our shelf is the 2022 Master Gardener Calendar and Planting Guide. 

       We are getting a supply of Satsuma mandarins from Pleasant Hill Farm in Lincoln, a conventional farm. Ours take a little longer to mature. They will soon be ready. 

 

      HOSHIGAKI UPDATE: The process seems to be slow this year. We have stopped promising to fill new orders until we know we can fill the existing pre orders. There are still many hoshigaki hanging on the racks that have not been fully processed. We should know in a couple weeks what quality they will be. 

       Persimmons are still dominating the Farm Stand shelves. 

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: 🍏 Granny Smith, 🍎 Fuji, and 🍎Pink Lady 

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.

White Pomegranates: These light skinned pomegranates have sweet pink arils.

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

Persimmons:

Hachiya and Gyombo : 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, Nagamaru (tsurunoko, chocolate), and Hyakume 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.

Fuyu: These popular yellow fleshed persimmons are always sweet. Normally enjoyed when they are hard and firm. 

Vodka Persimmons: These are brown or orange fleshed persimmons treated with Vodka to insure sweetness. 

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: Butternut, Black Futsu and Kabocha. 

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: 

Sunnyslope Farm: Granny Smith Apples 

Pleasant Hill Farm in Lincoln: Satsuma Mandarins 

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

Two Feather Farm: 🐔🥚 Eggs. Egg production is slowing down. 

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

Royal Oaks Farm: Luffa Soap: Hand made and great for scrubbing and exfoliating your skin. Lavendar, Citrus, Eucalyptus, and Cucumber Melon fragrances.

WIND AND RAIN

Fall weather  is definitely here.  Leaves suddenly changed from green to brilliant orange.  With the predicted wind rain and cool temps the leaves will quickly fall away.  Over the weekend, people enjoyed walking in the orchard.

      We are so thankful for the wet weather.  The earth  is so thirsty.  As a result of the rain we have many split pomegranates, and Hachiya  persimmons. The Fuyu persimmons are starting to show black lines, and the apples are cracking.  We are on high alert to prevent mold on the hoshigaki. Nonetheless we are thankful for the moisture.  Such is the challenge of farming. 

      With the cooler weather the summer vegetables have disappeared.  We are only harvesting a few winter squash.  Also WoodRose Country Garden has finished for now.

       In the foothills mandarins are coloring and early ones are being harvested.  We are getting a supply of mandarins from Pleasant Hill Farm in Lincoln, a conventional farm.

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: Shinko,  Okusankichi, and Olympic.  These pears are sweet, juicy, and crisp

European pear: 🍐Comice

Apples:  🍏 Granny Smith, 🍎 Fuji, and 🍎Pink Lady

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.

White Pomegranates:  These light skinned pomegranates have sweet pink arils.

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

A bird enjoyed this one.

Persimmons:

Hachiya and Gyombo :   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, Nagamaru (tsurunoko, chocolate), and Hyakume arebrown fleshed persimmons that can be eaten hard or softening.  If they are successfully pollinated in the spring they will turn brown fleshed and sweet.

Fuyu:  These popular yellow fleshed persimmons are always sweet.  Normally enjoyed when they are hard and firm.

Vodka Persimmons:  These are brown or orange fleshed persimmons treated with Vodka to insure sweetness. 

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.

Vegetables:    Limited supply of: Summer squash, chilies, and tomatillos.  Winter squash: Butternut, Black Futsu and Kabocha.

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:

Sunnyslope Farm:  Granny Smith Apples

Pleasant Hill Farm in Lincoln: Satsuma Mandarins

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

Two Feather Farm:  🐔🥚  Eggs.  Egg production is slowing down. 

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

Royal Oaks Farm:  Luffa Soap:  Hand made and great for scrubbing and exfoliating your skin. Lavendar, eucalyptus, and cucumber melon fragrances.

 

TIME TO ORDER HOSHIGAKI

We are starting the 2021 drying process for hoshigaki, hand dried persimmons. People are beginning to reserve hoshigaki. Mail order customers can go to our mail order form and follow directions. Customers wishing to pick up their orders at the farm should either email us at otoworchard@yahoo.com or give us a call at (916) 791-1656 during business hours.

The process begins with peeling the unripe persimmon then hanging it in the sun so it can dry on the outside and begin to ripen on the inside. After a few days they will be ripe enough for the first kneading.  During the kneading we try to break up the pulp inside. For the next few weeks we will occasionally knead them to keep them soft. As the moisture evaporates the white sugars begin to appear on the surface. As they dry we have to monitor them more carefully  so they don't get overly dry and hard.  This seems to happen more often than I would like to admit. 

 Persimmons are just starting  but there are so many other fruits available:  apples, Asian pears, Bartlett pears, quince, jujube,  plums, and white pomegranates. We are still getting some vegetables from our summer gardens.

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:

Cassselman: Yellow fleshed, sweet and flavorful.

Asian Pears:  Yellow: Yali.  Brown: Shinko.and Olympic.  These pears are sweet, juicy, and crisp

European pear: 🍐Bartlett

Apples: 🍏Reinette Simerenko , 🍎 Fuji and Granny Smith

Jujube:  Li:  Small brown or yellow fruit with apple like texture.  They are sweet and easy to eat. Some eat them hard and crisp others wait for them to get shriveled and chewy.

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.

White Pomegranates:  These light skinned pomegranates have sweet pink arils.

Persimmons:  Early season persimmons are coming into the farm stand:

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, Nagamaru (tsurunoko, chocolate), and Coffee Cake.  These brown fleshed persimmons are can be eaten hard or softening.  If they are successfully pollinated in the spring they will get brown fleshed and sweet.

Fuyu:  These popular yellow fleshed persimmons are always sweet.  Normally enjoyed when they are hard and firm.

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.

Vegetables:    Limited supply of: Summer squash, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, chilies,  Asian eggplants, Italian eggplants, and tomatillos.  Winter squash: Butternut, Red Kuri, Black Futsu and Kabocha.

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:

WoodRose Country Garden in Granite Bay:  Anaheim chiles,🌶 jalapenos,  green beans, salad geens, eggplant, snow peas, bell peppers, white onions, basil, 🌿rosemary, oregano, and thyme.

Sunnyslope Farm: Fuji Apples 🍏 and Mutsu Apples (Crispin)

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

Two Feather Farm in Granite Bay:  🐔🥚  Eggs.  Egg production is slowing down. 

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

PERSIMMONS ARE COMING

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As farmers, we had  to be outdoors during the Caldor fire.  We "masked up" for a week.  At this time the smoke has thankfully travelled to other regions.

Now we are moving from summer to fall produce.  Gone are the figs, peaches and cucumbers. They are being replaced by apples, pears, Asian pears, and persimmons.

The vegetable gardens are hanging on with okra, eggplant, squash and chilies.  I took this photo of the squash plant, not for the squash but so you can see the toad that found a cozy place to rest.  The garden toads provide insect control. I am thankful for their presence.

SPECIAL HOURS

Please note that Sept 24 to Sept 28 we have modified hours.

Fri Sept 24    10am to 4pm

Sat Sept 25   10am to 4pm

Sun Sept 26     CLOSED

Mon Sept 27     Closed

Tues Sept 28  10am to 4pm.

Regular hours resume Wed. Sept 29.  Please plan for these hours so you are not disappointed. 😞

       Hoshigaki, dried persimmons, are available in the farm stand.  On warm days you may need to ask for them.  We have to keep them in a cool place so they don't melt.  Hot weather makes shipping Hoshigaki through mail order a bit risky.  For mail order, it's best to contact us for a discussion of the possibilities.

 

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:

Elephant Heart:  Red Fleshed plums

Eldorado:  Yellow fleshed plums that are sweet when eaten firm

Cassselman: Yellow fleshed, sweet and flavorful.

Grapes:  Kyoho, Red Purlett, Thompson seedless.

Asian Pears:  Yellow: Yali.  Brown: Yoi and Shinko.These pears are sweet, juicy, and crisp

European pears: D'Anjou, Bartlett

Apples: Red Delicious

Jujube:  Li:  Small brown or yellow fruit with apple like texture.  They are sweet and easy to eat. Some eat them hard and crisp others wait for them to get shriveled and chewy.

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.

White Pomegranates:  These light skinned pomegranates have sweet pink ariels.

Persimmons:  Early season persimmons are coming into the farm stand. Perhaps not as full flavored as later harvested fruit. We have soft and hard Hachiya and brown fleshed Maru, Nagamaru, and Coffee Cake persimmons.  Sorry, no Fuyu persimmons yet.

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.

Vegetables:    Summer squash, long beans, okra, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, chilies,  Asian eggplants, Italian eggplants, tomatillos, and Garlic.  Winter squash: Kabocha and Delicata

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:

WoodRose Country Garden in Granite Bay:  Anaheim chiles, jalapenos, 🍅, San Marzano paste tomatoes, beans, eggplant, bell peppers, white onions, basil, 🌿rosemary, oregano, and thyme. Leafy greens are starting to show up for salads.

Sunnyslope Farm: Apples:  Fuji and Golden delicious

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

Two Feather Farm in Granite Bay:  🐔🥚  Eggs.  Egg production is slowing down. 

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

FALL RUNNING INTO SUMMER

 

It has been a hot summer. We are not quite to fall but the crops think that it is fall. It seems that the hot weather has pushed everything forward. Our farm stand still has peaches, plums. tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, but we are also featuring apples, Asian pears, grapes and winter squash.

Out in the orchard there is still another variety of peaches to harvest. We are waiting for them to turn from green to orange and red. Also we are starting to see some orange color on some of the persimmons. 

 

MODIFIED HOURS SEPT 24 TO SEPT 29 ONLY.

FRIDAY               SEPT 24         10AM TO 4 PM

SATURDAY         SEPT 25         10 AM TO 4 PM

SUNDAY             SEPT 26            CLOSED

MONDAY            SEPT 27            CLOSED

TUESDAY           SEPT 28         10 AM TO 4 PM

WEDNESDAY     SEPT 29         10AM  TO 4 PM

       Hoshigaki, dried persimmons, are available in the farm stand.  On warm days you may need to ask for them.  We have to keep them in a cool place so they don't melt.  Hot weather makes shipping Hoshigaki through mail order a bit risky.  For mail order, it's best to contact us for a discussion of the possibilities.

 

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:

Yellow Freestone 🍑 Peaches:  O'Henry,  Rio Oso Gem,

Cling Peaches:   Volunteer

Kelsey plums:  These are plums with green skin but amazingly sweet.

Laroda plums:  Dark skinned plums can be enjoyed firm or when getting soft. Great flavor and juicy.

Elephant Heart:  Red Fleshed plums

Eldorado:  Yellow fleshed plums that are sweet when eaten firm

Cassselman: Fresh, crisp texture, sweet and good flavor.

Empress: Sweet European plum.  Sometimes used for baking.

Grapes:  Kyoho, Red Purlett, Thompson seedless.

Asian Pears:  Yellow: 20th Century (Nijuseki), New Century (Shinseki).  Brown: Hosui, Yoi These pears are sweet, juicy, and crisp

European pears: D'Anjou

Figs:  Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Panache.

Apples:  Gala,  Red Delicious

Jujube:  Sugar Cane(limited supply)

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.

Vegetables:    Asian cucumbers, Lemon cucumbers, summer squash, long beans, okra, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, chilies, shishito peppers, Asian eggplants, Italian eggplants, tomatillos, and Garlic.  Winter squash: Kabocha and Delicata

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:

WoodRose Country Garden in Granite Bay: Melons, 🥗 zucchini, Anaheim chiles, jalapenos, 🍅, San Marzano paste tomatoes, beans, eggplant, bell peppers, white onions, garlic, basil, 🌿rosemary, oregano, and thyme.

Sunnyslope Farm: Yellow freestone peaches:  O'Henry

Lupi Farm: Black Mission Figs

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

Two Feather Farm in Granite Bay:  🐔🥚  Eggs.  Egg production is slowing down.  The hens think it is getting too warm.  🌞

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

HEAT OF THE SUMMER

We are hoping for moderate summer days and cool nights. Rain might impact the peach crop but nonetheless  would be welcome for the thirsty earth.

       We are currently selling white peaches, yellow peaches, cling peaches, nectarines, grapes and several varieties of plums.  Many vegetables are also available.  There are tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, sauce tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, sweet peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, basil, herbs, okra, beans, onions and garlic.

 

I am updating this blog entry but not changing the pictures.  See the listing below for addition of new products: figs, Asian pears, apples, grapes.

      Hoshigaki, dried persimmons, are available in the farm stand.  On warm days you may need to ask for them.  We have to keep them in a cool place so they don't melt.  Hot weather makes shipping Hoshigaki through mail order a bit risky.  For mail order, it's best to contact us for a discussion of the possibilities.

 

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:

Yellow Freestone 🍑 Peaches:  49er, Fay Elberta, Rio Oso Gem,
Gene Elberta,

White Freeestone Peaches: Paradise, Opale. Sweet, juicy, white freestone peaches.

Cling Peaches:   Bowen

Nectarines: Fantasia (limited supply)

Santa Rosa plums:  These plums are known for their amazing flavor and fragrance.  They are sweet tart and as the season goes on they become red fleshed, juicy and sweet.

Burgundy plums: Firm, dark skinned, and red fleshed. Very little tartness  in the skin. They are sweet and tasty.

Frontier plums:  When they show give to pressure they will be sweet, juicy and red fleshed.

Kelsey plums:  These are plums with green skin but amazingly sweet.

Laroda plums:  Dark skinned plums can be enjoyed firm or when getting soft. Great flavor and juicy.

Cassie Plums:  A firm, yellow fleshed plum that sparkles when you bite into it.

Dapple Dandy Pluot: Molted pink skin with sweet juicy flesh.

Flavorqueen Pluot:  Yellow flesh and sweet. (limited supply)

Grapes:  Kyoho, Red Purlett, Thompson seedless.

Asian Pears:  Yellow: 20th Century (Nijuseki), New Century (Shinseki).  Brown: Hosui .  These pears are sweet, juicy, and crisp.

Figs:  Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Penache.

Apples:  Gala, Gravenstein (limited supply).

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.

Vegetables:    Asian cucumbers, Lemon cucumbers, Armenian cucumbers,  summer squash, long beans, okra, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, chilies, shishito peppers, Asian eggplants

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:

WoodRose Country Garden in Granite Bay: 🥗 zucchini, Anaheim chiles, jalapenos, tomatoes 🍅, San Marzano paste tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, eggplant, bell peppers, white onions, basil, 🌿rosemary, oregano, and thyme.

Sunnyslope Farm: Yellow freestone peaches: Elbertas

Sunnyslope Farm:  Gala Apples

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

Nastase Honey Farm in Lincoln:  Bulk Honey 🍯 is unfiltered and raw. 

Two Feather Farm in Granite Bay:  🐔🥚  Eggs.  Egg production is slowing down.  The hens think it is getting too warm.  🌞

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