MULBERRY SEASON HAS STARTED

 More produce is showing up sooner than I thought.  Maybe this will be an early year for summer fruits.  We have started to harvest peaches, plums, pluots and apricots.

   Winter vegetables are still with us as we get summer veggies planted.  I found that it is a bit tricky planning to put several crops into the same ground in succession.  For example, the row that was producing radishes and turnips last month are now planted with tomatoes.  And because we grew lettuce in  a different spot, we were able to plant eggplant.  And since seed potatoes arrived late we have to find a new place for the chili peppers.  

 

As we get more supply, the slow season hours will extend to later in the afternoon.  Look for the "OPEN / CLOSED" signs at the entrance to the driveway. 

SLOW SEASON HOURS 

February to mid May:

Tues, Wed, and Thurs:  11:30 am to 1:30 pm

 Fri and Sat:  10 am to 6 pm

 Sunday                   CLOSED

 Monday                 CLOSED

You may request an appointment if you need a different time We will try to accommodate. Call my mobile phone and LEAVE A MESSAGE.  (916) 300-0720.

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

VEGETABLES:

Komatsuna:  Tender leafy green vegetable, thought of as a Japanese spinach.  Taste is more like bok choy, mild with slight mustard flavor.  Can be added to salad, stir-fries, and soup. 

 Beets:  Vibrant red and healthy root vegetable. Often boiled, roasted or pickled.  Can also be eaten raw.  The leaves are also desired for saute, and adding to soups and stews.  

Carrots:  They are NOT big, long and tough 🥕.  The carrots are tender, slender, sweet and tasty.  

 Salad Greens:  We have a tender mix of leafy green and baby romaine lettuces.

Sugar Snap Peas:  Fresh, crisp, and juicy. These sweet and crunchy peas can be enjoyed raw or gently cooked. Can be used for garnish.

 Broccolini:  similar to broccoli but milder and sweeter.  The florets  leaves and stems are all edible in stir fries, sauteed, grilled, steamed, roasted, and raw.

FRUIT:

Flavorrosa pluot:  Early, dark skinned pluot with red flash. It has a sweet fragrant flavor (limited supply).

Royal Rosa apricot:  This early season apricot is tasty, sweet and juicy (limited supply).

Loquat:  This early season tropical fruit is sweet and refreshing.  It is small and juicy with sweet mild flavor.  Texture is similar to ripe pears.  Contain a large seed.

 

Spring Rose white peach: Small but amazingly tasty, sweet and juicy peach (limited supply).

Red Beaut plum:  Early season plum. Juicy and yellow fleshed (limited supply).

Pakistani Mulberries:  Long stemmed, dark mulberries.  They are sweet and juicy (limited supply).

Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They are hand massaged while they dry 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.  We are currently selling hoshigaki at the farm stand. For on farm orders of more than 1 pound it is best to email or call us to make a pre order.  

Hoshigaki strips:  Thin slices of hoshigaki for snacking.

Persimmon Pulp: Frozen pulp is available for baking or adding to oatmeal, smoothies, desserts or cereal. Some of our customers look forward to eating it like a popsicle!

 

Valencia:  These are juicing oranges but most people just peel and eat like any other orange. They are sweet and very juicy.

UME:  Japanese Sour plum. (Limited supply). Processed with salt, alcohol or sweetener.

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.   

Here is what we have from other producers:

Arrow Place, Auburn, No spray.

Meyer Lemons:   These sought after lemons are less acidic than regular lemons. They have a thin peel often used for its fragrant zest.  Meyer are rounder than regular lemons with a dark yellow skin.

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

The California Persimmon:  A book published by the ANR covering history and background of persimmons. Contains many new and traditional persimmon recipes.

 

 

SOONER THAN I THOUGHT

 Mother Nature always keeps us on our toes.  Just when I  thought I had a pretty good idea about when we have certain products available, Mother Nature throws a curve.  I thought ume (Japanese plums) would start to be ready in mid May.  Well, the early variety of ume is ready for harvest, nearly two weeks early.   Mulberries were also expected mid May.  We started to harvest them last week. 

The mulberry trees are loaded but the rain was unexpected and harmful.  As a result of rain we see some berries are molding on the tree.  99% of the mature berries are on the ground and unsalable.  Our first rounds of mulberry harvest are disappointing.  I am hoping drier weather will still provide us with a good harvest.  Our Pakistani Mulberries are long, dark and sweet.

We are carefully watching the ume trees.  The trick is to pick them when flavor has developed yet still hard and green. Ume remain sour even when soft and over ripe.  The ume is processed for its unique flavor with salt, alcohol or a sweetener. For different results it can be used when hard and green to when it is yellow and softer. At this time it looks like orders have exceeded supply.  I really won't know till every thing has been harvested.

Early vegetables are finished. We are selling spring veggies: lettuce, komatsuna, beets, sugar snap peas, and arugula blossoms.  The garden beds have been formed for the next crops. As early vegetables finish, we are transitioning to summer vegetables.  The tomato and eggplant plants are in the ground.  Last week we planted cucumber seeds and this week we may be putting squash seeds into the ground.  

 

 

SLOW SEASON HOURS 

February to mid May:

Tues, Wed, and Thurs:  11:30 am to 1:30 pm

 Fri and Sat:  10 am to 6 pm

 Sunday                   CLOSED

 Monday                 CLOSED

 

You may request an appointment if you need a different time We will try to accommodate. Call my mobile phone and LEAVE A MESSAGE.  (916) 300-0720.

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

Vegetables:

Komatsuna:  Tender leafy green vegetable, thought of as a Japanese spinach.  Taste is more like bok choy, mild with slight mustard flavor.  Can be added to salad, stir-fries, and soup. 

 Beets:  Vibrant red and healthy root vegetable. Often boiled, roasted or pickled.  Can also be eaten raw.  The leaves are also desired for saute, and adding to soups and stews.  

Salad Greens:  We have a tender mix of leafy green and baby romaine lettuces.

Sugar Snap Peas:  Fresh, crisp, and juicy. These sweet and crunchy peas can be enjoyed raw or gently cooked. Can be used for garnish.

 

Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They are hand massaged while they dry 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.  We are currently selling hoshigaki at the farm stand. For on farm orders of more than 1 pound it is best to email or call us to make a pre order.  

Hoshigaki strips:  Thin slices of hoshigaki for snacking.

Persimmon Pulp: Frozen pulp is available for baking or adding to oatmeal, smoothies, desserts or cereal. Some of our customers look forward to eating it like a popsicle!

 

CITRUS:

Valencia:  These are juicing oranges but most people just peel and eat like any other orange. They are sweet and very juicy.

UME:  Japanese Sour plum. (Limited supply). Processed with salt, alcohol or sweetener.

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.   

Here is what we have from other producers:

Arrow Place, Auburn, No spray.

Meyer Lemons:   These sought after lemons are less acidic than regular lemons. They have a thin peel often used for its fragrant zest.  Meyer are rounder than regular lemons with a dark yellow skin.

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

The California Persimmon:  A book published by the ANR covering history and background of persimmons. Contains many new and traditional persimmon recipes.

 

Pomegranate tree in bloom.

 

 

 

 

LITTLE FRUITLETS

Plums

 We are looking forward to the summer crops.   On my most recent walk in the orchard, I saw little green plums, peaches, apricots, and Asian Pears on  the trees.  Hopefully these will be blessed with good weather till maturity.  

Peaches

Asian Pears

Apricots

The ume (Japanese sour plum) crop looks better than usual.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Not much damage yet and a decent crop.  All that can change in the event of a hail storm or freeze. 

 

The garden is producing fresh veggies. We are selling salad mix with baby romaine and leaf lettuces.  Beets are on their way.  Turnips are about finished.  We have little carrot greens rising above the soil and potatoes just got planted.  There is a small stand of sugar snap peas.  I am beginning to see a few flowers. Unfortunately, it will be a small crop of snap peas this year. If the warm weather holds, we will begin to plant summer vegetables like squash, tomatoes and cucumbers.

 

SLOW SEASON HOURS 

February to mid May:

Tues, Wed, and Thurs:  11:30 am to 1:30 pm

 Fri and Sat:  10 am to 6 pm

 Sunday                   CLOSED

 Monday                 CLOSED

 

You may request an appointment if you need a different time We will try to accommodate. Call my mobile phone and LEAVE A MESSAGE.  (916) 300-0720.

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

Vegetables:

Arugula:    Popular and tasty leafy green.  Popular in salads, stir fries, and on pizza. Young arugula is more mild. Mature leaves are often desired for their strong spicy flavor.

Komatsuna:  Tender leafy green vegetable, thought of as a Japanese spinach.  Taste is more like bok choy, mild with slight mustard flavor.  Can be added to salad, stir-fries, and soup. 

 

Turnips:    Turnips are a versatile vegetable.  Young turnips can be eaten raw in salads or with dips. Cooked turnips become tender and mild. They can be added to stir-fries, soup, stew, mashed or roasted.  The leaves can be cooked in stir-fries, soup, stew and with a bit of meat or eggs. Turnips and their leaves can also be pickled.

Salad Greens:  We have a tender mix of leafy green and baby romaine lettuces.

 

Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They are hand massaged while they dry 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.  We are currently selling hoshigaki at the farm stand. For on farm orders of more than 1 pound it is best to email or call us to make a pre order.  

Hoshigaki strips:  Thin slices of hoshigaki for snacking.

Persimmon Pulp: Frozen pulp is available for baking or adding to oatmeal, smoothies, desserts or cereal. Some of our customers look forward to eating it like a popsicle!

 

CITRUS:

Valencia:  These are juicing oranges but most people just peel and eat like any other orange. They are sweet and very juicy.

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.   

Here is what we have from other producers:

Lupi Farm in Granite Bay, No spray.

Meyer Lemons:   These sought after lemons are less acidic than regular lemons. They have a thin peel often used for its fragrant zest.  Meyer are rounder than regular lemons with a dark yellow skin.

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis might bring us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.   Currently no supply. 

The California Persimmon:  A book published by the ANR covering history and background of persimmons. Contains many new and traditional persimmon recipes.

 

Looks like snow or hail but it is olive blossoms on the ground.

 

Olive tree in bloom.

Honey bees visiting persimmon blossoms.

 

NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON'T

Peaches are playing an elusive game this year.  Yesterday we had peaches.  Now the supply is diminished to very few, again.  Red Haven and Regina made very short appearances.  We are selling Frost peaches now.  This variety was selected for its resistance to peach leaf curl.  While it is not as rosy colored as most of our peaches, it is still juicy and sweet.  Problem is, I find it more enjoyable when it has a green cast to it.  So it looks like it is not ready, but that is the best time to eat it.

We are getting some help in the peach department from our neighbor, Sunnyslope Farm and our other neighbor, WoodRose Country Garden.

Plums are also giving us a small crop.  Santa Rosa plums are in short supply and may be gone by the end of this week.  Now and then we get a handful of Tulare Giant, Duarte, or Eldorado plums to add to our table. Sad to say, just not much stone fruit.

Amazingly, citrus are still hanging on the trees.  Lemons are big and beautiful, Valencia oranges are sweet and juicy.  And there is still a supply of yellow grapefruit.

Now is the time to eat your vegetables. The green and yellow squash are fresh and tender.  The supply of Japanese cucumbers is not always predictable since they are in such high demand.  We are getting small Japanese eggplants that are thin skinned and tender. Few seeds to contend with!

WoodRose Country Garden and Kijani Farm are adding to our vegetable offerings.  A few real tomatoes have gone home with a few lucky customers.  More to come.

Our supply of hoshigaki is getting very low.  At this time of year we warn people to keep their hoshigaki cold and out of the sun.  If you don't see hoshigaki on display in the farm stand, please ask.  It is chilling in the frig. 

Don't forget the figs.  The Breba crop will not last very long.  The next crop won't start till next month.

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.

Plums:  Santa Rosa:  Heirloom variety. Sweet tart and extremely flavorful and fragrant. This variety has stood the test of time and is very popular for good reasons.

Peaches: Very limited supply. 

Frost peaches are best when a little green.

Valencia Oranges:   Juicy, sweet with some tartness.  These are juicing oranges and also good for eating fresh

Yellow Grapefruit:   Sweet, tart, and flavorful with a wonderfully bitter background.

Eureka Lemons:  These are the tart lemons.  Great for lemonade or Lemon Meringue Pie.

Figs:  Panache, Black Mission.  Limited supply        

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

Cucumbers:  Japanese cucumbers are thin skinned, crisp, seedless and sweet. 

Japanese Eggplant:  Thin skinned, tender and few seeds.  Subtle flavor.

Here is what we have from other producers:

WoodRose Country Garden  in Granite Bay, organic practices:  lettuce, summer squash, onions, basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, fresh garlic, bell peppers, potatoes, beans, carrots, snow peas, and cherry tomatoes.  Limited supply of tomatoes, nectarines, and Kim Alberta peaches.

Double Delight Nectarine

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.

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.  

Sunnyslope Farm in Granite Bay:  June Pride are yellow fleshed, freestone peaches.  Limited supply.

Kijani Farm in Granite Bay, organic practices:  Red Russian Kale, Dino Kale, Swiss Chard, Beets.

Lupi Farm in Granite Bay, no spray.  Black Mission figs

WAITING FOR PEACHES

 Still waiting for peaches.  There are green peaches on the trees.  Just waiting for the right time to ripen.  We love the cooler weather we have been getting but it has not signaled the summer fruits to ripen.  Maturity is delayed about 2 weeks.  Production is about 10% of normal due to the wet blossom season we had.  Unfortunately we had to limit customers to 2 or 3 early peaches  😢.   In the next week we will be starting Flavorcrest, Regina and Red Haven varieties.  Again, not a big crop but hopefully enough to increase the limit.

Santa Rosa plums have started to show good color.  Their fragrance is beginning to fill the farm stand.  This is one of the all time favorite plums.  It is full of flavor and fragrance.  It  has just the right balance of sweet and tart to excite the palate.

The loquat harvest is in full swing.  Loquat are small yellow tropical fruit with a downy skin.  The flesh between the skin and large seed is sweet,  juicy and fleshy.  

A little surprise.  The worker brought in Brown Turkey figs!  I'm glad he found them before the birds did.  It's time for the fig breba crop, so these are large.  I'm hoping the Black Mission and Penache will soon follow.

There are still boxes of conventionally grown ume in storage.   I am trying my hand at ume syrup this year.  My brother is getting more confident pickling umeboshi.  This year he is making his first attempt at making umeshu.

Vegetables are happy. We are currently harvesting armloads of zucchini and yellow squash. They are so fresh, tender and easy to cook.  Japanese cucumbers are also coming into the farm stand.  As good as ever with their thin skin, crispness, sweet taste and seedless flesh.   Time to dig out the Soy sauce sesame dressing recipe.  Every other day I look forward to picking a few deep orange sungold cherry tomatoes.  Each time I get a little more than the last picking.  Standard tomatoes are on the vines but still green.  Their time will come. 

Helping us out are WoodRose Country Garden and Kijani Farm.  

WoodRose brings us lettuce, beans, peppers,  carrots,onions, snow peas, summer squash, cherry tomatoes, basil, and herbs.  Standard tomatoes are starting to color.  We have been enjoying cherries from WoodRose and also small ornamental plums. 

Kijani Farm is bringing us 2 varieties of kale and red chard.

Sadly we announce the last delivery of honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary.  Health issues are causing George to shut down his bee operation.  He has cared for bees for many years and is a wealth of knowledge on beekeeping and bee products. He  is a living treasure.

Many of you pursued us during the spring road construction project.  Thank you for your fortitude.  It has been quiet on Eureka for a week.  I think the construction is finished for now. 

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. 

Loquat:  Small orange tropical fruit. sweet and fleshy. Contains a large seed.

Lemons and Santa Rosa plums

Plums:  Santa Rosa:  Heirloom variety. Sweet tart and extremely flavorful and fragrant. This variety has stood the test of time and is very popular for good reasons.

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.

Figs:  Brown Turkey, Black Mission.  Limited supply        

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

⚘ Calendula  Salve and Lip Balm 

 

Look what's blooming. Chestnuts.

Dehydrated grapefruit and lemons

Summer Squash: zucchini and yellow squash

Cucumbers:  Japanese cucumbers are thin skinned, crisp, seedless and sweet.

Here is what we have from other producers:

WoodRose Country Garden  in Granite Bay, organic practices:  lettuce, spinach, summer squash, onions, basil, Italian parsley, rosemary, oregano, thyme, fresh garlic, bell peppers, beans. carrots, snow peas, and cherry tomatoes.

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.

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 Russian Kale, Dino Kale, Swiss Chard

Sunnyslope Farm Eventually they will bring us some peaches.  

Lupi Farm in Granite Bay, no spray.  Black Mission figs