THE SEASON FOR FIGS

 For the moment, Figs are coming into the farm stand.  The season may not last long so now is the time to try the varieties we  grow.  The most common fig is the Black Mission. There is also a limited supply of Brown Turkey and Panache figs.  When selecting a fig, look for the ones that have started to split and have some give to them.

It may seem early for apples but they are starting to mature.  Our first fall apple is Gala.  An attractive red blushed apple  with pale yellow background. Later we will have Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Reinette Simerenko, Fuji, and Arkansas Black.

And if you love peaches,  we are not done yet.  We are currently selling Rio Oso Gem, Summerset yellow peaches. Soon we will begin to harvest Late Alamar and Fairtime.  There are also some Yellow cling peaches available.

Tomatoes are making a name for themselves.  They are big and red and beautiful.   So Juicy and sweet.  Just right for that summer sandwich or refreshing salad.

 

      Hours

Tues through Sat  10:00 to 6:00

Sunday            11:00 to 5:00  

Closed on Monday

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

VEGETABLES:

Tomatoes:  Red slicers and salad tomatoes.  Striped German and Cherokee Purple heirloom tomatoes.  These fresh, sweet tomatoes are great for salads, sandwiches, and pizza.  The smaller ones and blemished ones I use in stew and soup.  Sometimes I just bite and add salt.

 

Sakura Cherry Tomatoes:  Large, sweet, red cherry tomatoes.

Sungold Cherry Tomatoes:  Bright yellow orange cherry tomatoes known for their bright fruity flavor. A summertime favorite on our farm. 

Basil:  Fragrant and flavorful.  Can be used in salads, sauces and pesto. 

Zucchini:  Green and yellow summer squash fresh out of the garden.  Tender green squash with white flesh. Great for sauteing, boiling, steaming, baking, roasting and adding to soup, stew and stir fry.

Asian Cucumbers:  Burpless, seedless and thin skinned cucumbers.  Refreshing, crisp, and tender.  Eaten as a summer snack, or added into salad or pickled.  Great flavor.

Slicing Cucumbers: Fresh, green cucumbers to add to your summer salads. 

Potatoes:  Youkon Gold potatoes.  Moist and flavorful potatoes with slightly yellow flesh.  These potatoes have thin smooth skin.  Great for roasting, boiling and frying.

Eggplant:  Asian and Italian eggplants.

 

Okra:  Small quantities of okra are available.

 Chili:  Jalapenos: spicy green chiles for adding flavor.           Shishito:  Spicy or not it is just a guess. Eat them fresh or saute them in olive oil with salt.    

FRUIT:

PEACHES

Rio Oso Gem:  Flavorful, sweet, yellow freestone peach.  Used for fresh eating, baking, and canning. (Limited supply.)

Summerset:  Yellow freestone peach.  One  of the last varieties of the season.  Sweet and firm.  Used for fresh eating, baking  and preserving.

        Bowen Cling Peach:  This is not a freestone peach.  It is a cling peach.  The flesh  clings to the pit. Bowen peaches are firm and sweet. Juicy, but not as juicy as a freestone peach. They are delicious eaten out of hand. These are sturdy peaches often used  in processing: canning, and baking.  Since the canneries closed down last year, many orchards of cling peaches were taken out.   

PLUMS 

 

Kelsey:  Yellow-fleshed, green-skinned plum.   It has well balanced sweet/tart flavor.  It is juicy. Can be eaten fresh or used for canning or dehydrating.

Friar:  Dark-skinned, yellow fleshed sweet plum with great fragrance and flavor. Small semi-freestone pit.

Elephant Heart:  Large, red-fleshed plum.  Heart shaped with mottled skin.  Sweet and juicy with good flavor.  Used for fresh eating, baking and jams.

Casselman: Sweet yellow fleshed plum. It has along shelf life and just gets sweeter and sweeter as it ages.  Not particularly juicy but so tasty and sturdy. Great for snacking and eating out of hand.  

FIGS 

Black Mission: Dark almost black skin.  Red to pink, moist flesh. Sweet nutty and fruity flavor with earthy undertones.

Panache:   I call this fig Panache or Tiger Stripe because that is what the nursery sold us many years ago.   It does not exactly fit the descriptions I see online.  Nonetheless, it is a wonderful and popular fig.  Dark green skin with faint striping. Deep pink, moist flesh that is sweet, fruity and honey like.  

Brown Turkey:   The skin is greenish yellow to brown.  The pink to light tan flesh has a mild nutty sweet taste with earthy undertones.  Great for fresh eating, drying, adding to salad, or paired with cheese.

PEARS:    

 Asian Pears: Yoi and Kosui:  Yoi is brown skinned with off white  flesh.  It is very sweet and crisp with caramel flavor. Kosui is a yellow skinned Asian Pear with white flesh. It is sweet, juicy and crisp.

European Pears:  D'anjou :  This pear is usually enjoyed while on the green side and crisp.  It is sweet and tasty.  Often eaten out of hand, added to salads or  baked.

APPLES: 

Gala:  Small crisp apple with yellow skin and a red blush.  It has a mild, sweet, pleasing flavor and texture.  (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!

 

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: 

Eggs:  La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis. Fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens. (Limited supply.)

Red cherry tomatoes:  Kijani Farm in Granite Bay.  Grown by organic practices. 

Figs: Lupi Farm in Granite Bay.  

Black Mission figs:  Dark skin with sweet pink flesh.

Bartlet Pears:  Sweet, juicy European pears. Can be enjoyed green and crisp or tender, juicy and soft.  Let this pear ripen to your desired texture.