Raisins

Raisins are dried grapes, but not just any grapes. Sultana or Thompson Seedless make up some of the best California sun dried raisins.

Fuji Apple

Bred in Japan in the 1930s, the Fuji was grafted from Virginian apple royalty Rawls Jennet and Iowa’s Red Delicious. Extremely popular in Japan and the USA. About the size of a baseball (yakyuu no booru), this apple is sweet and delicious.

Cameo Apple

Cameo apples made their first appearance as a little stray seeding in an orchard in the upper left corner of Washington state. Cameos are tart and aromatic with stripy skin. Alfred Hitchcock was the king of cameos, popping onscreen in 39 of his 52 movies. The Cameo is sure to be the apple everyone is watching for when the fruit arrives.

Navel Orange

An orange with an Innie. Navels are aptly named. Native to Brazil, they've been cultivated in Riverside CA since the dawn of the citrus boom in the 1870s. Easy to peel and breaks into sections superbly, this orange is practically seedless.

Kiwi

What fruit has the vitamin C of an orange, the potassium of half a banana, and the fiber of a half-cup of bran flakes? Hint: It's furry. Answer: Kiwi. Enjoy kiwis by peeling or simply cut latitudinally and scoop out green (or yellow) flesh with a spoon.

Meyer Lemon

Meyers are the darlings of the citrus world, and are highly prized among chefs and bakers. This lemon-mandarin cross has thin skin and a heavenly lemon essence.

Braeburn Apple

Braeburn apples are cris-p! A sweet and tart apple with yellow flesh and an orange to red skin so thin it melts in your mouth.

Satsuma

One of The FruitGuys favorite fruits! This California mandarin is seedless and super easy to peel and eat. It has a "zipper" skin which can look bumpy and feel soft. However, it is normal and makes the removal of the skin a snap. Just gently push your thumb into the bottom of the fruit and "zip" the skin off. Break apart the wedges and pop in your mouth. It's a sweet treat with a less acidic bite than other citrus. Satsumas often have a soft and puffy peel when fully ripe, so don't miss out on their juicy sweetness.

Dino Kale

Fred Flintstone called his pet Dino (pronounced "Dee-no") and Dino Kale has a few other names, such as Lacinato Kale or Tuscan. Trim leaf away from stems for tender greens and set the stems aside to use in soup stock, or chop stems and leaves together for a sauté.

Artichoke

A flower in what Pablo Neruda describes as “battle-dress”. Steam until the leaves loosen, and dip the petals in butter with a spritz of lemon. Exquisita!

Romaine Lettuce

Romaine lettuce originates from the sandstone island of Kos in the Aegean Sea. Also known as Cos lettuce, Romaine adds structure to salads with its bright and crunchy “hearts” and slightly bitter leaf.

Italian Parsley

Parsley is the herb that refreshes. It is abundant in chlorophyll, which provides its well-known breath freshening power. Parsley is chocked full of essential vitamins - just 2 tablespoons provide 10 mg of Vitamin C.

Beets

Beets are a two-fer veggie. One is the fruitful root and two are the leafy greens. They are easiest peeled after roasting or boiling.

Romanesco Cauliflower

Each spiral bud is composed of a series of smaller buds, all arranged in many series of logarithmic spirals. Romanesco cauliflower is nature's edible version of a fractal. Famous Yale mathematician Benoît B. Mandelbrot (b. 1924) defined fractal geometry using computer graphics to find them in nature.

Preparation: Treat your fractal as you would broccoli or cauliflower—rinse and break off the branch spirals, then roast, steam, sauté, or simmer until tender.

Storage: Store stem-down in the fridge; Romanesco keeps well for a few days.