The FruitGuys Founder, Chris Mittelstaedt was recently interviewed by the Wall Street Journal about the economic effects of the Covid-19 crisis on small businesses. Read the full article in PDF …
Easy Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
Spring and summer weather present the perfect opportunity to grill your favorite foods. Why not enjoy some portobello mushrooms? Once grilled, this large, versatile mushroom can be served whole …
Raw and Delicious Watermelon Radish
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop Watermelon radishes (aka Rooseheart, red daikon, or red meat radishes) are perfect just as they are, not to mention gorgeous! This variety is an heirloom Chinese …
Don’t Get Sick!
Raise your hand if you have already gotten the fall cold that’s in circulation. Did you wash that hand? Probably not—or not enough. Fall heralds the beginning of the flu season in the office and on …
Asian and European Pears Share Ancestry
Separated at Birth What most of us recognize as a classic pear is the European pear (Pyrus communis), cultivated since the Bronze Age—the Botticelli form, Audrey Hepburn neck, and colors ranging from …
Climate Change Raises California’s Chances of Drought
While the scientific jury is still out as to whether or not human-caused climate change is the source of extreme storms and other natural disasters, scientists say climate change has increased global …
Watermelon Radish 3 Ways
Watermelon radishes are gorgeous, and perfectly delicious just as they are! They have a nice crunch and a clean taste with just a little kick. Here are a few simple ways to enjoy them: As an …
The FruitGuys Plant a Tree for UMOM
Since 1964, UMOM has helped Arizona families in need, and The FruitGuys is proud to have such a wonderful organization as one of its community partners. The largest homeless shelter in the state, UMOM …
The Crate Masters
fruit crate art courtesy of asliceintime.com ephem ·era: paper items (as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become …
Arizona’s Own Valley Farms
At 4,000 feet, the Willcox area in Northern Cochise County, AZ, was known as the “Cattle Capital” in the Old West days. Situated near Dos Cabezas Mountains, Willcox is now a major producer …
FruitGuys Favorites: Seeing Orange
We asked The FruitGuys staffers to pony up with their favorite Thanksgiving side dishes. And maybe we’re all watching a little too much Netflix, but all the recipes featured a main ingredient with a …
Persimmon
A herald of winter in many regions is the persimmon. Where the rain or even sleet has begun, the bare persimmon tree, with its orange ornaments, makes a striking silhouette against the grey horizon. …
Chicken with Apples, Potatoes & Escarole
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop INGREDIENTS 3/4 lb potatoes, cut in to 1 inch cubes 4 boneless chicken breasts with skin (I also use pork chops in this recipe) Salt and pepper to …
Caramelized Pears and Onions
Recipe adapted from marthastewart.com INGREDIENTS 2 pears (ripe but still firm), cored and quartered 2 red onions, each cut into 6 wedges 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and pepper to …
Raw Carrot Onion Salad
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop INGREDIENTS 3 carrots, grated 1/2 small onion, diced 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, grated (optional) 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice …
A Look Back At August On Riverdog Farm
Image by Riverdog Farm, Guinda CA Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop 8/27/13 The first sign of the changing seasons in our region is cooler nighttime temperatures. Last week we had nighttime …
Apple Farmers Benefit from Grav Box
Every September, when apple season is just hitting its zenith in most of the country, the harvest is already fading in Sonoma County, CA. This area of California is where the Gravenstein Apple reigns …
A Look Back At July On Riverdog Farn
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop July 29, 2013 As crazy as it sounds, this week we’ll be transplanting the final round of watermelons (August 1st melon planting?!). This round was part of a larger …
The FruitGuys featured in the New York Times
The FruitGuys Gravenstein Apple Box was featured in the New York Times Dining & Wine Section on August 8, 2013. Gravensteins: They Make a Dessert That Much Sweeter …
Save The Gravenstein
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” —Martin Luther (1483–1546, a German monk and church reformer) In a world awash with Red Delicious …
Sour Cherries
Pucker up! Traditionally reserved for pie bakers and jam makers, Sour Cherries give their fresh tart-sweet burst of flavor a try before you cook "em up. Nutrient-rich sour cherries have even more …
Chandler Strawberry
Chandlers are big. Big in popularity, big in flavor and big in size. They're the ones that are big enough to slice for treats like strawberry shortcake. Or if you're short on cake-- they stand up …
A Little Apricot History
from Good Humus Produce, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop A combination of Royal and Blenheim Apricots From the Luxemburg Gardens in Paris to England’s Blenheim Palace to the imperiled orchards …
Moore Oklahoma Relief Effort
At 2:56 pm, Monday, 20 May 2013, an F5 category tornado touched down west of Newcastle, Oklahoma, and headed toward the town of Moore. The tornado stayed on the ground for 39 minutes and covered a …
Feeling and Seeding Spring
Why is it that in spring we have that hankering to get our hands in the dirt? That urge to plan and to plant; to go to the nursery and load up our wagons with little pots of promise for a great summer …
Clementine
The Clementine is undoubtedly a darling. Developed by Father Clement Rodier from a sweet tangerine and the somewhat bitter Seville orange. A zipper peel with few seeds and tangy taste. The Clementine …
Chinese Honey Mandarin
Also known as Ponkan. One of the oldest and most popular mandarin tangerines thought to have originated in India. Ponkan is distinctive for its oblate shape, often having a short "collar" or neck. …
Cherry Tomato
Nature's candy. Cherry tomatoes have 23 mg Vitamin C per cup, and about one calorie per tomato. The free radical fighting antioxidant lycopene is tomato's gift to you. Cooking concentrates the …
Benton Cherries
Benton is a registered trademark name for a dark red cherry that ripens the same time as the Bing - "rounda 'bouta bing" you might say. It is a large, sweet cherry. …
Charentais Melon
A melon with many devotees like Fruit Detective David Karp who called it "the best melon in the world." Alexander Dumas was so passionate about the Charentais that he donated 300 of his books to the …
Cavendish Banana
If you prefer your bananas with pedigree, then the Cavendish is for you. It has peerage - so you may address your banana as Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount - or Baron Banana. But if our banana doesn't …
Champagne Grapes
Dah-ling, what better way to kick off the morning meeting than with itsy bitsy champagne grapes. Black Corinth grapes, sweetie. Corinth as in Greece, as in Onassis. These grapes are just the cutest …
Apple Blossom Time-Lapse
1913 was a crazy time. It was the year Igor Stravinsky and Vaslav Nijinsky staged the ballet The Rite of Spring. Nowadays, we are accustomed to the dissonance and seemingly tonal chaos of Stravinsky’s …
Roasted Spring Cippolini Onions
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop Cippolini onions are an excellent variety of onion for roasting or grilling, as they are extra sweet when cooked or caramelized. INGREDIENTS Spring …
Brooks Cherries
In the American cherry world everything comes after the Bing. And the wingman to the Bing is the Brooks - a headliner in its own right, a sweet early cherry. …
Canary Melon
Put some Harry Belafonte singing Yellow Bird on the hi-fi and cut open a sweet Canary Melon for a double tropical treat. Yellow rind and pale green flesh. …
Farmers on Food Safety
By Judith Redmond of Full Belly Farm, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop When I first heard the term “food safety” I knew that even the term itself was a problem, representing an approach to …
Canadice Grapes
Fruit mascots everywhere have their tailors look at the Canadice grape for inspiration. Luscious reddish-purple orbs cascade beautifully down the vine. …
Black Mission Fig
The tear-dropped shape contains "A taste of honey. Tasting much sweeter than wine. I dream of your first kiss and then..." This fruit of desire goes way-way back to the Old Testament and the very …
Bisbee Red Delicious Apple
Originally hailing from Iowa in the late 19th century, Red Delicious is the quintessential apple. The Bisbee is sweet, crisp & flavorful - perhaps the best Red Delicious. …
Blue Ray Blueberries
Blue Ray Blueberries are big, juicy early blueberries. Blueberries are power packed with nutrients. Add some sweet notes to your yogurt or granola by tossing in a few of these real-deal berries. …
Voices From The Field
From Full Belly Farm, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop In April of 2013, we wanted to let folks learn a little bit more about the people who work at Full Belly Farm, so we interviewed one of the …
Blackberry
Blackberry thumb is what some call the sickness of too much texting. [:-(] At the Emerging Technology Conference in San Diego, the theme was "The Attention Economy," Linda Stone spoke of a "continuous …
Black Grapes
Grapes are a fat-free, low-calorie snack. A cup of grapes is only around 100 calories. Grapes of all varieties are high in vitamins C and K and contain potassium and fiber. …
Bing Cherries
Yeah! Cherries! A fruit so packed with taste and lore, in poems, paintings, and punk rock songs- how we worship this fine little fruit. For many the first cherries are a sign of spring and renewal, …
Bearss Lime
Tart and fragrant limes are the key acidity in many cuisines. Just scratch and sniff the peel for a ticket to paradise, or a squirt a wedge to transform plain water into a tropical refreshment. Also …
Bartlett Pear
The dear Bartlett pear was originated in Berkshire England by a schoolmaster named Stair. He sold his cuttings to a horticulturist called Williams, who gave this new pear his name. When the pear …
Banana
Here at the FruitGuys, we like to dress up like bananas, because we love bananas! A perfect food, only 110 calories, 4g fiber, 1g of protein and high in potassium and Vitamin C. We love the elegant …
Ambersweet Orange
A hybrid of the Clementine and Orlando tangelo, the Ambersweet is practically seedless. A bit of an oddball, this citrus can be more pyramid than sphere, with pebbly, easy-to-peel skin. …
Autumn Royal Grapes
A true aristocrat - loyal subjects must wait in the hot summer sun for this fancy grape to show up. Elongated deep purple berry - this grape is a prince among table grapes. …
Autumn Glory Apple
Symonym, cinn-man-ym. Cin-a-mon. Whew! Autumn Glory is a new apple from Washington which is a cross between Fuji and Golden Delicious with a hint of cinnamon. They are not GMO. Now can you say …
Albion Strawberry
Albion strawberries are the variety that put strawberries front and center in terms of market and availability. This vigorous and big berry has made it possible to have strawberries more often …
About The FruitGuys
The FruitGuys delivers farm-fresh fruit and vegetables to businesses, homes, and schools nationwide. The FruitGuys pioneered the “fruit at work” concept in San Francisco in 1998 to help companies …
Hamlin Orange
The first of the citrus season, Hamlin are an important juice orange, great cut into slices (or smiles). This improved variety from the Azores Islands was imported by Thomas Rivers in 1865. …
Farming In Frost
Image courtesy of Full Belly Farm, Guinda CA As the weather warms and dries a little in February and March, it’s easy to think that spring has arrived and therefore the warm weather crops should …
Date
Fruit of the Date Palm - from the Greek word for finger dáktulos. The date is one of the most ancient of our cultivated foods. Gift to the gods, indulgence of rajas, and sustenance to nomads - the …
Medjool Dates
Medjool dates are natives of Morocco, the jewels of the date world, tasting of caramel and honey, A dessert date, Medjools were saved for royalty and special guests. They are a soft date that comes …
Mangosteen
The Mangosteen is truly exotic, when opened it looks like a tropical orchid. In fruit hunting lore, Queen Victoria set a bounty of 100 pounds sterling for one fresh one. …
Ruesch Century Farm
Have you ever been browsing in an antique store and found a wooden box with rakish teeth on it? It could be a hand cranberry rake, a farm implement of yore. Possibly the same kind that farmer Brian …
Diorama Drama photo contest
Congratulations to Sue Potter, of Novato, CA, who submitted the winning photo! Public votes determined the finalists, then FruitGuys employees each received one vote to cast for their favorite photo …
Cabbage Farro Soup
Recipe Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/4 pound pancetta or bacon (optional) 1 small yellow or white onion, finely chopped 4 cloves …
Cherries
Cherries are tasty and delicious but also a super food – researchers have found that cherries may help you sleep better, avoid jet lag, and possibly lessen the symptoms of arthritis and gout. The …
Hale’s Apple Farm
In Fall, you can’t miss the explosion of roadside color that is Hale’s Apple Farm as you drive along Route 116 just north of Sebastopol, CA. The riot of piles of brilliant gourds can cause the unwary …
The Fall Finish Line
Image courtesy of Good Humus Produce, Capay CA by Jeff Main of Good Humus Produce, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop OK. Can we finally stop and say summer is finished? We have crossed what …
Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit—an exotic oblate orb with its lovely dragon scales—grows in tropical regions, such as Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam—even Florida. It is known by a variety of names—dragon scale, green dragon, …
Valencia Orange
Citrus waves are rolling in like an endless summer, brah. The primo Valencia is old-school orange. A tangy treat to take down the hall to the dawn patrol. The Valencia "re-greens" as it ripens on the …
Papaya
Succulent exotic papaya. It has many healthful properties, being high in vitamins, fiber, and lycopene - but can cause issues for people with latex allergies. September is National Papaya month - so …
Toasted Nut & Parsley Pesto
Recipe courtesy of Annie Main at Good Humus Produce, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop INGREDIENTS 3 medium unpeeled garlic cloves 1 cup nuts: walnuts, almonds or any other nut 1/4 cup …
August Field Notes from Riverdog Farm
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop 8/6/12 The mystery white peach orchard was so prolific – both high yielding by the sheer number of fruit but also by size – this year that we are sun-drying …
Tapas-Style Padron Peppers
Recipe by Non-Reactive Pan, clarosouthwick.com/blog INGREDIENTS 10–12 Padron peppers 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt 2 tablespoons olive oil PREPARATION Heat a skillet over high heat, …
Pink Pearl Apple
Surprise! What is this? The pink swirl inside this heritage apple is no mistake. Jules Verne would plumb the world over for this pearl, but you need only look in your FruitGuys box for this gem. …
Massaged Kale Salad
Recipe by The FruitGuys BASIC INGREDIENTS One bunch kale (stems removed), washed thoroughly and spun or patted dry Two tablespoons–1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1/2 lemon (or sub …
Sommerfeld Apple
Discovered in a Gala and Fuji orchard, assumed to be a cross of both of these celebrity apples. Sommerfeld apples are yellow with red striping. A California original. …
Rome Beauty Apple
Round and red. A fine cultivar originating from Rome Township, Ohio prior to 1848. …
July Field Notes from Riverdog Farm
From Riverdog Farm, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop July 2, 2012 Summer crops are beginning to fill the fields and coolers; pallets of beets and greens are sharing space with summer squash and …
York Apple
The York Apple is an heirloom apple from the Pennsylvania countryside where the turnpikes turn. Fruit Buyer Benn said, "Firm, crisp, and juicy. They look like a speckly Gala." …
Tsugaru Apple
Prominent in Japan, the Tsugaru apple is now popular here in America too. A beautiful red-shouldered over yellow. Similar to Golden Delicious, yet firmer. …
Red Delicious Apple
Originally hailing from Iowa in the late 19th century, Red Delicious is the quintessential apple. Although its earliest incarnation included red and yellow stripes, the modern-day version is crimson, …
Rambo Apple
This crisp, juicy apple originated in France in the 1500s and arrived in America in the 1700s. The Rambo apple is great eaten fresh as well as used in recipes. …
Pinata Apple
This new apple variety is a party all on its own. Not only does it have a palatal nasal "n" in its name, but it also has taste. Bred from the fragrant Cox Orange Pippin, the sweet Golden Delicious, …
Paula Red Apple
It looks like a Mac, it smells like a Mac, it tastes like a Mac - but it's a Paula. Discovered in a group of McIntosh apples by Lewis Arends in 1960. He named the new apple after his wife. …
Mutsu Apple
The Mutsu hails from Northern Japan and is now grown in New York. Related to the Golden Delicious, this apple also goes by the name Crispin. …
Jazz Apple
B.B. King says, "Jazz is the big brother of the blues. If a guy’s playing blues like we play, he’s in high school. When he starts playing jazz it’s like going on to college, to a school of higher …
Honeycrisp Apple
Sweet and crunchy. For the foley, or sound effect artist, the crunch of these apples can simulate the sound of a crashing tree. …
Royal Gala Apple
Grown in the 1970s from a single Gala cultigen (from the Latin cultus = cultivated, and gens = kind), a branch cutting, this is a pink-red dessert apple. …
Ginger Gold Apple
This early-ripening variety is often the first fresh eating apple of the year. Ginger Gold apples originated from a chance seeding on a Virginia farm in the late 1960s. …
Esopus Spitzenberg Apple
This apple is thought to be one of Thomas Jefferson's favorites. The Esopus Spitzenberg apple set its root in Woodstock (Ulster County NY) long before Jimmy, Bobby, Bowie, or Thelonious. …
Crispin Apple
The Crispin hails from Northern Japan and is now grown in New York. Related to the Golden Delicious, this apple also goes by the name Matsu. …
Crimson Gold Apple
University rivals Indiana and Purdue contend over the Crimson and Gold Cup every year, the school with most athletic points wins. Everyone who eats the mighty little crimson and gold apple wins! …
Cortland Apple
Another hit from the New York State Agricultural Experimental Station in Geneva, NY - the Cortland. It looks like a Mac, smells like a Mac, walks like a Mac – but is a bit sweeter. …
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 …
Braeburn Apple
Braeburn apples are crispy! A sweet and tart apple with a yellow flesh and orange to red skin so thin it melts in your mouth. …
Ambrosia Apple
Eris, the Goddess of Strife, chucked a golden apple at Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera with the message, "For the fairest." A fight breaks out like a foul ball in the stands at Shea Stadium. Zeus settles …
McIntosh Apple
This is the apple that fell on Newton’s AND Steve Wozniak’s head! The very apple that started it all came from a tree that was scorched when Canadian Farmer John McIntosh’s farm burned in 1884. Every …
Hillwell Braeburn Apple
A sport from the Braeburn family - that's like being from a famous family like Rockefeller, Getty or Windsor. These rosy apples have a wonderful scent and taste, and they are all outstanding. …
Myra Fuji Apple
The Fuji is a wildly successful and well-loved apple. Many of its "sports" have received accolades and patents. The Myra is a pink offshoot discovered by Myles Van Leuven in an orchard near Prescott, …
June Field Notes from Riverdog Farm
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop Image courtesy of Riverdog Farm, Guinda, CA June 4, 2012 Unexpected cloud cover today brought rain, cooler temperatures, and pleasant humidity during a …
Manila Mango
The sun princess Surya Bai transformed into the mango. And that is why a bite of mango can melt a foggy Monday morning. Or put a salsa beat into your typing. There are numerous ways to cut a mango. …
The Royal Blenheim
From Good Humus Produce, courtesy of Capay Valley Farmshop From the Luxemburg Gardens in Paris to England’s Blenheim Palace to the imperiled orchards of Brentwood and Gilroy, California’s …
This Week at Good Humus Produce
by Annie Main, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop Image courtesy of Good Humus Farm, Capay CA When I am unsure what to write about I always take a walk around the farm-it is an easy place to …
May Notes from the Field
From Riverdog Farm, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop Image courtesy of Riverdog Farm, Guinda, CA May 7, 2012 Mild weather and sunshine have boosted crop growth in the field and in the …
Pea Greens Salad with Soy Vinaigrette
Adapted from eatdrinkbetter.com Image courtesy of Blue Moon Acres, Buckingham, PA INGREDIENTS 2–3 cups fresh pea greens Vinaigrette 2 tablespoons grapeseed, olive, or walnut …
Summer In May
Judith Redmond of Full Belly Farm, Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop Resting in a prominent corner of our farm, under a native black walnut tree, there’s an enormous Allis Chalmers crawler …
The FruitGuys Tips: Pea Tendrils
Pea tendrils are the tender vines, stems, and leaves of young pea plants. They can be eaten raw or lightly cooked. Try adding them to all kinds of salads and sandwiches. They are delicious lightly …
We’re sorry to see you go!
We're received your request to unsubscribe from our monthly Almanac newsletter. While we are sorry to see you go, we hope you enjoyed the newsletter. To resubscribe at anytime, please visit our …
Cilantro Pesto
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop INGREDIENTS 1 bunch fresh cilantro 5 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar or lemon juice| 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 …
April Field Notes
From Riverdog Farm, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop 4/2/12 It’s getting close to tomato transplanting time. The plants, all 80,000 (about 9 acres) of the first seeding, have been ready to go from …
Fifth-Generation Family Farm: Friend’s Ranch
Friend’s Ranch in Ojai, CA, is a regular supplier of Pixie tangerines for The FruitGuys. The Friend family and its descendants (now into its fifth generation of family farming) have been growing fruit …
The Almond Festival Arrives In The Valley
By Dru Rivers of Full Belly Farm, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop Almond blossoms are everywhere at the moment on Full Belly Farm – filling the air with honey scented smells and brightly …
Field Notes From the Farm
From Riverdog Farm, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop image courtesy of Riverdog Farm In 1990, Riverdog Farm began as a 2-acre organic vegetable garden in Napa County. Currently, the …
Zestar Apple
Zestar is a relatively new apple bred in Minnesota to withstand their weather. Minnesota, where all the women are strong, and the children above average, and the apples crisp. …
Zebra Tomatoes
Light yellow stripes give these heirloom tomatoes the look of a prized Aggie marble shooter – but they're much better tasting. …
Plumcot
Plumcot is a hybrid of a plum and apricot invented by Luther Burbank. It is similar to pluot, except that the Plumcot is a half and half combination. …
Tomcot
Tomcots are just a good old fashioned variety of apricots. Large, soft with an orange color and sweet taste. They’re not crossed with any other Toms. No Tom Thumb, Tom Cruise, or Tom’s of Maine. …
Flavorella Plumcot
Plumcot is a hybrid of a plum and apricot invented by Luther Burbank. Flavorella is golden with a slight blush. …
Crimson Gala Apple
Crimson – the color of kings and apples in fairy tales. The Crimson Gala is large and crisp with a few spots of green. Only take this apple from your reputable FruitGuy and not witches in disguise. …
Arctic Mist White Nectarine
Rainier White, White Caps, Dove, Linen, Bone, Blanco, Acoustic White, Eggshell, Sierra, Frost, Mist. It's no longer simple to pick up a bucket of white paint. Arctic Mist nectarines are white fleshed …
The Lemon Lady
Karen Morss is called the Lemon Lady. She started her suburban Emerald Hills, CA (San Mateo County), an organic citrus farm, Lemon Ladies Orchard, in 2004. She has done her part breaking glass …
Gold Nugget Tangerine
Gold Nuggets are sweet and seedless little mandarin oranges, cousin to the Satsuma, recently bred at the University of California Riverside in the foothills of the Box Springs Mountains. This Citrus …
Watermelon Radish
This heirloom Chinese Daikon radish has a colorful surprise inside! Watermelon radishes are crisp with a mild flavor, slightly peppery with lovely sweet notes. They can be eaten raw or cooked, on …
7-Bean Mix
The 7-bean mix in Central Regional TakeHome cases includes: Navy, Pinto, Black, Great Northern, Soy, Kidney, and Cranberry beans. To prepare: Sort beans and discard discolored or shriveled beans or …
How to Extract Pomegranate Seeds
Slice off the pomegranate’s crown, and score the rind in 3–4 places. Break the fruit apart in a bowl of cool water to avoid spraying juice. Separate the juicy red pods from the membrane and the …
From Bacon Broccoli Bites
Capay Valley FarmShares Member Jay Edwards on Why He Loves His FarmShare I love my Farmshare because it’s turned me from being mostly carnivorous to a solid omnivore, even dabbling in …
A White Radish with Spirit
Author Michael Pollan says, “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.” It sounds like a Zen koan, doesn’t it? By “food,” Mr. Pollan means eating non-processed, natural fare. He says, “If your …
Bear Track Farm
Betty Hui is powered by fruit. She has to be, she has a busy life. As The FruitGuys Retentions Specialist, she zips up, down, and around the San Francisco Bay Area visiting customers and keeping …
Red Cabbage Cole Slaw
Courtesy of Tanya Milosevich INGREDIENTS 1 head red cabbage, cut in half and sliced thin 3 carrots, grated 4 green onions, including some of the green, sliced thin Generous pinch of …
Great Gravenstein! This Heirloom Apple has a Story to Tell
Joe has his hands in his pockets, rocking heel to toe gazing into a crate of Gravenstein apples. Barbara Walker, who operates the Walker Apples’ booth, listens to Joe with full attention whilst her …
Baby Zucchini Sauté
Adapted from epicurious.com INGREDIENTS 1 pound baby zucchini, halved lengthwise, each half cut lengthwise into 3 wedges 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil 8 zucchini squash blossoms …
Whole Earth CSA—Waddell, Arizona
“In the hierarchy of healthy vegetables, heirlooms are at the top,” says Shyryn Joy. She explains this statement by adding that “they’re closest to their natural order and have the most integrity.” …
Q & A with Far West Fungi
The Garrone family has been growing specialty mushrooms for more than 25 years. They chose the cool, fog-dampened central California coast to locate the massive mushroom lab for their company Far West …
Seedless Citrus
Q: Why do some citrus have seeds and some don’t? To find out, The FruitGuys asked Emily Thacher Ayala, farmer at Friends’ Ranch in Ojai, CA (Ventura County). Friends’ grows Pixies, not the …
The Importance of Pollinators
On Saturday, March 12, 2011, a small contingent of FruitGuys joined Cub Scouts from Santa Rosa and participants from the Volunteer Center for Sonoma County at Gabriel Farm in Sebastopol, CA (Sonoma …
How Broccoli Will Save Strawberries: Organic Farming Practices Leave Pesticides Aside
Broccoli Shortcake. Mmmm, can you picture it? Golden cake, florets of green broccoli, and a cloud of sweet whipped cream... What? Doesn’t sound appealing? Do you prefer Strawberry Shortcake? But …
Warm Asparagus and Spinach Penne
Recipe courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop INGREDIENTS 1 large bunch asparagus, cut in 1”³ lengths 2 tablespoons + 1/4 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 3/4 lb uncooked penne 2 green …
Almond Queen: Visioning Capay’s Future
By Hallie Muller of Full Belly Farm In March of 2011, our small community celebrated a 96-year old tradition: the official crowning of the Almond Queen. In a valley rich with history, this is a …
Kumquat
Kumquats are the original sweet-tarts! The "sweet" is in the skin, and the "tart" is in the juice. To experience the full spectrum of flavor, eat them whole, like grapes—peel and all. Try rubbing them …
Dill vs. Fennel
“Wave your fronds in the air, wave ’em like you just don’t care!” DJ Dillyweed and Sista Fenny Fennel face off in Battle of the Weeds. Yes, both of these flava-flavorful aromatics are vying for a spot …
A Most Excellent Rice
Japanese chef and author Shizuo Tsuji wrote, “Rice is a beautiful food. It is beautiful when it grows, precision rows of sparkling green stalks shooting up to reach the hot summer sun. It is beautiful …
How TakeHome Helps a Mom
One mom wrote to us last week about our TakeHome Fruit & Veggie case. Hi, My name is Beth M. and I've been a customer of The FruitGuys for about 2-3 months. I wanted to say Thank You for …
SlowFood Box: Pie Ranch’s Pie Crust
Courtesy of Pie Ranch Ingredients 2 1/2 cups Pie Ranch whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled, cut into small pieces 1/2 cup ice …
It Takes a Village: California Town Saves Heirloom Apple
The Gravenstein Apple is dear to many apple lovers for its tart taste and superior juice, sauce, and pie abilities, but it is especially dear to the residents of Sebastopol, CA (Sonoma County) where …
Cabbage and Potatoes in Brown Butter
Ingredients 6 ounces fingerling potatoes 1/2 pound green cabbage cut into large squares or strips 4 tablespoons butter, browned 1/4 cup Taleggio or Fontina cheese, diced 2 tablespoons …
Preparing Dried Pinto Beans
1. Place pinto beans in a medium, thick-bottomed saucepan. 2. Cover the beans with water, at least three inches above the beans. 3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook covered, …
Preparing Dried Pinto Beans
1. Place pinto beans in a medium, thick-bottomed saucepan. 2. Cover the beans with water, at least three inches above the beans. 3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook covered, …
Grilled (or Roasted) Eggplant & Sauteed Golden Chard Sandwich with Green Garlic Aioli
Adapted from Gourmet AIOLI INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons chopped green garlic 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 2/3 cup low-fat mayonnaise, or other mayonnaise alternative such as …
Grilled (or Roasted) Eggplant & Sautéed Rainbow Chard Sandwich with Shallot Aioli
Adapted from Gourmet AIOLI INGREDIENTS 1/4-cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons chopped shallots 1/4-teaspoon sea salt 2/3-cup low-fat mayonnaise, or other mayonnaise alternative such as …
Bebop-a-Rhubarb
Bebop-a-rhuba, spring rhubarb is here! Diner waitresses are hip-checking pie cabinets, kids stop hopscotching, and the milkman is grinning from ear to ear. What’s the deal with rhubarb? Why does it …
Spiced Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup
Adapted from Grouprecipes.com INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon yellow mustard seed 1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1/2 …
Black Radish and Carrot Salad with Lemon-Dijon Dressing
INGREDIENTS Four teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard Two black radishes peeled, trimmed, and grated Two carrots, peeled, trimmed, and grated Two …
Strawberry
Strawberries are a member of the rose family and, like their floral cousins, evoke sentiment. They are, after all, heart-shaped. Very delicate, strawberries must be hand-picked and rushed to a cooler. …
Red D’Anjou Pear
These beautiful and tasty maroon D'Anjou pears are an old European-style pear. They were discovered in Oregon on a sport of the green D'Anjou variety. …
Vegetarian and “Carnival Bean Chili”
Adapted from Bon Appetit INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup olive oil One medium yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped Six garlic cloves, chopped Two Tablespoons chili powder Two teaspoons dried …
Radish-Cabbage ColeslawӬ
Adapted from Gourmet INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 pound cabbage, cored, and thinly sliced (6 cups) 6-8 radishes, cut into thin matchsticks 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar 1 1/2 …
Lemony Sautéed Collard Greens
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One large bunch collard greens Two tablespoons olive oil Six cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper Juice …
Happy New Year Peas
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS 1 pound dried black-eyed peas One small onion, chopped One tablespoon minced garlic Three tablespoons brown sugar One tablespoon mustard One …
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Sun-Dried Tomatoes Vinaigrette and Arugula
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One head cauliflower, green leaves discarded 2 cups loosely packed arugula, rinsed and coarsely chopped 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup …
Chick-Peas with Lemony Swiss Chard and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One bunch of Swiss chard stems discarded and leaves coarsely chopped One can of chick-peas, rinsed, drained 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in 1 cup …
Lentil and Celery Root Salad
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One large celery root (celeriac) 9 cups of water 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup French green lentils, rinsed and drained Three tablespoons olive oil …
Pasta with Swiss Chard and Parmesan Cheese
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One bunch Swiss chard Two tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt Two garlic cloves, finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon dried hot Red-pepper flakes …
Baked Gold Nugget Squash
Adapted from melissas.com INGREDIENTS 1 Gold Nugget squash One pinch salt One pinch cinnamon One dash black pepper Two tablespoons brown sugar, dark or light 1 1/2 tablespoons …
Gingered Vegetable Stir-Fry
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One head broccoli washed, and cut into bite-sized pieces One daikon radish, cut into julienne strips (about 2 cups) One bunch rainbow chard, de-stemmed, …
Broccoli with Ginger
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One head broccoli Three tablespoons olive or vegetable oil One tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled, minced Two cloves garlic, peeled, minced Two …
Roasted Cauliflower
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One medium head cauliflower (2 1/2 to 3 pounds), cut into one 1/2-inch-wide florets (8 cups) Two tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 teaspoon …
Garlicky Steamed Artichoke with Sesame Dipping Sauce
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS Two artichokes Two tablespoons butter Two cloves garlic, sliced Salt and pepper to taste For Dipping Sauce: 1/2 cup mayonnaise Three …
Red Curry with Tofu and Vegetables
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS 1-2 sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes One head broccoli, rinsed and chopped One bunch of rainbow chard, de-stemmed, and coarsely chopped One …
Stir-Fried Baby Artichokes
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS Three baby artichokes One lemon halved & squeezed into a large glass bowl with water Two cloves garlic, minced One tablespoon olive oil, salt, …
Sautéed Collard Greens
Recipe by The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One bunch fresh collard greens One tablespoon olive oil 1 cup pine nuts One large onion, peeled and diced 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth One …
“Sugar Pie” Pumpkin and Purple Cauliflower Coconut Curry
Adapted from Gourmet INGREDIENTS 1 Tablespoon plus two teaspoons vegetable oil, divided 1 “sugar pie” pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch pieces ¾ teaspoon cumin seeds 1 medium …
Roasted Vegetables (with leek)
Adapted from Gourmet Magazine INGREDIENTS 2 leeks, white part only, cut into ½-inch slices 3 turnips, peeled, cut into ½-inch cubes 4-5 red potatoes, peeled, cut into ½-inch cubes …
Squash Blossom Quesadillas (“Meigs-adillas”)
INGREDIENTS 1 medium onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 poblano pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded, and diced or ¼ of your favorite salsa 4-6 squash blossoms (Regular FV only) ½ cup …
Curried Yellow Indian Woman Heirloom Beans with Quetzal Farm’s Paprika Peppers
INGREDIENTS ½ pound (1/2 bag) of Rancho Gordo Yellow Indian Woman Heirloom Beans 2 Quetzal Farms dried paprika peppers 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 2 …
Elephant Heart Plum
The Elephant Heart Plum is yet another Luther Burbank invention. Burbank had a Midas touch in plant breeding. He began with a dozen plum seeds from Japan - a distant exotic land in 1880. And now …
Hachiya Persimmon
Pocahontas says “It was Commodore Perry who brought seeds of the Japanese persimmon varieties to the U.S.” She also cautions us that Hachiya persimmons are not meant to be eaten firm. This delicious …
Fuyu Persimmon
Fabulous Fuyus are the non-astringent persimmons that can be eaten like apples, peel and all. They are high in vitamins C and A and are a great source of dietary fiber and manganese. Fuyu (short for …
Passion Fruit
Our passion fruit comes from John Koman at White Dove Farms in Santa Paula, CA. John is passionate about his fruit and personally hand-snips it for us from vines he cultivated in his old lemon …
Kiwi Berry
These mini kiwis are fuzzless - little nudies - the berry can be eaten whole. Ripe when dark green and just slightly wrinkled. These fun fruits are power pellets of vitamins and antioxidants too! …
Minneola Tangelo
What do you get when you cross a Duncan Grapefruit and Dancy Tangerine? The Minneola Tangelo. This dark orange piece of California-grown fruit is easily recognized by the nib protruding from its end. …
Grapefruit
The first grapefruit was described in Barbados in 1750. It is relatively new to the citrus group. Originally, grapefruit was most likely a naturally occurring hybrid between the pomelo and the sweet …
Blueberries
Fats Domino found his thrill on Blueberry Hill, and The FruitGuys is thrilled to offer these. Blueberries are power-packed with nutrients. Add some sweet notes to your yogurt or granola by tossing in …
Aprium
Apriums are 2/3 apricot and 1/3 plum. You should eat them when soft to the touch but don't let them get too soft or mushy as they will quickly move past their prime. As our resident poet, Jeff says: …
Winesap Apple
The Winesap is a light red apple with a slight cinnamon taste on the sides of the tongue, like spicy apple cider. …
Stayman Apple
In the 1929 talkie, The Virginian, Gary Cooper commands “When ya call me that, smile!” Our little Virginian, the Stayman apple will make you smile with its crisp snap and robust taste. …
Smokehouse Apple
Smokehouse apples got their name because these flavorful beauties grew near Willam Gibbons smokehouse in Lancaster, PA. The taste is reminiscent of cider. And the name alone seems to evoke autumn …
Pippin Apple
Pippin is just about the cutest name you can give a sweet little apple. Or it conjures a 1970's flashback of actors in harlequin tights dancing Fosse-Fosse-Fosse, belting out Broadway tunes. "Leave …
Pacific Rose Apple
Sometimes called the New Zealand Rose Apple, it is similar to the Fuji but hails from a Gala-Splendor blend. Limited acreage makes these apples a special treat. Red and crisp, the flesh browns a …
Newtown Pippin Apple
Pippin is about as cute a name for a sweet little apple as you can get. Or it conjures a 70”²s flashback of actors in harlequin tights dancing Fosse, Fosse, Fosse, belting out Broadway gold. “Leave …
Macoun Apple
Born at the Geneva New York Ag Station, this apple has gone on to greatness. Just like its namesake John Macoun, a botanist who was the Lewis & Clark of Canada mapping the westward expansion into …
Liberty Apple
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of crunchiness. The Liberty apple is a cross between a Macoun and a Purdue apple. It has a natural waxy surface bloom to protect its skin. …
Jonathan Apple
Medium-sized, sweet, and a bit acidic, this New Yorker apple from Woodstock is also called the Esopus Spitzburg. …
Jonagold Apple
Introduced in 1968 by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY, the Jonagold has become a rising star in apple-dom. Crossed from the JONAthan and the GOLDen Delicious, this …
Granny Smith Apple
A firm and crisp green apple. When you think of the traditional tart apple, Granny Smith is it. Refreshing and a wonderful compliment to cheese. …
Golden Delicious Apple
West Virginia's state fruit is a soft apple with yellow-gold skin and a mild and sweet taste. …
Gala Apple
Sweet and mild, somewhat thin-skinned, and striped. The Gala apple originated in New Zealand from momma Golden Delicious and poppa Orange Delicious. …
Cameo Apple
Cameo apples made their first appearance as a little stray seedling in an orchard in the upper left corner of Washington state. Cameos are tart and aromatic with stripey skin. Alfred Hitchcock was the …
Rockin’ ”˜Rugula
The tender leaves of arugula (Eruca sativa) are alive with the energy of spring. Arugula, or roquette, is a distinctive, somewhat peppery green. It’s very versatile and can be used fresh in salads, …
Worldwide Wellness – Making a Difference
Congratulations to our fabulous farmer friend and environmental steward, Allen Harthorn of Harpo Organics, who grows succulent organic Valencia oranges in Ventura County. Allen Harthorn and wife, …
Orange Smiles
The Valencia oranges in the crates this week are especially juicy. When divided into sections, each segment appears to be a little juice pouch. They are wonderful chilled, divvied, and shared. The …
Chris Mittelstaedt Featured in Entrepreneur Magazine!
Our founder/CEO Chris Mittelstaedt was featured in the September 2008 issue of Entrepreneur magazine. …
Lifetime Contribution to Sonoma County Agriculture
Congratulations to longtime friend and farmer Lee Walker. Lee is being awarded the “Lifetime Contribution to Sonoma County Agriculture” by the 2008 Sonoma Harvest Fair. The Harvest Fair is an annual …
None of Your Beeswax! (The Get-The-Bees Address)
Four hives and five months ago, The FruitGuys brought forth to Gabriel Farm a prodigious gift of pollination, conceived in the spirit of Farm Stewardship and dedicated to the proposition that all …
The Berkeley Wellness Letter
Great fitness tips and more in the Berkeley Wellness Letter. January's password is salmon. Check out the hard copy in your fruitcrate the first Monday of each month. FREE for FruitGuys customers. …
We ♥ Fruit
February is American Heart Month. Not just the chocolate-filled, pink-foiled, "Will you be my valentine?" heart month, but the 10-oz …
Bees vs. Seeds
Many FruitGuys customers love seedless mandarins and grapes - they've become increasingly popular and even expected. But did you ever wonder how they get the seeds out? There are many varieties of …
Highlight from the November Wellness Letter Wellness Tips: Just a Little Bit of Sugar
As part of your FruitGuys subscription, we provide you and your employees online access to UC Berkeley's Wellness Letter, the newsletter of nutrition, fitness and …
A Summer Poem June 25, 2007
Here's my little poem, I've sprinkled it with rhyme Tis an ode to the fresh sweet tastes of fruit in summertime. Week one of grapes has now arrived from warm California sun We've found again the white …
Finding the Good Stuff, August 15, 2005
A majority of the fruit grown in the U.S. comes from California. Much of that is within 300 miles of the Bay Area. If you are willing to dig a bit, some of the most exciting and unique small farms …
Sweet as Nectar
We once spent a day driving through the Brentwood agriculture corridor hunting of the perfect nectarine. Brentwood is only a 90 minutes drive from San Francisco and is an ideal oasis near the …
Cling Peaches
One of the things I love about peaches is that the taste of summer itself is captured in the peach at the moment of harvest. Peach varieties build in sugar as the days lengthen from May to late June. …
‘Twas the FruitGuys
'Twas two weeks before the holiday when all at work; reports abounded and budgets began to lurk. The memos were posted in the kitchen with care; in hopes that The FruitGuys would soon be there. When …
