Founder Chris Mittelstaedt on the Covid Recession in the WSJ
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 form, or see it on the Wall Street Journal website. Listen to the 15-minute podcast.
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 (burger-style) or in strips to add deliciousness to your plate. Adapted from southernfood.about.com INGREDIENTS 2 portobello mushrooms, stems removed (gills optional, depending on preference) 1 tablespoon […]
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 daikon. Its Chinese name, Xin Li Mei, loosely translates to “in one’s heart it is beautiful.” These radishes have a nice crisp texture and a clean taste with […]
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 the playground. The influenza virus, aka the flu, is spread person-to-person through airborne contact (coughs and sneezes) and physical […]
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 eye-popping chartreuse to jewel-toned maroons and golds. The buttery quality that we equate with many European varieties can be credited to Belgians who […]
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 warming, which in turn increases California’s risk for drought, according to a September 2014 report examining recent extreme weather events. “Human-caused climate change […]
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 addition to a salad, peel the radish and grate it. Toss with leafy greens, grated carrot, cabbage, or any […]
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 provides transitional housing and services, including medical aid, life skills, and childcare – for up to 425 men, women, and children […]
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 collectibles. Vintage fruit crate art is oh-so-appealing––the vibrant color palette, the lovely shading of the fruit, the pretty backgrounds. And, best of all, produce crate labels combine […]
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 of diverse agriculture, including some of Arizona’s best-tasting apples. Valley Farms has grown heritage apples for Arizona markets since 1978 under […]
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 certain stand-out hue that just so happens to be front and center of a new Netflix-exclusive show. See if you can […]
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. These fruits can stand a chill; as the old farmer saying goes, “Persimmons grow where mangos fear to tread.” The common […]
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 taste 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) 5 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 apples, cored and cut into 12 slices each […]
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 taste 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional) PREPARATION Preheat oven to 425 °F. Toss pears and onions with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange into a […]
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 salt and pepper to taste PREPARATION In a bowl, toss the carrots, onion, lemon juice and zest. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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 temperatures in the low fifties. There is also a lot of morning dew which indicates that the day and nighttime temperatures are far […]
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 supreme. The Grav (as it’s known) is one of the earliest apples to appear in the market; it’s ready to harvest […]
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 seeding group, most of which left the greenhouse a week or two ago. These starts just took a bit longer […]
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 apples grown for their size, color, durability, and profitability—but definitely not their flavor—keeping heirloom apple varieties alive is vitally important. […]
