Orange You Glad I Said Persimmon

There are always times you regret. Like when I was six years old, and I only knew two jokes. One was the standard knock-knock joke—“Knock, knock,” “Who’s there?” “Banana.” “Banana who?” “Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “Banana.” “Banana who?” “Knock, Knock, who’s there?” “Orange.” “Orange who?” “Orange you glad I didn’t say Banana?” The other was a joke I heard on the bus involving a teacher and a kid named Johnny.

I had no idea what it meant, but every time I retold it, the 5th and 6th graders cracked up hysterically and introduced me to more of their friends so I could spread what was obviously the funniest joke in the world told by a prodigy of intense comic genius. It was getting close to Thanksgiving, so I decided to try it out on my folks for a preview of the holiday entertainment I could provide. I remember my mom’s face slipping from a smiling and excited look to an expectant and tight-lipped stare to wide-eyed frozen shock. She wasn’t mad, but it was pretty clear that she hadn’t gotten it, so I started to tell it again. She stopped me and then asked the names of the kids who told me that joke. Then she calmly told me what the joke meant. My face went hot. To this day, the only joke I can deliver with a punch line ends: “Orange, you glad I didn’t say Banana!” Go figure.

Orange is not just the color of my one joke but is the color of Beta Carotene which, when eating plants, is an indicator of Vitamins A, and C. Fuyu Persimmons are the squat, orange fruit in the crates this week. A large Fuyu Persimmon can have as much as 70% of your recommended daily vitamin requirement of Vitamin A, which is pretty darn good.

Fuyu Persimmons should be eaten firm—like an apple. Just quarter it and eat. Some people don’t like the naturally waxy skin, so peel if you must but remember that many nutrients are in the skin. The Fuyu has a Fall mix of light nutmeg and pumpkin spice in its taste. “It leaves your mouth refreshed like cantaloupe sorbet,” says Erik, FruitGuys COO, and tri-athlete madman, of the Fuyu’s wonderful aftertaste.

Check out our In the Mix pages to read about persimmons and more!

Enjoy and be fruitful! – Chris Mittelstaedt chiefbanana@fruitguys.com