Olson Family Farms in California’s Central Valley is truly a family affair. Five generations have lived on the farmstead and worked the land since John and Anna Olson emigrated from Sweden in 1888. …
Poached Vanilla Peaches
Recipe by Rebecca Dienner for The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS 2 peaches, ripe (fragrant) but not too soft 2 cups sweet white or dessert wine 1/4 cup maple syrup, agave, or sugar (see Cook’s …
When Teenagers Go Vegan
“Mom, let’s go vegan.” These are words that can strike fear into any parent’s heart. I first heard them last fall from my 13-year-old daughter Sage. I blame the magazine VegNews, a publication that …
Eggplant Fries
Recipe by Rebecca Dienner for The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS 4 cups eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch thick fries (about 3–4 inches long) 3/4 cup flour 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup panko …
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 …
Cranberries
British journalist Alistair Cooke called cranberry sauce an “unchallengeable American doctrine” of Thanksgiving dinner. The sauce can be prepared in many ways: with orange zest, ginger, cabernet, or …
Garlic Zucchini Bites
Recipe by Rebecca Dienner for The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS 2–3 medium zucchini, cut in 1 1/2-inch rounds 1/2 cup onion, cut in 1/2-inch pieces 2 tablespoons olive oil 1–2 cloves garlic, …
Dapple Dandy Pluot
The Dapple Dandy Pluot is a sweet plum-apricot flavored pluot with beautifully dappled skin. These pluots contain fiber and complex sugars for sustained energy, and the taste is fantastic. …
Handling Organics
Certification for a Fruit Seller Rebecca North, the national buying and quality assurance manager for The FruitGuys, spent more than five months and 350 staff-hours on getting organic certification …
Cucumber-Peach Salad
Recipe by Rebecca Dienner for The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS 2 cups cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced 2 cups peaches (or stone fruit of choice: nectarines, plums, pluots, apricots, …
Rosemary Simple Syrup
Recipe by Nicole Claro-Quinn for The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS One cup of sugar One cup of water A small handful of fresh rosemary sprigs (about five-six) PREPARATION Place ingredients …
Steamed Corn On The Cob
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop INGREDIENTS Ears of fresh, sweet corn Large pot Water Salt to taste Butter, garlic, olive oil, or salt (optional) PREPARATION Shuck the …
Rosemary for Remembrance
In Hamlet, Shakespeare’s Ophelia dispenses some crazy wisdom in the scene when she hands out flowers and herbs: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.” Miss O might’ve been referring to one of …
What’s in a Name?
Labeling Claims Cause Confusion in “Natural” Market Natural. Sustainable. Organic. Beneficial. Whole grain. Gluten-free. Cage-free. GMO-Free. Local. Consumers are constantly enticed by labeling on …
Chimichurri-Citrus Sauce
INGREDIENTS 1 cup parsley (large stems removed), chopped and well-packed ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped and well-packed (substitute 1 teaspoon dried oregano if fresh cilantro is unavailable) …
Summer’s Nectar: Stone Fruit
The sweet smell of peaches at farmer’s markets heralds the official arrival of summer. Stone fruit season is here! Nothing captures the golden light of summer like the varied hues of …
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 …
Raw Kale Pesto
INGREDIENTS 1 bunch kale, stems removed, roughly chopped or torn (about 5–6 cups loosely packed) 1/2 cup olive oil 2–3 cloves garlic, peeled and quartered (or 5–6 garlic scapes) 1/4 cup …
Lots of Heat Means Good Eats
By Seth Wright, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop This 2013 has been an unusually hot and dry spring here in the Capay Valley. The rain, which usually occurs from January until the end March, …
