I have been given a copy of Robert Palter’s The Duchess of Malfi’s Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits. It’s a great reference book if you like those moments of clarity when writers unravel the human …
spring
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. …
Fresh Fava Salad
Recipe by Rebecca Dienner for The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS 1 pound fresh fava beans 1 head green garlic, minced 1 bunch kale, de-stemmed, and chopped into 1-inch pieces 2 carrots, thinly …
In Our Spring
by Jeff Main of Good Humus Farm, Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop Image courtesy of Good Humus Produce With the passing of the 2013 equinox a few weeks ago, and all the warmth and wetness …
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 …
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. …
Zucchini Ribbon Salad
INGREDIENTS 1 large or 2 small zucchini, cut into ribbons (about 3 cups) 2–3 medium beets, roasted and cut into bite-size wedges 2–3 shallots, minced 1 cup carrots, shredded 1 1/2 …
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 …
Spring Veggies with Lemony-Dill Sauce
INGREDIENTS 1 bunch broccolini, stalks separated but left whole 2 yellow squash, sliced into bite-sized rounds (approx. 1/2-inch thick) Juice of one lemon Zest of one lemon …
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 …
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 …
Red Beaut Plum
Beauty, but friends call it "Beaut" for short, is an early smooth red plum with yellow flesh. Good plum to know on a first-name basis. …
Alexander Lucas Pear
The origin of the buttery Alexander Lucas pear and who Alexander was are uncertain, but it is a European variety. Known is that this lovely russeted pear was cultivated in cloistered monasteries, …
Health Per Acre
By Judith Redmond of Full Belly Farm, courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop Despite heavy rain, a surprisingly large group of people turned out for the Full Belly Open Farm Day. While we couldn’t …
News From Good Humus Produce
By Annie Main of Good Humus Produce I went for a bicycle ride to Esparto on Sunday, Jeff and I had breakfast at Zach and Nicole’s house. I took my camera and stopped for some photos. I took …
Wearing It On Your Sleeve
I’m not a good poker player. I generally say what I think, and you can read the thoughts I’m not saying across my forehead as if it were an electronic billboard streaming data for all of Times Square …
Cherry Blossoms
The sadness of Japan’s natural disaster brings back memories of Katrina for me (my folks are from New Orleans, and I have relatives there). There are those natural routines in the world that we look …
Of Rabbit Holes & Writing Desks
Nessie, the six-month-old chocolate lab, tears through the house wanting nothing more than to lick the cat until it becomes her friend. A puffed up and spitting blur of fur trailed by a bottle brush …
The Sound of Cold at Night
As a kid, I always looked forward to springtime. Winter didn’t just mean less sunlight and standing at a bus stop early in the morning in a red down jacket trying to quickly mound up disparate …
The Spring Transition
In the fruit world, spring is the hardest time of year. Summer brings its abundance of stone fruits, Fall its apples, pears, persimmons, and pomegranates, and Winter all varieties of citrus that grow …
Plum Tree Tales
The plum tree in my backyard is awake with white blossoms that shine silver in the moonlight and cluster on the dark wood branches like downy-snow. These small, soft, flowery nests attract wobbly …
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. …
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 …
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 …
Apricot
The apricot is a species of the genus Prunus, along with its stone fruit sisters, plum, peach, and cherry, and its cousin almond. Apricots found their way through history and geography, emigrating …
Ataulfo Mango
Shaped like a golden bean, these sweet yellow mangos are sometimes also referred to as Champagne or Manilla mangos. This special-season mango evokes a tropical celebration that will send your taste …