A truly exceptional citrus grower in the California’ s Central Valley will pack Stem and Leaf Blood Oranges for us. We bring product from them at least once a week, and if we call ahead and preorder they will pack up a really lovely carton. In a world where presentation is becoming increasingly important, this…
The citron, like the lemon and lime, is native to NE India, where it was used from early times as a perfume and in medicine. The fruit seems always to have had a curious connection with religion and magic, and a high reputation as medicine, being regarded as an antidote to almost any poison and…
The fruit of the Calamondin resembles a small, round lime. It has the color of a tangerine with a very thin green or orange colored peel. Despite its appearance and aroma, the taste of the fruit itself is quite sour, though the peel is sweet. Using the whole fruit results in a great combination of…
Although the Cara Cara Navel Orange was thought to be the result of a cross between Washington and Brazilian Bahia navels (Allen Susser’s The Great Citrus Book), UC Riverside citrus experts say it was a mutation of a Washington Navel discovered on the Hacienda de Cara Cara in Valencia, Venezuela, in 1976. The Cara Cara’s…
The Chandler Pummelo is a relative new comer to the Pummelo family. Developed by crossing a Siamese Pink Pummelo and a Siamese Sweet Pummelo, this new hybrid blends to the best of both color and flavor. The rind is thick, and bright yellow with an occasional pink blush. The flesh ranges from light to dark…
This special Grapefruit variety was developed by researchers at the University of California, Riverside. They crossed a Thai Pummelo with a Mandarin to produce this yummy hybrid. The fruit is medium to large with a smooth rind with a greenish orange to golden-orange color. Cocktail Grapefruit has apricot-colored flesh which is exceptionally sweet and super…
Cocktail Grapefruit are small to medium (3 to 5 inches in diameter), white-apricot colored flesh, seedy, extra sweet, and very juicy. Grown in San Diego County by an organic farmer, this Cocktail variety is “Triumph”, first propagated in Florida in 1884. The very mellow, low-acid flavor of the Cocktail Grapefruit makes it perfect for juicing….
Our grower harvests ripe Satsuma Mandarins, peels them and slices them into 1/4- to 1/2-inch wheels. Then he dries them, and voila! The result is a high sugar, high acid, crispy, crunchy dried fruit that is the single most addictive fruit product we’ve found. Dry Satsuma Mandarins are like citrus popcorn…and once you start eating…
The Citron’s origin is unknown, but it was the first cultivated citrus fruit, with records dating back to 4000 B.C. Citron was a common fruit in the Mediterranean region, and today is cultivated primarily in Sicily, Corsica, Crete, Greece and Israel, as well as a number of Central and South American countries. Etrog Citron (Citrus…
The Finger Lime is a highly unusual citrus variety, native to Australia and found as bushes or small trees in the rain forests of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. The Finger Lime’ s skin color ranges from yellow or brick red to green or purplish black. When the fruit is cut in half (cut…
Our grower always encourages buyers to taste his Fruit. One taste of these Organic Gold Nugget Tangerines and we were hooked! Though quite small and inconsistent in size, these are the sweetest Tangerines we’ve found this season (Brix 14 to 16!).
Bud lines, rootstocks and terrior all play a role in how Oranges taste. Our farmer’ s Heirloom Bahia Navel Oranges are grown on “ old line” Washington Navel trees, supported by the appropriate sour or sweet rootstock and soil profile. This combination along with sustainable farming practices produces a great tasting piece of fruit. These…
Long considered an autumn fruit, Pomegranates make their entrance in late summer, thanks to the early Granada variety. These early pomegranates are historically a little light in exterior color. Early Wonderfuls will make their appearance by the beginning of September, and by the middle of October, the Wonderful variety will be available and we will…
Rambutans are related to lychees and are sometimes known as " hairy lychees" . Originally from Malaysia but now grown in tropical Central America and Southeast Asia, they are larger than lychees (about 2 inches in diameter) and look quite different, but have a similar texture. The taste is similar too, but slightly sharper. To…
Passion Fruit is a subtropical fruit native to Brazil, and is named after the flowers’ resemblance to the crown of thrones worn during Christ’s crucifixion. The fruit is an oval shape that grows from the size of a large egg to a small lemon. The skin is a leathery, dark purple color and is perfectly…
Rhubarb is an herbaceous perennial with long, fleshy stems supporting large, toxic leaves. Although usually considered a vegetable, in 1947 a New York court decided that since it is used as fruit, it should be counted as a fruit for tax purposes. The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook recommends we cut Rhubarb into 3- to 4-inch…
Also known as Tree Tomato and Arbol de Tomate, the Tamarillo is a subtropical fruit generally believed to be native to the Andes of Peru and probably also Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia. It is cultivated and naturalized in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and Venezuela, and is widely grown in New Zealand as a commercial crop. Each…
Savor the fruits of the Mexican Hawthorne tree at their best. These tiny, bittersweet fruits are often mistaken for the crabapple, but have a flavor all their own. Tejocotes range in color from scarlet-orange to golden yellow. They have become an integral part of Mexican celebrations, particularly those that begin in October with the Day…
Long favored in Rome and Umbria, Agretti is a mild Italian green. A couple of our local growers have planted seeds imported from Italy, and the resulting harvest is showing up on menus all over Los Angeles. Sauteed Skate Wing with Fingerling Potatoes, Manilla Clams and Agretti. Seared Spot Prawns with Agretti, Ginger and Lobster…
Though the green color is far from typical, Apple Green Eggplant has an outstanding, creamy, soufflé -like texture and great flavor. This is our very most favorite Eggplant!
