We are fortunate to live in the "Breadbasket of the World" -- the San Joaquin Valley of California.
There is a little year round family fruit stand, we pass on the way home -- Takahashi's.
Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Tomatoes, Peppers, Grapes, Plums, Onions, and much more -- all fresh, year around -- depending what is in season.
This time of year, they have produce that comes directly from the fields daily -- here is my breakfast...
Strawberries, Blackberries, Mango, and a hard boiled egg for a little protein -- cup of coffee and bottle of water.
Best,
Fred
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Here here. We're in the midst of stone-fruit season and I love it. I just harvested the second (likely of 3 or 4) round of plums from the backyard. 23 lbs!
I couldn't be happier or more regular.
Fred, that breakfast impresses me very much because the strawberries are ripe. They sell fresh strawberries here but they have white tasteless pulp inside. I keep telling my wife not to buy them until they bring ripe ones to the market. If everyone did not buy the white pulpy things they will bring ripe berries to market. What is really funny is that there is a commercial during the Giants ballgame for Wendy's that touts a salad which includes fresh strawberries and the strawberries in the commercial are the white pulpy kind. People now think those under ripe berries are the norm. That is the end of my rant. Dominick
You are right, Dominick --
Big acre growers are contracted to pick the berries before the sun has had a chance to ripen them completely.
And also, some of the white guys are generally artificially ripened quickly in a hot house operation with artificial lights.
Red meat inside is vine ripened -- white means they were picked 3 weeks early -- but pumped up with fertilizers and chemicals to be large, so they sell for more money by the pound or basket.
Then they are immediately put into cold storage -- so they will survive the trip to the big city and stay in the store for awhile.
The more sun they receive -- the higher the natural sugar content. 20 to 22% is about ideal.
We just buy what is in season -- if not in season, we buy something else.
Best,
Fred
What is this...'season'..you speak of?
We have grown our own produce for years and that is the vegetables that we eat. Fred pointed out the predominant problem, forced production. Tomatoes are gassed to force there ripeness in early markets or grown in acres and acres of greenhouses (hothouses). No taste or healthy value at all. Rant over.
Quote from: Tightlines666 on June 16, 2015, 10:41:00 PM
What is this...'season'..you speak of?
This season we have here is actually seasons ;D I know some of you nothing of this phenomenon but here in the San Joaquin Valley we actually get them...Sometimes we even get all 4 ;D But we do get the best weather, the best foods & and quite possibly the best all around fishing in the continental United States (I hear Alaska screamin')
Getting ready for the Warrior's to win it all tonight ;D
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My wife and daughter are out back picking our apples that are ripe.
And yeah, what Dom said. I tell my wife stop buying the stuff that isn't ripe. It goes rotten before it ever sweetens.
This morning --
Mango, Mountain Blackberries, Fuji Apples, Sunflower Seeds, Almonds, Walnuts...
Water & Starbucks Coffee
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Fred, that's something I would really enjoy, very nice ;).
Quote from: Alto Mare on June 17, 2015, 09:14:00 PM
Fred, that's something I would really enjoy, very nice ;).
With, or without some drag grease? ;D
Delicious looking breakfast.
There's mango's in the valley? Can I get a graff from that Mango tree? Do you have Lychee too?
We get the mangos from the fruit stand.
They source them locally from somewhere -- do not know where.
We have apples up here -- but everything else we buy organically grown from Takahashi's fruit stand.
They know the local produce -- and have been doing it for decades now.
Nice family operation.
Everything in brown paper bags -- so it stays fresh and breathes without condensation.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: Big Tim on June 17, 2015, 12:03:16 AM
But we do get the best weather, the best foods & and quite possibly the best all around fishing in the continental United States (I hear Alaska screamin')
Umm, We have pretty good fishing in Florida. ??? Not to mention the vast array of tropical fruits that are grown here. I have Carabao (Philippine) Mangoes, Papayas, Sugar apples, Key Limes, and Kalamansi (Calomondin) in my back yard. :) Granted, our weather can get a little muggy for many in the summer, but I look at that as a blessing or we would be over run with people if it was nice year round. ;D
Yes it's the same her in NJ if it weren't for the high taxes we would be over run with people too. ;D
Fred,
The Takahashi's have always been great people!! Back in the 60's when they first opened the fruit stand it was literally a lean-to. I haven't actually seen it in a couple of years now, but it is anything but a lean-to now. They started by selling their fruit that was overripe for packing and shipping. In those days everything they packed was thru Wawona Orchards owned and operated by Earl & Murial Smittcamp. Fruit for packing and shipping could not be tree ripe so they(tree ripe) were culls which Ted Takahashi took back and sold personally. Believe it or not it was considered a risk because Herndon Ave in those days was WAY out in the country.
TomT