As we struggle to recover from the effects of the pandemic, we are happy to report that the flavors of fall produce remain unchanged.
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, and we have a different apple variety for every day of the week. Larsen’s Apple Barn in Apple Hill is delivering crisp, sweet apples weekly from their historic orchard in Camino.
The first apples of the season are Galas. Sweet and crisp. they hold their shape well in pies and are great for fresh eating.
Other apples to watch for are Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Mutsu, Pippin, Winesap, Granny Smith, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Jonathan, Jonagold, Ruby Mac, Ruby Jon, Granny Smith, and more.
One of the last apples to ripen is the Arkansas Black, with deep red to almost black-red skin. Arriving around Halloween, these apples are very firm and perfect for bobbing.
And don’t forget…you can also drink your apple a day! We feature delicious, flash pasteurized, unfiltered cider from Barsotti of Apple Hill. Try heating it up, with or without mulling spices, to make your evenings cozy.
Pears are also in season. Classic Bartletts are sweet and juicy with a buttery texture and are coming to us from Larsen’s and Jon Ohnoki in Auburn. Jon is also supplying us with crisp Asian pears including Shin-li, Ya-li, and Tsu-li. Jon’s Asian pears are sweet, crisp, and aromatic.
Pomegranates and some early persimmons from local growers have also arrived. Look for Fuyu persimmons in late October, followed by other varieties soon after.
Foothill Roots Farm in Meadow Vista and Hillview Farms in Lincoln are producing succulent lettuces, greens, and root vegetables for us. Foothill Roots also delivered some tall bunches of cornstalks to decorate your porch or driveway.
Yeung Farm in West Sacramento is our source for sweet Delicata, Kabocha, and Butternut squash. The sweet, nutty flavor and smooth texture of Butternut Squash make it one of our all-time favorites. When in season, we use lots of it cubed and roasted for salads, side dishes, and soothing soups.
MANDARINS
We are used to folks going mad for mandarins. We see it every year, so we always keep a steady supply of tree-ripened sweet mandarins on hand throughout the mandarin season. Due to start in early November, Placer County mandarins are a favorite with everyone.
COVID UPDATE
Thank you to all of you who have continued to support us
throughout the pandemic and into this transitional time. It’s great to have our tables all up and usable again.
We apologize for the inconvenience of occasionally being closed. Finding enough employees to keep us up and running has been a huge challenge. With the holidays just around the corner, we are still looking for help in the deli and kitchen to keep up with the demand for coffee drinks and baked goods. If you are interested in working here please call or email at info@newcastleproduce.com.
Meanwhile, we are grateful for your patronage. Some supplies have been hard to come by, but our shelves are looking ready for the holidays and we are hoping to see you soon.