TOMATOES! Our first local tomatoes of the season are here from Hillview Farms in Lincoln. Stop by for beautiful, organic slicers and mixed cherry tomatoes. You gotta love ‘em! Also from Hillview-Mountain Arugula, Foothill Lettuce Mix, Baby Kale, French Breakfast Radishes.
Foothill Roots Farm, Meadow Vista- Spring Mix, Lettuces (Green Oakleaf, Red Oakleaf, Red Leaf, Green Leaf), Beets, Red Kale, Lacinato Kale, Rainbow Chard, Baby Dill, Kohlrabi.
Plum Possum Farm, Lincoln-Summer Squash and Cucumbers in several varieties, mixed Cherry Tomatoes, Shishito Peppers.
Mandarin Hill, Penryn-Valencia Oranges.
Twin Peaks Orchards, Newcastle-Peaches, Nectarines, Plums.
Paine Orchards, Yuba City-Apricots, Pluots.
Rice Ranch, Yolo-Peaches, Nectarines.
Jim Lauer, Newcastle-Eureka Lemons.
Wild River Farm, Marysville-Kiwi.
Flying V Farm, Placerville-Blueberries
Garlic is for Heroes!
“Shallots are for babies; onions are for men; garlic is for heroes.” – Unknown.
Our heroes this month are Rob and Robin Embree and their small farm in Arboga, Yuba County, where they have just harvested and cured 17 varieties of specialty garlic. What a treat!
Garlic is one of the earliest wild plants tended by humans. Originally from South East Asia, garlic has spread and evolved over the ages, responding to changes in climate, soil, and elevation, until there are now hundreds of varieties grown throughout the world.
The powerful flavor of raw garlic is matched by its powerful health benefits. It has been proven useful in preventing and/or treating heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, colds and infections, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and diabetes. Cooking decreases its nutritional content.
Rob and Robin have grown their garlic to perfection producing mostly large beautiful heads. Come try some today or save some for planting in your garden this fall.
VARIETIES
Idaho Silver-mild and sweet baked; raw, it starts slowly with heat building to very hot.
Nootka Rose-strong and aggressive flavor.
Romanian Red-hot and pungent with a healthy, long lasting bite.
Music-hot raw, starchy sweet baked.
Montana Zemo-strong and pleasant raw with no aftertaste.
Polish Hardneck-large and beautiful, few but huge cloves.
Chesnok Red-Purple striped, great for cooking.
Persian Star-mildly spicy, not too sharp.
Metechi-fiery raw with a nice finish.
Khabar-mild and creamy baked, good in mashed potatoes.
Russian Red-complex flavor, purple bulb.
Red Janice-exceptionally fragrant, sweet and a little spicy baked. Starts hot raw and heat continues to build.
Lotus-beautiful and hot!
Lorz Italian-large, flavorful cloves, richly flavored heirloom.
Inchelium Red-top rated in a 1990 taste test at the Rodale kitchens.
California Early-popular Gilroy garlic, mild flavor.
Silver White-large bulbs, good garlic for braiding.
As they say, “You can never have too much garlic!”