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By John San Agustin of VeggieWorks

Young Cardoon

According to the Julian Calendar, it is two thousand three. The Chinese calendar tells us it will be 4701 on February 1, the Year of the Sheep. Perhaps your calendar guide is the Farmers Almanac? Whichever calendar you are using in your daily life, California farmers of fresh specialty produce expect this new year to be a banner one. This translates for you as the consumer, restaurant chef or produce expert, the opportunity to have great exotic fruits, colorful vegetables, unique salad & cooking greens at your table for family and friends to enjoy!

What is new? The latest vegetable to come to the marketplace is the Graffiti “purple” Cauliflower. A stunning round floret, that holds it color when lightly cooked. Mixed Chicory Greens from A Country Garden in Hughson, CA. offers a spectacular blend of young & tender Catalogna Puntarelle, Rossa di Verona Tardiva, Pan di Zucchero, Red Ribbed Dandelion, Variegated di Chioggia & Castelfranco in one box! Knoll Farms in Brentwood currently harvest by hand Old World Mixed Rapini Greens, Fava & Pea Tendril Greens, Young Cardoon & Horseradish Leaves. Living greens, each with unique characteristics like serrated or lobed leaves, light to dark shades of green, rich winter chlorophyll flavors, perfect items for stir fry or lightly braising on the grill with olive oil and fresh garden herbs.

On the citrus front and horizon, the specialty market is enjoying the presence of intensely fragrant Etrogs and Buddha Hands,sweet Cara Cara Pink Navels, Seville Sour Oranges, Moro & Tarocco Sicilian Blood Oranges, even Japanese Yuzu & Kaffir Lime fruit have been seen in very small quantities. Later varieties of unique citrus will be the awesome Ortanique Tangor a Jamaican fruit grown in Reedley, CA. It’s a fruit with high oil content in its rind, juicy flavor & aroma that is unforgettable. Expect the lovely Pixie Mandarins & the opposite sized Big Wong fruit in March-April. Oh yes, on the market are Heirloom Navels from Rising C Ranches in Reedley. This fruit is the rave when it comes to flavor.

Chioggia


Winter
Spring are seasons for Southern hemisphere fruits, which now are arriving from Chile, a country with an array of temperature climates, semi-tropical in the North to sub-polar in the southern tip. It is in the central region of Chile that agriculture thrives, so much so that Chilean fruit is shipped to major ports all over the world. Strong international relationships, and good payment practices make this trade a reality in today’s world.

Italy’s going to be a very exciting year for fresh produce. Don’t hesitate to get involved. Purchase the unfamiliar varieties of fresh fruits, greens, roots and vegetables. Doing so will most likely be supporting the small local growers, who truly are the pioneers and innovators of fresh produce to come.

If you would like to learn more about any seasonal specialty item contact VegiWorks Specialty Produce in San Francisco.


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