Customers are asking which fruit is the sweetest. This time if the year pretty much all of the fruit is high in sugar and flavor. The taste you savor is really up to you. Different people like different flavors and levels of sweetness. The best way to tell is to sample. A lot of the newer varieties will stay firm when they are at the best ripeness. Some people make the mistake of letting them sit to ripen and when they think they are ripe they are often molding inside. Sample them and determine to your taste when you want to eat them.
We are giving away walnut recipes at our markets. If you don't see them, ask. They are provided by www.walnuts.org. A great website to obtain more information on the nutritional value of walnuts. They are the highest source of omega-3 in the nut world. They are not only wholly nutritious they're simply delicious. See you t the markets. JIM

Wow!! It finally started to cool off a little. At least the nights have been reasonably cool. This helps the fruit mature at a perfect rate. Once again it is hard on the fruit going to market in this daytime heat. Some of the sweetest, best varieties are close to ripeness. Yellow freestone peaches are as good as they get for those who are looking to can or freeze for later treats. Ask about box rates. Pluots are also close to perfection. The Dapple Dandys are closr for beautiful color and flavor. Beautiful speckled outside with a explosion of red inside. Flavor grenades are three weeks away.
Summer vacations aren't right without tree ripened fruit in the ice chest. Check out our website for locations of the nearest farmers market where we are participating. We will advise you which fruit will travel and stay fresh and flavorful. Thanks for your support. JIM

I am sorry to say that the apricots are through for another year. We have one tree with a few apricots left but it is one of the trees that was planted here before the first generation of this family moved to this property. Almost none of these apricots even make it to the house, they are eaten by eager mouths while standing under the tree. Even our dogs relax under this tree in the hope that an apricot will hit the ground so that they get a treat. We did dry some of the apricots so we can sell them during the fall and winter months.

The hot weather that we had last week made getting the fruit to the Farmer's Markets a challenge. When the temperature changes that quickly and that drastically the fruit gets really soft really fast. We are on to the next varieties in almost everything now and it's cool again! Oh well I never complain about the cool weather. It could stay in the mid 90's all summer and that would be good for the fruit and great for us!