The large Intennza Papaya has a melon-like flavor, fragrant aroma and beautiful salmon red interior. The flesh is firm, but juicy, with one of the sweetest and least acidic flavors of any papaya variety. Read on to learn how to cut and enjoy papayas, more health benefits and storage and ripening tips.

It is a volatile citrus market with more rain coming in and here to stay through Christmas week. That, added to the cooler temps across California, makes for slower growth on most items. Expect citrus to remain a challenge for the time being. 

Cold and wet weather is affecting the volume and quality of citrus across all growing regions. We are tap dancing through clear rot, which doesn’t show up until after harvest, on all citrus varieties.

From our frame of reference Side Hill Citrus Satsumas from Lincoln, in the Sacramento foothills have the perfect mix of sweetness, tartness and low acidity, with very little pulp, no seeds and taste like they are melting in your mouth. 

It is that time of year when many California growers transition their wet veg operation, think lettuces, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower and celery, from the cooler areas of the Central Coast and Salinas Valley down to the warmer regions in the California desert, Imperial Valley and Yuma, Arizona. Find out what that means for quality in the coming months.

Late summer produce is starting to wind down and now is the time of year to start making room for the wonderful bounty of Fall.

Certain varieties of apples such as the Canadian McIntosh, California Gala and Jonagold are only available at this time of year and should be enjoyed now.

The Big Jim is the most common New Mexico chile variety boasting meaty walls and a large size (up to 14 inches in length!). The heat can vary from mild to medium, and the flavor is sweet and slightly smoky. Victor from La Granjita buys seeds from the Hatch Valley to grow his own Big Jim peppers, so you can taste the essence of New Mexico without a trip to the state.

Now is the best time of the year to eat fresh figs. The first crop arrives in June and hasn't developed the honey sweetness we associate with a delicious fig. There is a brief break during July before the 2nd crop arrives around the end of July/early August. Figs develop their peak flavor from the middle of August to around the middle of September. In our opinion it is worth waiting for that delicious, incredibly rich and sugary fig.