Historically January sees disruptions in organic markets due to various factors such as frosts, winter storms and less daylight hours. Shorter days mean less sunlight hours for plants to grow and short harvest time in the fields.

It is that time of year when many California growers transition their wet veg operation, think lettuces, leafy greens, broccoli and cauliflower, 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.

Pair Cranberries with Satsumas for a delicious Cranberry Sauce. Don’t miss Susan’s, Earl’s marketing manager, favorite recipe.

Side Hill is expecting about 1/3 of their normal Satsuma crop this year and is off to a slow start. Weather is to blame with multiple days of brutal 115 degree heat in August 2022 putting the trees into shock and save the tree mode. Extreme heat over an extended period of time can cause the fruit to stop growing.

October is Fair Trade Month. Earl’s Organic offers Fair Trade Bananas year-round. Buying Fair Trade products ensures that farm workers enjoy sustainable wages, safe working conditions and improves their community by collectively investing in social and business projects. $1 per every box of Coliman Bananas purchased goes to the Fair Trade Premium. Every purchase matters!

Earl’s Organic bananas are Fair Trade Certified 365 Days A YEAR

Equal Exchange Bananas are grown in Ecuador by small farmers under the AsoGuabo Cooperative.  Farmer cooperatives are groups of small farmers that have come together to collectively operate their businesses at a larger scale. They share resources, capital, and knowledge, democratically electing leadership and collectively making decisions.

The Taylor's Gold pear can grow to be the largest of the pear varieties Frog Hollow tends to and like the Warren is smooth fleshed and equally well suited to eating fresh and baking. Taylor's Gold pears are harvested in early September and often available until December. 

Late summer produce is starting to wind down and it is the time of year to start making room for the wonderful bounty of Fall. There is a chill in the morning air and new crop California red Gala apples and fragrant Bartlett Pears are the stars of the show.

September is the time to celebrate the fresh apple crop after months of apples coming out of cold storage. Galas are now being harvested out of the Sacramento Delta River and the San Joaquin Central Valley, less than 85 miles from San Francisco.