Seasonal produce choices are abundant during the month of May. Cool weather staples such as Broccoli, Cauliflower, Beets and Cabbages all flourish at this time of year. Rain and thunderstorms throughout Central and Northern California, particularly over Mother’s Day Weekend either damaged new crops, like Cherries, or hampered new growth on summer crops, such as Tomatoes. During the month of May, you have the following fruits and vegetables to consider on your menu:
  Fruits- Apriums, Apricots, Strawberries, Cherries, Peaches (early varieties). Apriums are a hybrid fruit -75% Apricot and 25% Plum. The fruit does a reasonable job of representing both parents yielding a rather elegant fruit with rich Apricot flavors and Plum-like Texture. The Cherry season has just started and quantity, quality and price could be an issue due to last weekend's heavy rains. In chronological order, California’s cherry harvest typically begins with Brooks, followed by Tulare, Bing and Rainier varieties. The season runs from the first week of May through the end of June with peak season around Memorial Day. California cherries, particularly Bings, are always in high demand and market price reflects this fact. The Stockton-Lodi area is the second largest growing region in the state and this region was hit hard by recent rain. When Cherries are ‘green’, they can handle the rain. Problems occur when tree ripened cherries, already high in sugar, are rained on-at this point, the cherries absorb the moisture, causing them to crack or split, resulting in damage to flavor and quality. The California Stonefruit season has just begun- we have received early varieties of both Peaches and Apricots. Stonefruit is really best in mid-summer when quality and price are at their best. Strawberries arriving from both Southern and Central California remain high in quality and low in price.
  Vegetables-Asparagus, Baby Mixed Carrots, English Peas, Fava Beans, Red and White Spring Onion, Sugar Snap Peas, Sweet Onions (Texas 1015 and Vidalia), Bloomsdale Spinach, Fingerling Potatoes, Morel Mushrooms, Radicchio, Rhubarb. The Delta Asparagus crop is winding down as evidenced by the arrival of Washington Asparagus in the warehouse. This asparagus is slightly different in appearance as there is a purple hue to the tip. Fava Beans, from Del Rio Botanicals, are high in quality and very attractive in price. Harvested and delivered daily from Del Rio, they are at the peak of the season. Fava Beans have a long history and may be the original heirloom vegetable. Fava Beans evolved as a food
crop in the Middle East and were introduced to the Spanish Peninsula by Muslim travelers in the 13th century. Favas, also known as Broad Beans, became the only bean in all of Europe until Columbus returned from the New World with other varieties. Rhubarb is a perennial Spring plant with thick, red, fleshy stalks topped by an inedible leaf. Rhubarb comes originally from Asia and although it is often used as a fruit, it is a vegetable. There are two basic types of rhubarb, hothouse and field grown. Hothouse rhubarb tends to have smoother flesh and less acidity. Field grown rhubarb has deeper color, more juice and bolder acidity. Field Rhubarb is now in season.
  Healthy thought -Strawberries are high in vitamin C, Potassium and add fiber to the diet. Rhubarb is likewise high in vitamin C and Potassium and aids in digestion. Together, these two seasonal ingredients combine to create the classic Strawberry- Rhubarb pie; a desert with excellent flavors and good for you as well.