June 19, 2007

TOMATOES

The local tomato harvest has begun. Weather permitting, from now through the end of October, Produce Express will offer an excellent assortment of seasonal tomatoes from several local farms. Del Rio Botanicals, Ray Yeung Farms and Riverdog Farms, all located in Yolo County , are our principal suppliers. Initially, and briefly, the tomatoes will be limited in quantity and variety, and it will take a week or two for the tomatoes to reach peak flavor. Local tomatoes are best when they are most abundant, and coincidentally, least expensive and it may take until the end of July to reach peak supply. All at once, the following types are available:

•  Cherry Tomatoes- the first tomatoes off the vine are the cherry types. Cherry tomatoes vary in size, shape, color and flavor and are best represented in our mixed Medley case. Sweet 100's, Golden Nuggets, Sun Gold, Snow Queen, Thai Pink, Black Aztec; sweet, tart, crunchy, melt in your mouth; a veritable cornucopia of descriptive names and phrases in an attempt to describe what's going on in this mixed assortment of tomatoes. Del Rio and Riverdog, both organic farms, supply us with these tomatoes. Individual varieties will be available as the season progresses. Mixed Medley Cherry Tomatoes-$23.75 full case/half cases available.

•  Vine Ripe Tomatoes- there are literally hundreds of varieties of large, round, red tomatoes that are available at this time of year. Early Girl and Shady Lady tomatoes are the two most common to our local farms-medium to large size, with a good balance of sweet and tart flavor. Good, ‘old-fashioned' backyard tomatoes, with smooth, unblemished skin and firm flesh that is neither crisp nor mealy. When you cut into them, they are full of juice. The term ‘vine ripe' can be confusing-the best way to ripen tomatoes is to pick them off the vine just as their color is starting to change from orange to red, and to keep them inside for several days at room temperature. This will maximize their sugar and acid content, which actually decreases if the fruit is left on the vine to finish ripening. The tomatoes are packed two-layer, 20-22# per case, arriving from Yeung farms, West Sacramento Local Vine Ripe Tomatoes-$19.75 case only. Vine Ripe Roma Tomatoes-$16.75

•  Heirloom Tomatoes- quite possibly, the most anticipated fruit or vegetable of the year are local heirloom tomatoes. Ripe off the vine, these unique tomatoes differ greatly from the hybrid varieties available year round. Tomatoes, originally from South America, traveled to Europe, than North America . During this journey, as many as 1,000 varieties may have come and (mostly) gone from regional farms and the seed trading business. In recent years a grassroots movement-forged by homegardeners, preservationists, family farms and seed

companies-has brought back these fine old tomatoes that previous generations have enjoyed. The basic criteria to be considered an heirloom tomato: (1) The variety must be “open-pollinated” or able to reproduce itself from seed; (2) The variety must have been introduced more than fifty years ago. (3) The variety must have a history of its own-perhaps the variety was brought to America by immigrants, or saved and improved by a single family or religious group. For example, the origin of the popular Brandywine tomato is credited to the Pennsylvania Amish community and is named for a local river. With unique shapes, brilliant colors, pronounced tomato flavor and names like Lemon Boy, Evergreen, Black Cherokee, Mortgage Lifter and Marvel Stripe, these tomatoes are a living window to the past. We offer heirlooms in a 10# ‘toy box' assortment as well as single flats of individual varieties. Arriving from Yeung farms, West Sacramento . Local Heirloom Tomatoes- $20.75 case only.

Single varieties include:

    Brandywine, Yellow Brandywine , Green Zebra, Red Zebra,

    Golden Jubilee, Purple Cherokee, Black Prince, Great White,

    Tangerine/Kellog's, Pineapple/Marvel Stripe, Evergreen,

    Lemon Boy, Mountain Gold, Caro Rich, Black Crimson.

•  Tomato storage- Maintaining proper temperature is the most important factor to assure the quality of tomatoes after being picked. Never store your tomatoes below 55 degrees Fahrenheit-in other words, DO NOT REFRIGERATE TOMATOES- they don't like it. Refrigeration kills their flavor-when tomatoes are stored at a cold temperature, the water inside the tomato expands and causes the individual cells within the tomato to burst. The result is a tomato that may look fine to the naked eye, but will taste mealy when you bite into it. To ripen properly, tomatoes should be stored in a cool place, out of direct sunlight, with stem sides up.

Seasonal Produce

VEGETABLES

Beans-Blue Lake , Baby French, Yellow Wax, Romano

Squash-Italian, Summer, Gold Bar, Ronde de Nice

Yellow and White Corn

Morel Mushrooms

Local Cherry Tomatoes

Vine Ripe and Heirloom Tomatoes (Late)

FRUIT

Strawberries

Red Grapes

Stone fruit-Local Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricot, Plums

Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries

Specialty Melons, Figs

Produce Express carries a wide variety of items to enhance our selection of fruits and vegetables.

Dairy- Whipping Cream, Buttermilk, Sour Cream, Eggs, Half and Half.

Olives- Pitted Kalamata ( Greece ) and Mixed Harvest olives ( California ).

Olive Oil- Sciabica Extra Virgin and Pure olive Oil ( California ).

Sparrow Lane Vinegars- ( Napa )-Apple Cider, Champagne, Balsamic, Golden Balsamic,   Zinfandel, Cabernet and Red Wine.

Gourmet Valley Specialty Rice and Beans- ( Woodland )- Vermont Cranberry, Garboncito ,   Florida Butter Beans. Basmati, Carnaroli, Jasmine and Wild Rice.

Nuts- Cashews, Almonds, Pistachios, Hazelnuts, Macadamia, Walnuts, Pine Nuts, Peanuts,   Pecans, Pepitas.

Dried Fruit- Apples, Raisins, Peaches, Pears, Cherries, Figs, Pineapple, Mango, Papaya,   Apricots, Mixed Berries, Blueberries, Dates, Sundried Tomato.

Decorative- Palm Leaves, Ti Leaves, Bay Leaves, Leather leaf Fern, Edible Flowers, Roses,   Pansies, and Orchids, Mixed Confetti Flowers.

Dried Herbs and Spices- Whole Black Peppercorns, Crushed Red Chile Flakes, Whole Fennel Seed, New Mexico Chile Powder, Paprika, Oregano, Sage, Anise Seed, Whole Coriander   Seed, Cayenne Pepper, Bay Leaves, Cinnamon Sticks, Cumin Seed, Black Sesame Seed, White Sesame Seed, Whole Nutmeg, Thyme, Whole Cloves, Ground Nutmeg, Whole White Pepper.

Perfect Puree- ( Napa )-Strawberry, Peach, Raspberry, Blackberry, Blood Orange , Mango, Black Currant, Blueberry, Cherry, Pomegranate, Lychee, Pricky Pear.

Vanilla- Imported Tahitian Vanilla Beans (4oz and 8oz), Vanilla Puree (Pint), and Extract (32) Wood- Mesquite Charcoal, Wood and Chips, Hickory and Apple Wood Chips.