This week market manager Laura Avery talks with farmer Andy Mariani of Andy’s Orchard about why his fruits have such unique flavors. He says his growing region benefits from the Coastal Valleys’ warm days and cold nights.
She also talks with Nicole Rucker, co-owner of Cofax, and former KCRW Pie Contest winner, who is shopping for July Flame peaches. Nicole bakes them into pies for Bludso’s on La Brea and serves them at Dinosaur Coffee on Sundays. She says you can freeze the sliced peaches on sheet trays in the freezer. Once frozen you can bag them for future cooking projects whether it’s baking pies or making BBQ sauce.
What You Should Buy This Weekend At the Farmers’ Market:
– The luscious Valencia Pride mangoes from Wong Farms were grown in a desert near the Salton Sea. The perfectly ripe ones will have a pale yellowish color and a soft feel.
– Look for Satsuma plums and July Flame peaches from Tenerelli Orchards in Littlerock CA. Singer-songwriter Laura Veirs was inspired to name her seventh album “July Flame” after seeing this peach variety at a farmers’ market. She performed the song of the same name at KCRW in 2010.
– The Marlin yellow corn from The Garden of… was picked by farmer Shu in the early morning hours. He says picking and then keeping the corn at a cold temperature preserves its natural sweetness. Check back in three weeks when they return with their next corn harvest.
– Arctic Jay, Red Diamond, and Honey Royale nectarines from Andy’s Orchard in Morgan Hill. Listen to farmer Andy Mariani discuss his fruit on this week’s market report.
– Baby Bermuda onions, Grey shallots and Logan melons from Weiser Family Farms.
Recipes for your Market Haul: