The Fruit Company

Cherry harvest, one of our favorite times of the year, is fast approaching! According to orchardists around the area, the start of harvest is expected between July 2nd and July 8th. It’s a bit later than usual due to wet conditions and cold nights, but the product is still expected to be outstanding: orchardists are predicting a larger cherry of a higher quality.

Last year’s cherries were delicious. We devoured them in June and July, and dreamt about them during the winter months. It’s always that way with cherries: we love them while they’re here, and miss them when they’re gone.

But the Cherries are coming, and we here at The Fruit Company would hate for you to miss out. That’s why we’re now taking pre-orders on www.TheFruitCompany.com for our Dark Sweet and Rainier Cherries. The cherries start shipping out July 1st, and come in two sizes: 2lb, and 3lb. For those that can’t decide between Dark Sweet and Rainier, we offer a combo box, filled with the freshest of both varieties.

While we love cherries, we also enjoy sharing them with loved ones. With all our fruit, we’d like to think that what we’re delivering goes beyond quality gourmet gifts. We’re delivering a bit of the northwest. It’s all the rain, and soil and hard work that the Northwest is famous for, and there’s no better example than our Cherries in July!

Both of these tempting beauties have super sweet white flesh that makes for a lovely summer snack. Prized for their appearance and original flavor, they’re often more expensive than their traditional counterparts.

Find the Exotica Harvest Club here!

Saucer Peaches

Also referred to as a donut peach or a Saturn peach, Saucer Peaches are squat, freestone peaches with an indentation in the middle that suggests the shape of a donut. The flesh is white and generally higher in sugar content than that of a yellow peach, so you get that much more sweetness per bite. The skin is a creamy yellow with red or magenta blush and is generally less fuzzy than a traditional peach.

The Saucers originated in China and were first grown in the United States sometime in the mid-1800s. They didn’t become truly popular until more recently, with adults and particularly children drawn to their small and unique appearance.

While they are smaller than a traditional peach, they can be used for fresh eating or baking just as any other peach. When ripe the peach will give just slightly to the touch, and should not have any uneven soft spots or bruising. Leave your Saucer Peaches out on the counter to ripen, and once ripe they can be kept in the refrigerator up to three days.

White Nectarines
Like the Saucer Peaches, the White Nectarines have juicy white flesh that is considerably sweeter than their standard yellow counterparts as a result of having a much lower acid content. As well, traditional yellow nectarines get sweeter as they ripen but White Nectarines as just as sweet when harvested as they are when ripened. People love the White Nectarine for its unique sweetness and of course for the lack of fuzz found on a peach. While its flesh is white or even pinkish, the center around the pit radiates a bright magenta—truly stunning when served in slices. The skin also often features bright splashes of magenta over fair-colored skin.

Despite having been in commercial production for over 30 years now, White Nectarines only recently have become a fruit that people ask for by name and their popularity grows with every season. Most of the White Nectarines grown inAmericago to overseas markets that favor sweeter stone fruit.

Ripening your White Nectarines is identical to how you’d ripen a Saucer Peach or any other peach or nectarine. They’re ripe when they give to slight pressure and there is no green color evident on the skin. If you want to speed the ripening process, place the nectarine in a paper bag and you’ll have a succulent, ripe fruit with in 1-2 days.

Find the Exotica Harvest Club here!

This just in! Summer is a great time to enjoy tasty fresh fruit! That’s right, you can celebrate fresh fruit and vegetables by adding a tasty fruit to each meal.  Whether it’s as a main course, side dish or a tasty dessert, fruit is a great part of your diet. Below are five ideas on adding tasty fruit into your day.  Enjoy!

Apple Slice Snack: A great idea for any time of year! Start the day by coring and slicing two apples. Take two Ziploc bags and put an apple into each bag.  Put them in the fridge and use as a nice cold snack during the day or grab one for your drive in the afternoon!

Cubed Tomatoes:  Yes tomatoes are fruit and the great thing about this fruit is that it goes great with most dinner dishes.  Whether you are eating Enchiladas, Spaghetti, or a tasty garden, salad cube a tomato up and serve it as a topping to any of these dishes.  The flavor and acidity of the tomato adds a great taste combination for any palate.

Fruit Salad: A great treat for breakfast or dessert is a delicious fruit salad that is simple and easy to make.  Find a small watermelon, a cantaloupe, a honeydew melon, and a carton of strawberries.  Cube the melons and slice the strawberries.  Mix them together gently in a bowl.  Quickly put them in the fridge to chill. That’s it.  Now you have a perfect summer breakfast side dish or dessert for a nice summer evening.

Frozen Blueberries: Summer is generally warm.  A great way to enjoy a nice cool treat is to freeze blueberries! Either pick or purchase enough blueberries to fill a one pound Ziploc freezer bag.  Rinse the blueberries and let them dry for about fifteen minutes. Place the blueberries in the Ziploc freezer bag and place them in your freezer.  After one day any time you want a sweet icy cool treat, grab a handful or fill a bowl and enjoy the tasty flavor.  Perfect for a summer afternoon and for kids!

Fruit Recipes: One of our favorite things to cook here at The Fruit Company is main courses that involve a strong fruit flavor.  A recent recipe that we made here and featured on our blog was a tasty Pan-Seared Pork (or Chicken) with a Pineapple-Kiwi Salsa.  This mixture of fruit and protein was a delightful main course that had a great balance between the ingredients! Try it out and see for yourself!

Recipe

Father’s Day is getting close, and what better way to celebrate the Dad in your life then with food. Summer is an exciting time for fruit with the arrival of Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums. But don’t forget the snacks! The Fruit Company also has a wide selection of cheese gifts, crackers, sausage, smoked salmon, and more. If you are having trouble deciding which amazing gift to send, here is a helpful guide for Father’s Day gifting.

• The Sports Dad: With the World Cup starting this week our Mountain of Gifts Snack Tower might be the perfect treat. Enjoy the game while munching on fresh fruit and gourmet treats, with plenty to share with friends and family.

• The Retired Dad: There are very few things more relaxing the sitting outside in the summer sun snacking on fresh fruit and enjoying a cold drink. Try our Orchard Allure with Sparkling Pear Cider or our 3-month HarvestClub Americana with Blueberries in June, Cherries in July and Peaches in August.

• The Outdoor Dad: For the Father on the go and out in the wild, send one of our organic baskets or boxes loaded with fresh fruit and treats like dried fruit and organic trail mix.

• The New Dad: If you know someone who just became a Dad, send a Dad’s Day Basket or the Classic Plaid Tower. It’s the perfect way to say Congratulations and Happy Father’s Day!

Explore all of our Father’s Day Gifts, Gourmet Towers, and Monthly Clubs