Food | Fruit
Shields Dates
When Larry and I were driving across the USA from Florida to California, we drove right through the famous date growing region of Coachella Valley, so we had to stop for dates. Shields has 10 varieties of dates and if you stop at their date garden you can sample every one of them. They sell natural and organic dates and date products, including their own “date crystals” date sugar.
Blue Hill Berry Company
“We supply the highest quality, certified organic Maine wild blueberries…You are buying directly from us, the farmers —so you can “know your farmer,” and know that we grow and produce our berries under strict organic management with third-party verification (MOFGA Certified Organic since 1997)…Our wild blueberries are harvested in the full height of summer, when they are at their peak ripeness, and they are frozen the very day they are harvested and winnowed. This is what is known as “fresh frozen,” in contrast to the more factory-scale “IQF” (Individual Quick Frozen) wild blueberries that are produced by the larger processors where the berries are soaked in a solution before freezing and laser-sorting. Unlike the IQF berries, our berries still have their “bloom” intact, which is the whitish powdery coating on the skin of each berry (the “epicuticular wax”) that protects it and helps maintain its just-picked qualities —their summer ripeness is captured unaltered. This means our berries thaw out to look and taste just like they were fresh.”
Aloha Organic Fruit
Though the name sounds Hawaiian, this is actually an organic peach farm in Colorado, that brings the “aloha” tradition of putting their hearts into careful stewardship for good health of the land, life and water. They grow 14 varieties of organic peaches, which allows them to harvest continuously from late June through mid-September. They sell only Colorado-grown USDA certified organic fruit.
FruitBox
Third generation organic farmers offer their farm-to-door mixed fresh fruit boxes for immediate delivery and by monthly subscription. You box comes with 5-7 pounds of assorted citrus fruits and avocados.
Inzana Ranch and Produce
Raw organic unpasteurized almonds (shelled and in shell), organic walnuts, organic natural-color pistachios, sold separately or mixed with organic dried fruits. Dried fruits include organic cherries, kiwi, 24 varieties of figs, and even a sun-dried organic apricots without sufur that is orange, chewy, and sweet. All fruits and nuts grown on their CCOF certified organic ranch.
La Vigne Organics
Biodynamically grown exotic fruits and specialty herbs. “We are a certified biodynamic, organic grove and we lovingly tend to more than 2,000 exotic citrus fruit trees and specialty herbs. Our grove is devoted to less-mainstream produce: Fuyu Persimmons, Nagami Kumquats, Kaffir Limes, Kaffir Lime Leaves, Bearss Limes, Minneolas, Blood Oranges, Meyer Lemons, Satsuma Tangerines, Mexican Guavas, Cara Cara Navels, Cherimoyas, Fremont and Pixie Tangerines, Passion Fruit, Sapotes, Pomegranates and Surinam Cherries.” Also herbs Lemongrass, Rosemary, Bay Leaves, Hoja Santos and Curry Leaves.
S and J Mandarin Grove
If you’ve never had a mandarin orange or if you’ve only eaten mandarin oranges out of a can, you are in for a treat. Fresh mandarin oranges are one of my favorite citrus fruits. This small, family owned and operated organic mandarin orchard in the Sierra foothills of California will ship five varieties of mandarin oranges right to your door. They are picked at the peak of their maturity when ready to eat and rushed right to you.you
Pleasant Valley Ranch California Oranges
“Home of the world’s most delicious oranges!” Since 1909! Award-winning organic navel and valencia oranges, plus organic grapefruits, Minneola tangelos, and lemons.
Pucker Urban Farm
A small “boutique family farm delivering the highest quality lemons and lemon products. All of our organic fruit is hand picked fresh from our trees to fill your order. And their organic certification certificates are right on the home page.
FruitShare Organic Fruit Delivery
“The most delicious and nutritious farm fresh fruit in season all year long…A beeline from the farm to your door… Picked fresh, shipped fast, always organic. At FruitShare, we know what fruit should taste like. We know that farm fresh fruit is the best because it is almost as fresh as picking it yourself – resulting in flavorful, juicy fruit packed full of nutrients. With FruitShare, you’ll know where your food comes from. We send an eco-friendly e-newsletter to you with every box, detailing stories from the farms, plus tips for handling your fruit, health and wellness information, and recipes. We’ll connect you to the farmers, whether they’re local or all the way across the country.” Fruit clubs, gift boxes, fundraisers.
Frog Hollow Farm
Sweet, tree-ripened organic fresh and dried fruits plus various food products, all grown on their certified organic farm in California. Multiple varieties of cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, pluots and pears. These are superior quality fruits. They have a shop and cafe in the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco, and I would always stop and get something when I used to live there. Farm-to-table delivery, fruit clubs.
Highland Organics
Organic Wild Maine Blueberries made into unique products. Their “Blueberry Barque” is “the sweet blueberry fruit harvested at the peak of summer and dehydrated into a yummy blueberry chip.” No sweeteners, sulfites or preservatives. Pureed and dehydrated blueberries are also made into sprinkles and placed into steeping bags to make a blueberry drink. And blueberry leaf tea. Now if you are wondering how blueberries can be both “wild” and “organic”…They are certified organic, but the blueberry bushes are not planted. The plants are wild and the farmer “clears the forest” around them, bringing more light and air and pollination. It’s that cleared space around the plants that is maintained as the “field” and is certified organic because it meets organic requirements.
