The Produce Report:For the Week of August 23-28,2010

There really is a lot of beautiful local produce in the store right now. We are enjoying the best of summer,while fall veggies are just beginning to harvest. Burgess’Orchards Organic White Peaches are still a week from picking,but the stone fruits from Brownfield Orchard and other Washington tree farmers have been wickedly good. Juice-running-down-your-arms-good. Look for

Organic Washington Peaches

Organic Yellow Peaches,Organic Yellow Nectarines,Organic White Nectarines,Organic Apricots, and three varieties of Organic Plums. If you would like to buy fruit for canning,“seconds”are available by special order. Give our produce department a call at 360-336-5087.

Along with Organic Peaches and Nectarines,Brownfield Orchard began delivering early Organic Gingergold Apples,Zestar,and Sansa Apples last week.

Organic Gingergold Apples

Gingergold Apples look like Golden Delicious,have a similar crisp,white-flesh and are early ripening,but with a zesty,“gingery”flavor profile to balance their apple sweetness. They don’t store well,so we recommend eating them soon after you buy them. For those of you hankering for apple pie,Gingergold Apples bake up nice and soft and need less sweetening than Granny Smith’s.

Organic Zestar Apples

Zestar Apples were developed by the University of Minnesota in the late 1980′s to be an early-ripening,long-storing,crisp and zesty apple. Slightly saucer-shaped,Zestar apples have a shiny pink/red and green striped skin and crunchy,juicy flesh. Kid’s love these flavorful apples and they are just the right size for brown bag lunches.

Organic Sansa Apples (google images)

Lesser known Sansa Apples were developed in Japan from Gala Apples and have a similar flavor and texture profile. Juicy,sweet,and on the small side,Sansas are a good snacking apple. Just the right size for when you crave something sweet after lunch.

Organic Pickling Cucumbers from Mother Flight Farm

Organic Pickling Cucumbers and fresh Organic Dill are in from Mother Flight Farm. Ralph’s Greenhouse is on with a fresh crop of new Organic Potatoes:reds,yellows,and russets. Organic Slicing Cucumbers are in from Skagit Flats Farm,along with their locally-famous Organic Cherry Tomatoes. Pick up an open pint of Sweet 100′s,Sungolds,and Grape Tomatoes,or a mix. They are terrific on salads,but make delicious skewers for the grill,as well,when combined with Organic Walla Walla Sweet Onions.

This Week’s Top Deals:
Organic Broccoli $1.69 lb
Organic Celery 89¢ lb
Organic Cantaloupe 69¢ lb

Organic Yellow Nectarines $1.79 lb

Organic White Peaches $2.29 lb

Organic Russet Potatoes $3.49 for 5 lb bag
Organic Sweet Onions,Yellow Onions,and Salad Onions 99¢ lb
Organic Green Bell Peppers $2.49 lb
Organic Bartlett Pears $1.99 lb
Organic Watermelons 59¢ lb

Organic Sungolds,Sweet 100's,and Grape Tomatoes from Skagit Flats Farm

Organic Heirloom Tomatoes

Organic Peppers - crisp and sweet to spicy hot!