French beans, baby squashes, broccolini, Black Trumpet mushrooms, hammi melons

The Specialties Report
Specialty Veggies- Cold and wet are not mixing well with the warm weather specialty veggies slowing down production. French beans and baby squashes are feeling the pinch and prices are up. Red cluster tomatoes are short and more expensive. Frisee is limited and the product available is pricier with little blanched heart. Chives and tarragon are going up in price. This is the time of year when the local plants are completely dormant and they struggle to get these herbs produced way down south. Some bright spots are the multicolor cauliflowers, broccolini, baby brussels sprouts, and baby turnips. These crops thrive in cool weather with lots of rain. Flavors improve on many of these after they are exposed to a frost in the field.
Seasonal Items- Black Trumpet mushrooms are a seasonal delicacy just getting started. Cold is slowing down some of the wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, they are still in season but will see a few gaps along the way. On the melon side we are seeing the first of the orange honeydews back on the scene along with the Tuscan cantaloupes and hammi melons. Cara cara oranges are a fine items to eat out of hand or to present. The jewel like pink flesh is as attractive to the eye as the sweet low acid flavor is to the palate. Pair with blood oranges on the menu as the dynamic duo of specialty citrus varieties that are seasonal favorites among fruit lovers.
Local- Beck Grove has some great organic tangerines and persimmons. They also make fantastic condiments and preserved lemons under the La Vigne brand with fruit from the grove. Don’t forget Weiser Farms has Russian Banana fingerlings, purple ‘c’ potatoes, red thumb fingerlings along with red, white and yellow onions, parsnips and sunchokes.

Tags: Produce Reports