It is that time of year when many California growers transition their wet veg operation, think lettuces, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower and celery, from the cooler areas of the Central Coast and Salinas Valley down to the warmer regions in the California desert, Imperial Valley and Yuma, Arizona. Find out what that means for quality in the coming months.

October is Fair Trade Month. Earl’s Organic offers Fair Trade Bananas year-round. Buying Fair Trade products ensures that farm workers enjoy sustainable wages, safe working conditions and improves their community by collectively investing in social and business projects. $1 per every box of Coliman Bananas purchased goes to the Fair Trade Premium. Every purchase matters!

The first Cranberries of the season are here! Cranberries are incredibly good for you and are not just for enjoying during the holiday season. Eaten fresh, frozen or dried, cranberries are high in vitamin C, fiber and vitamin E and packed with antioxidants.

Hachiyas and Fuyus are the two main commercial varieties of persimmons in the United States and are eaten very differently.  Find out when and how to eat each variety.

The staple Fairtrade Fruit, this week is all about Bananas! The U.S. is the largest importer of bananas and the demand for Organic Bananas only continues to grow. Here at Earl’s we support a better banana: we offer superior flavor, in-house conditioning to order, and daily photos so you can make the right choice. Meet Coliman Bananas, a family business.

Look for pomegranates with a full bright red to dark red color that feels heavy for their size, which means they are super juicy. Drastic changes in temperature from cold to hot or rain can cause the fruit to crack. This is not a bad thing! In fact the fruit will be bursting with juice and ready to go! Read on to find out how to easily open a pomegranate and remove the arils.

Late summer produce is starting to wind down and now is the time of year to start making room for the wonderful bounty of Fall.

The Big J is the most common New Mexico chile variety boasting meaty walls and a large size (up to 14 inches in length!). The heat can vary from mild to medium, and the flavor is sweet and slightly smoky. Victor from La Granjita buys seeds from the Hatch Valley to grow his own Big J peppers, so you can taste the essence of New Mexico without a trip to the state.

Bouchey Farms is a third generation farm located in Wapato, Washington in Yakima Valley. They specialize in red, gold and russet potatoes and Russian Banana, Amarosa, Purple Pelisse and French fingerlings.