The Alexander Lucas pear when ripe, has buttery soft flesh, and is smooth and extremely juicy with a sweet delicate flavor. Pears are harvested when they are mature, but not yet ripe. Pears ripen from the inside out and are ready to eat when they give to slight pressure at the neck.

Covilli’s lime growers are located in two states in Mexico—Veracruz and Yucatán—and both are family-owned operations. Covilli reminds retailers and customers that the juiciest, ready-to-enjoy limes are typically a bit yellow and have some give to the touch.

Storage onions are almost done and we are looking to imports to finish out the season. Onions will be very tight for April, and we will see gaps on red and white onions. It is uncertain to when onions from Mexico will be available. Storage yellow and sweet onions continue out of the Pacific Northwest a little longer. California will start up with new crop onions in May.

Beautiful red stalks of rhubarb signal the beginning of spring. Often thought of as a fruit, rhubarb is actually a vegetable.

Look for bright red stalks which have a sweet rich flavor. The size of the stalk is not an indicator of tenderness! Read more for storage tips and recipe ideas. Enjoy the bounty of spring!

A new crop of California Hass avocados is starting. As we eagerly await the California season to get going, we must be patient. Buyers should be aware of the avocado growing cycles and know that they can be disappointed with an early crop. Each year the timing is different, and the weather can have a major impact on how it ripens and availability. 

Tomatero Farm has been certified organic since the beginning when Adriana and Chris started farming in 2004. Located in Watsonville just south of Santa Cruz and only 5 miles from the California coast, they wanted to grow produce that was affordable for everyone, especially their friends and family.

High temperatures and humidity for an extended period of time create the perfect conditions for aphids and mildew quality issues. We see this happen with organic produce every year when it gets too hot in March in the California desert and again during the warm summer months in the Salinas Valley.

The Durondeau Pear has a golden exterior with streaks of red blush and is covered all over in a soft russet. They are a bit tart with a crisp bite and a floral flavor.

The Charleston Purple Sweet Potato is a close cousin to the orange-colored yam. It has an elongated shape and striking shade of dark purple. The variety not only holds color during the cooking process, it turns an even darker shade of purple!