Month: January 2018

In the Kitchen: Persimmon Cookie Recipe

Persimmon Cookies: These cookies are chock full of walnuts and warm spices so they really are the perfect cookie for fall. They also freeze well, so you can make a bunch of them now to enjoy throughout the winter. Along with fresh persimmons and walnuts, we love to add Bella Viva dried cherries for a delicious and healthy bite. Enjoy! Total Time: 30 minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 1/2 cup shortening 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 cup persimmon pulp 2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cloves 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 cup chopped

Farmer Spotlight: Organic Persimmons

Inzana Ranch: If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to see persimmons at their peak harvest season, you know just how incredibly stunning they look! Their bright reddish, orange contrast against the cold, winter skies leaves nothing to be desired. Add the sweet, custard-like taste of the flesh and chances are you’ll be hooked. However, knowing when to harvest persimmons is not an easy task. The picking must be right on point to ensure the best flavor with the lowest tannin level. Bella Viva Orchards’ organic persimmon providers are proof our persimmons don’t fall far from the tree before they hit our shelves. In fact,

Persimmons: Did you know?

California Persimmons – A Brief History: The most common varieties of persimmons in the United States are the ‘Hachiya’ and ‘Fuyu’ (01). They were introduced in the mid-1800’s when they were brought over from Japan by Commodore Matthew Perry (02). He is responsible for opening trade between the United States and Japan (03). These two varieties are now California cultivars (04). They’re both native to China and were introduced to Japan in the 7th century (05). While there are hundreds of different varieties of persimmons worldwide (06), it is the Hachiya that we are most familiar seeing around more in the U.S. In fact,

In the Kitchen: Persimmon Pudding Recipe

Persimmon Pudding: Both fresh and dried persimmons carry a uniquely delicious and hearty flavor. Fresh persimmons have a smooth texture while our dried persimmons have a chewy, candy-like texture. While many people prefer to eat our dried persimmons straight out of the bag, fresh persimmons are outstanding to use in recipes; including the following persimmon pudding recipe. The residents of the town of Mitchell, Indiana believe persimmons are so wonderful they’ve been hosting an annual persimmon festival for the past 71 years! While the weeklong festival is filled with many activities and decadents, the persimmon pudding contest is perhaps the most famous festival staple.

Persimmon Facts

Health Facts: The robust chewiness of the dried persimmon is nothing short of delicious. Add health benefits to the mix and you won’t want to waste another minute without them! Sometimes referred to by its Greek scientific name of “the divine fruit,” (1) persimmons are jam-packed with certain antioxidants which, according to drhealthbenefits.com, can help your eyes filter light and can serve as anti-inflammatory agents (2). These amber orange gems are bursting with flavor and just one serving of Bella Viva Orchards’ Dried Persimmons provides 25g of dietary fiber. That’s 24 percent of the USDA recommended daily value! Fitness World states persimmons also carry