What is Huanglongbing? There’s a bad pest that has been brutally attacking citrus around the globe and has the potential to devastate the California citrus industry. Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, is a disease caused by an Asian citrus psyllid. This type of insect specifically feeds off citrus leaves and stems, infecting the tree with its bacteria from the inside out (01a). Though HLB can spread to nearby healthy citrus trees, it can also spread through the transportation of citrus plants and fruits in the region (02). However, once a tree is exposed to HLB, it is forever affected and will
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
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,
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,
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.
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
White Chocolate Bark with Pistachios & Cranberries: Make this super easy and delicious holiday treat that will impress your family and friends this holiday season! Cook Time: 15 mins Serves: 6 Ingredients: 24 oz. (two 12 oz. bags) white chocolate chips 2 cups pistachios (no shell) 2 cups dried cranberries Sea salt to taste (optional) Instructions: Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Roughly chop pistachios without shells. (Set aside 1 Tbsp of cranberries and 1 Tbsp of pistachios for topping later.) Microwave chocolate chips for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between until melted and smooth. Once melted, stir in
Baked Pears with Bella Viva Walnuts: The hearty flavor of walnuts make them so versatile when using in recipes. The nutty crunch brings a regular meal to a whole new level. Don’t be surprised if your palette will be begging for more in no time. Walnuts pair so well with countless flavors. So many in fact you’ll probably never run out of ideas for using them and that’s great! They’re perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes. In fact, it was difficult to narrow what recipe to feature, but we decided on one that is a must try for the holidays. You would if
Save the date! We’re excited to invite everyone to come visit, Saturday, December 2nd, and join us for our annual Holiday Open House and the Hughson Christmas Festival. We welcome you to enjoy complimentary coffee, hot apple cider, and free samples of our 2017 harvest. There will also be a 15% off sale on everything you can carry out the door. This is a great opportunity to beat the crowds and wrap up some of your Holiday shopping! Don’t forget, you can purchase your gifts in the store and we can ship them for you! The day’s events to be followed by the Hughson
California Red and “Brown” Walnuts – A Brief History: According to UC Davis, San Diego County was the first county in California to plant a walnut orchard and, by the 1940s, acreage had made its way north to the central valley. Today, more than half of California’s walnut acreage is based in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Butte, Tulare, and Sutter counties (01). This year of 2017, the California Objective Measurement Report has stated there is more walnut tree acreage and more trees per acre than past years, however the average nut set has hit an all time low (02). This means, despite there being more
