Dan's
Best of Season

Fruits
Apples
Fresh crop apples—Chile and New Zealand

Apriums and Apricots
California Apriums and Apricots

Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe

Cherries
California Cherries

Grapefruit
Arizona grapefruit
California grapefruit

Grapes
California Pearlette seedless grapes

Lemons
Meyer lemons

Melons
Bitter melons

Oranges
Blood oranges (Torocco variety Imported from Italy)

Peaches and Necterines
California peaches and nectarines

Pears
Pears—Chile and New Zealand

Pineapple
Gold pineapples

Rhubarb
Fresh Field Rhubarb

Strawberries
Watsonville strawberries

Watermelon
Watermelon

Vegetables
Artichokes
Castroville artichokes

Asparagus
Asparagus

Avocados
California avocados

Beans
Fava beans—Santa Cruz

Broccoli/Cauliflower
Broccoli rabe (Rapini)

Corn
Fresh corn on the cob

Garlic
Spring garlic

Greens
Dandelion greens
Fiddleheads greens
Green chard
Living watercress
Rainbow chard
Red chard

Onions
Spring onions
Sweet red onions

Peas
English peas—Moss Beach

Radishes
French breakfast radishes

Squash Blossoms
Squash blossoms 35 ct.

Squash
Summer squash (several varieties)

Tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes—California dessert

Columns to Savor
Dan Avakian

Spring Asparagus and Radishes

Potato Lovers Month, and Beets

Winter Freeze Ravages California Crops, Celery Root, A Fresh Look at Fitting in Produce

Produce Expert
Dan Avakian

Getting Fresh Artichokes and
Fresh Strawberries

Artichokes

How to Select Artichokes

When selecting an artichoke, look for large, firm globes. Pick it up by the stem because the tops of the leaves have small thorns that can really get under your skin.

Feel the artichoke from the same stem end. Give it a firm but gentle squeeze. If it squeaks with the squeeze and is firm and bulbous, it is a fresh hearty “choke”. If it feels flabby and gives easily, forget it, it’s dried out!

Artichokes
Everything You Need
to Know

Driving down Highway 1 along the coast of California rewards us with some of the most breathtaking creations of Mother Nature—especially if you’re traveling through Monterey County in the spring, when the artichoke fields are in full production. Left to flower, this tough thistle is quite attractive. If it weren’t for our habit of collecting, cooking and eating the buds, several lovely purple flowers would grace each plant in the field. .

Strawberries

How to Select Strawberries

Pick berries that are deep red and fairly firm, with a smooth sheen. Stay away from "bleeding" baskets or dull and shriveled berries with darkened or loosened caps. This is a sign of age, which means both flavor and nutrients are fading. At home, keep strawberries refrigerated until you are ready to use them, but keep in mind that the plastic bag from the store will cause the berries to break down. A better bet is to place them in a paper bag or airtight plastic container with a paper towel in it to absorb moisture. Do not wash strawberries until just before you use them.

Fresh Strawberries

It has been said throughout the centuries that if one breaks a double strawberry in half and shares it with a member of the opposite sex, the two will fall in love. This could very well be true! I When I was a teen working at the produce market on Oak and Central, I had my eye on a tall blue-eyed girl with a smile that made me melt. One day as I was leaving work I saw her roller skating down the street. I instantly grabbed a basket of strawberries, jumped into my beat-up 1962 Pontiac Catalina and drove down Central Avenue. I pulled over to the curb in the middle of the block ahead of her, jumped out of my car with the basket of strawberries and sat on the hood. When she skated closer she recognized me. I held out the basket of strawberries and said, "want some?” I dated her for almost a year.

Read more about Dan Avakian.

Dan's Web site www.producepair.com