Stone Fruit and Sundays

Summer Solstice has passed, and we’re officially in the summer season! The best part? STONE FRUIT IS BACK! That’s right! Time to load up on peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, and pluots – all ripe, juicy, and ready for eating.

Things are just peachy here at the Chico Certified Farmers Market where there seems to be no shortage of delectable stone fruits. Peaches in particular are loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. They’re not only delicious, but great for heart health, improved digestion, reduced inflammation, and boosting immunity. Peaches are a popular fruit, being the third most purchased in the country, and they’ve earned that status. They aren’t, however, the only stonefruit worth exploring. There are many other varieties that are equally (if not more) delicious and share the same nutritional benefits.

You ought to explore the “ots” – apricots and pluots! These are a Chico secret, as we have some of the best apricots and pluots around. You might’ve guessed already, but pluots are actually a cross between a plum and an apricot. This means they have the skin and flesh of a plum, while the taste is soft and smooth like an apricot. They’re less acidic and sweeter than their plum ancestors, which makes them incredible for snacking. Both apricots and pluots are high in vitamins A and C, making them great for your immune system and good for your eye health. They also both have quite a bit of dietary fiber, making them great for digestion.

Can’t choose which one to try first? Try them all at once! This smoothie recipe is perfect for a hot summer day:

Stone Fruit Smoothie

This recipe comes to you from Rowan Wilson.

Prep Time: 10 min.           Freeze Time: 2 hrs.           Total Time: 2hrs. 20 min.

Ingredients:

• 1 peach
• 1 pluot
• 1 apricot
• 1 nectarine
• 1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
• 1/2 cup yogurt (dairy or non-dairy)
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• paper umbrellas (optional)

*This recipe makes approximately two servings. Increase or decrease ingredient amounts to adjust serving size.

Instructions:

Prepping the Fruit

1. Cut each stonefruit in half and remove and dispose of the pits.
2. Cut the remaining fruit into 1-inch chunks, place into a sealed container, and freeze for two hours.

Making the Smoothie

1. Place your frozen fruit, milk, yogurt, and cinnamon into a blender.
2. Blend until smooth, pour into a glass, add a little paper umbrella, and enjoy!

What were we saying about Sundays?

SURPRISE! The Chico Certified Farmers Market is introducing a new market on Sundays at Meriam Park! Join us for the debut on June 25th from 9 am to 12 pm in the Farmers Brewing Restaurant and Taproom parking lot!