If summer were a fruit, what would it be? Watermelon? Strawberries? Hmmm … maybe. In our humble opinion though, nothing tastes like summer more than the chin-dripping sweetness of a perfectly ripe peach. Don’t they basically look like little suns? And their nectar? Pure manna. The renowned peaches of Yakima County are rightfully catching our attention at the local farmer’s market these days, but they’re not the only stone fruit that’s the apple of our eye. This time of year, peaches, pluots, apricots and apriums also shine. Perhaps you’ve seen a bounty of these orange, green, purple and red-skinned fruits at your farmer’s market as well? And maybe, like us, you’ve wondered, what exactly is t

Summer Flare trees produce some of the largest and juiciest nectarines. Rich in flavor, they're often solid red with hardly a streak of yellow in the skin. A clingstone, the Summer Flare is an ideal variety to bite right into and eat out of hand. Or slice one up and share with your office mates. I've included more Flavor Grenade pluots. This pluot has an oblong shape, is overall a light green-yellow with dark blushing tones of red and burgundy. The inner flesh is very crisp and offers a superior honey-like flavor with hints of citrus. And they'll keep very well in your office refrigerator. You'll also feast on crisp red Flame grapes, Jazz or Gala apples, Skagit County blueberries and Rainf

The health benefits of tomatoes include eye care, good stomach health, and a reduced blood pressure. They provide relief from diabetes, skin problems, and urinary tract infections too. Furthermore, they improve digestion, stimulate blood circulation, reduce cholesterol levels, improve fluid balance, protect the kidneys, detoxify the body, prevent premature aging, and reduce inflammation. Tomatoes consist of a large number of antioxidants that have been proven to fight different forms of cancer. They are also a rich source of vitamins and minerals and exert a protective effect against cardiovasculardiseases. What is a Tomato? Tomato is considered both, a fruit and a vegetable and forms an int

Three excellent stone fruits and cherry tomato baskets. This week I found excellent cherry tomatoes (yes tomatoes are a fruit). I also bought amazing Purple Rose apriums, which are a variety of pluot. These are smaller and filled with juicy sweetness. Also have on hand some Flavor Grenade pluots that are firm and sweet. Did you know pluots keep for up to two weeks in your fridge? We will search out more pluot varieties through the rest of the summer. I also sourced three local favorites. You'll see Skagit blueberries and Pence Orchard yellow peaches, along with Wenatchee Jazz apples. And of course Rainforest Alliance certified bananas. Smaller orders will see Red plums and donut peaches.

Some of the health benefits of pluot include its ability to help your immune system, regulate your digestive system, increase your overall fluid intake, boost your vision, prevent certain cancers, prevent diabetes, and speed up the recovery process of your body. What are Pluots? This may be a fruit you haven’t ever heard of, and although the name sounds a bit funny, the benefits it can have for your health are nothing to joke about! The name “pluot” comes from the two fruits that make up this unusual hybrid, PLUms and ApricOTs. [1] They are also commonly called apriums and plumcots, depending on the vendor you are purchasing them from or the farm on which they are grown. [2] Also, a pluot te

At Market Fresh Fruit - Curated Office Fruit we are having a lot of fun taste-testing all the crazy good fruit now arriving in Seattle. Every week our stone fruit just keeps getting better. We located some wonderful nectarines and peaches for you from two well-known growers. Farmer McPherson from Tiny's Organics called me this week to rave about his crop of new organic nectarines. I buy directly from Tiny's Organics whenever I'm able. I always like their fruit. Six years ago he planted this "Western Sweet" variety, and now you get the benefit. These organic nectarines are firm yet juicy sweet. I hope to keep them in your fruit rotation for a few weeks. Pence Orchards is a fourth-generation

Most of the time when people think of super fruits or healing plants, they don’t tend to think of bananas. Yet bananas are powerhouses of protective ingredients, and are especially good for mind and mood. As Hippocrates said so famously, “let your food be your medicine.” With that in mind, let’s explore the medicinal benefits of bananas. For starters, bananas are rich in natural fiber. As most people are aware, Americans typically get too little fiber in their diets. Yet fiber is essential for proper digestive health, and adds bulk to waste for improved elimination. Bananas are a well known source of potassium, an essential nutrient that helps to maintain proper fluid balance in the body. Po