fruit notes

With an unusually warm March, we wondered if spring was for real. A big flush of strawberries from two of our farms, Swanton Berry Farm and JSM Organics, came much earlier than usual. Could spring really arrive this early, kicking off strawberry season the first week of March? Strawberry plants will continue to flower and fruit for months in mild weather, starting in spring and lasting through late summer or even early fall if we’re lucky. But rain, as welcome as it is, has a way of complicating things for berry growers.

When it rains, the impact on strawberry harvests depends on the storm's intensity and duration. Heavy raindrops will bruise strawberries, which get little protection from their delicate skin. This will leave dark spots that may decay on the plant, or worse: only begin to break down a day or two after harvest. Prolonged rain also encourages the spread of fungal diseases, especially in warm, wet conditions. These diseases don’t just affect the plants and roots, they show up as dark gray spots on ripe berries that quickly turn to mold.

During strawberry season, I check in with Jim from Swanton Berry Farm almost daily. We chat about the weather, harvests, and how the fields are looking. After more than 40 years running the farm – and even longer growing strawberries – he has a deep sense of what the berries can handle. Above all, he’s careful about quality. After a rainy end of week and a day to dry out, he assessed the fields and said, “One block of berries looks good. Do you want some today?” After talking it through, we decided to hold off. Even if the berries look good after a day of drying in the field – and even the day after picking – they can quickly turn by day two or three, which just isn’t enough runway for the fruit lover.

Following a day or two of dry weather, the crew at Swanton Berry Farm spends most of their time cleaning up the plants. They remove waterlogged and damaged berries by hand, picking for the compost pile. They dispose the berries before they can become a vector for disease or pests. Then we wait for the next flush of fruit. And as Jim reminds us, “it might be a while.”

Blueberries under cover at Coastal Moon Farm

Rain can be tricky for blueberries, too. Their comparatively thicker skin means they are much more resilient, but it’s still a balancing act. Too much rain and the berries will become bland or split, swelling as they take up excess water through their roots. At Forbidden Fruit Orchards in Lompoc, they saw about an inch of rain over the past few days. Farmer Lalo says, “We prepare for rain by watering less. This helps prevent cracking and flavor dilution.” Their blueberries are grown fully outdoors, exposed to the elements, but the mature plants and their deep root systems help buffer against rain events that just affect the top few inches of the soil. They also benefit from sandy soil, which allows for quick drainage and evaporation. 

At Coastal Moon Farm in Freedom, they have a bit more control. They grow in hoop houses, making for a protected-but-outdoor situation. The hoop houses are fitted with roll-on covers, allowing them to cover the houses to shield the plants from rain, or open things up for more sun. Growing in containers also gives them more control over soil temperature and moisture.

To end on a high note, Spring blueberries are popping off! Maybe this means a double blueberry tast-off in next week’s FQ boxes? 😉

Today's fruit

Tango mandarins from Limelight Groves. Grown organically in De Luz. Store on the counter.

Jewel blueberries from Coastal Moon Farm. Grown organically in Freedom. Store in the fridge.

Nagami kumquats from Limelight Groves. Grown organically in De Luz. The entire fruit is edible, in fact, the skin is the sweetest part! Store on the counter.

Gold Nugget mandarins from Garcia Organic Farm. Grown organically in Fallbrook. Store on the counter.

Booth cherimoya from Condor Ridge Ranch. Grown organically in Goleta. Ripen on the counter until the fruit yields to gentle pressure, like a ripe avocado. Cut in half and eat the flesh with a spoon or cut into wedges to share. Do not eat the seeds.

Hass avocados from Condor Ridge Ranch. Grown organically in Goleta. Store on the counter.

Washington Navel oranges from Limelight Groves. Grown organically in De Luz. Store on the counter.