We’d like to welcome another new local farm to the Daily Harvest Express family: Rancho Del Sol! They’re a certified organic specialty citrus farm located east of San Diego, and you’ll be hearing more about them soon (and seeing their produce in our offerings).
What’s ahead for the week of January 22, 2018? You can see what’s headed your way on the What’s In My Box page, but here is a list of what’s coming in from our network of local farms in case you want to add to or customize your box:
- Satsuma Tangerines from Rancho Del Sol.
- Spaghetti squash, Arugula, Dandelion Greens, Mizuna and Parsely from Be Wise Farm;
- Carrots, Spinach from Chavez Organic Farm;
- Butter Lettuce from Sundial Farm;
- Beefsteak tomatoes, Persian Cucumbers from Dassi Farms;
- Blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Crimson Grapes from Sweet Tree Farms;
- Tangelo Minneola from LaVigne Organic Farm;
- Garnet Yams, Bacon Avocados from Stehly Farm;
Wait a minute… bacon avocados? Is that an avocado made of bacon? Not quite.
About Bacon Avocados
We wrote about the Hass avocado back in November, a variety semi-accidentally bred by Rudolph Gustav Hass from Fallbrook, CA, in 1926. Even though Hass is the dominant commercial variety that comprises 80% of the world’s avocado crop, there are quite a few other delicious avocado varieties out there for you to explore. One such variety is the Bacon avocado, so named for James Bacon from Buena Park, CA, who originally bred it in 1954.
What’s the difference between Hass and Bacon avocados?
- Season – Depending on the sub-variety, Hass avocados are harvested from spring through fall, whereas Bacon avocados are harvested in winter (the trees can survive temps down to 25 degrees).
- Size – Bacon avocados weigh up to 12 ounces each, whereas Hass avocados usually only weigh about 6 ounces.
- Skin – Bacon avocados have a smooth thin green skin, whereas Hass avocados have a dark, thicker nearly black skin with a bumpy texture.
- Shape – Bacon avocados are more elongated whereas Hass are rounder in shape.
- Fat – Hass has a higher fat content which gives it a creamier texture than Bacon avocados.
- Flavor – Hass avocados are described as rich, creamy, and smooth whereas Bacon avocados are often described as nutty, light, and fruity.
Since the differences in flavor are relatively minor, you can use different avocado varieties interchangeably in any recipe.
Avocado Ripeness, Storage, and Preservation
Unlike most fruit, avocados will NOT ripen on the tree. Instead, they’re picked when they’re rock-hard and only after picking will they begin to ripen. An unripe avocado is not a pleasant eating experience.
To tell if your avocados are ripe, use your fingers! They should have a slight softness when you press on the skin.
If you want to speed up the ripening process, put your avocados in a closed, brown paper bag and test them daily for ripeness. Once they’re ripe, they’ll go bad quickly, so either: a) use them immediately, or b) store them in your fridge for no more than 3-5 days.
Avocado fruit oxidizes relatively quickly, meaning that beautiful yellow-green color will turn brown. To prevent oxidation, use citrus (acid), such as lime or lemon juice, which pairs beautifully with the rich flavor of avocados anyway.
Enjoy these locally grown and locally bred delicacies!
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