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California Nectarines - July Varieties

California nectarines are right in the peak of their season. Later season fruit has more time to mature on the tree and the individual trees yield more fruit than earlier varieties. This is because growers will thin the early season trees so tree will push all its energy to the remaining fruit. This helps the early season fruit get a little bigger and get the proper nutrients it needs. Later season fruit can get the nutrients it needs from the tree over a longer period of time so more pieces of fruit can stay on the tree. Take a look and see the yellow and white flesh varieties that are harvesting in July.

Chicken Naanini/Nectarine Chutney

moroccan-chicken-naanini-with-nectarine-chutneysmMakes 4 servings.

Prep Time

Prep time: 30 minutes

Marinate time: 2 hours

Cook Time

30 minutes

Ingredients

Moroccan Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup harissa paste*

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 pieces naan bread, halved

1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil

4 large roasted red bell pepper strips

*Harissa paste is found in the imported or specialty section of the supermarket.  Following is a substitution if unavailable.

Harissa Paste: Puree 1 cup roasted red bell pepper strips, 1 tablespoon each: olive oil and lime juice, 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon each: ground cumin, ground caraway, ground coriander, salt and 1 clove garlic in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Nectarine Chutney

2 cups peeled, chopped ripe California nectarines (2-3 nectarines)

1/2 cup minced shallots

1/3 cup white wine vinegar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1/4 teaspoon each: cinnamon and ground allspice

Preparation

Place chicken breasts between plastic wrap and pound to flatten. Add harissa paste, lime juice and salt in a large resealable plastic bag. Knead bag to mix, then add chicken. Seal bag, then turn several times until well coated with mixture. Refrigerate for 2 hours to marinate. Meanwhile, stir together chutney ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove cover and cook for 5 to 10 minutes more to cook off excess liquid. (Chutney may be made several days ahead and stored tightly covered in the refrigerator.) Cook chicken over medium-hot grill for about 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Place cooked chicken on half of the bread pieces. Spread on chutney and top with pepper strip and remaining bread. Brush both sides lightly with oil and place on grill over medium heat. Press down to flatten slightly with a panini press or foil-covered brick, and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Serve with additional chutney, if desired.

Fire up the Grill!

The seasons first California nectarines are being harvested and shipping out to markets. Fire up the grill and be the first to welcome the flavor of summer into your home.

ppn-grilled111Nectarines hold up great on the grill and the natural sugars caramelize when grilled, enhancing their already sweet flavor. Here is a link to a great Grilled Nectarines with Feta recipe from Bon Appetit that combines crumbled feta cheese and grilled nectarines.

Also check out this video of Adam Perry Lang describing the best way to grill peaches, plums and nectarines.

Fresh Off the Grill from PPN TV on Vimeo.

California Nectarine Growers on PPNTV

Selma, California - Kristina Unruh is a California peach, plum and nectarine grower in the San Joaquin Valley. We had the chance to talk with her for a video project called PPN TV. PPN TV is a collection of short clips from California growers that is intended to let them share some of their history and family stories.

Over the past few years agriculture, farming and food production has been of more interest to Americans. Modern day “Victory Gardens” are popping up in urban areas and the general public just wants to know where their food is coming from. Even the USDA is launching a new program called “Know your Farmer, know your food.”  While some are skeptical of the program, the message at least, sounds great.

California growers have grouped together to make PPNTV, to help reconnect with their consumers. They want to share their personalities and prospectives with everyone and would like to hear back as well.

In the clip below,  Kristina has a message to parents. She encourages them to choose a different piece of produce every week at the store for their kids to try.

Kristina Unruh - A Message to Parents from PPN TV on Vimeo.

California Stone Fruit Book

The book titled “The Perfect Fruit: Good Breeding, Bad Seeds, and the Hunt for the Elusive Pluot” is a look into the California stone fruit industry, its breeders, farmers, history and commerce, its controversies and intrigue.

Click here to buy the book on Amazon

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Nectarine Spa Cobb Salad Wraps

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Prep time: 15 minutes

Dressing

1 (15-oz.) can white cannellini or Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained, divided

2 large cloves garlic, peeled

1 fresh California nectarine, pitted and diced

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt to taste

Salad

5 large fresh basil leaves, chopped

4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

2 fresh California nectarines, pitted and sliced

1 avocado, peeled, pitted and cubed

1 (5-oz.) package mixed baby greens

1 cup bite-size pieces grilled or roasted boneless, skinless chicken or turkey breast, chilled

½  cup slivered red onion

¼   cup crumbled blue cheese

4 large whole wheat wraps or tortillas

Directions

Puree 1/3 cup beans with remaining dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth; set aside. Toss remaining beans with all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently. Place equal amounts of salad in the center of each wrap. Fold in one side then roll up to enclose.

Makes 4 wraps

Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories: 478; Fat: 21g; Saturated Fat: 5g; Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 50mg; Sodium: 647mg; Carbohydrates: 55g; Fiber: 12g; Sugars: 12g; Protein: 27g; Vitamin A: 30%; Vitamin C: 25%; Calcium: 15%; Iron: 20%

 

Colin and Kristina Unruh

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Colin and Kristina Unruh grow nectarines along with peaches and plums for their family farm, Clarence Unruh Farms, Inc. in Selma, California. They met in college at Washington State, where they are both graduates of the Sustainable / Organic Tree Fruit Production Program. Colin, a third generation grower and packer manages his family’s farming operations while Kristina, a trained horticulturist, manages the packing shed and office operations.

How do they eat their nectarines?
Colin likes big juicy peaches and nectarines eaten right out of hand while Kristina likes them a little more crispy and sliced in a fresh salad.

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Early June Nectarine Varieties

June in the California Nectarine Scene = high amounts of activity! Growers are in the orchards with specialized teams inspecting fruit, pruning, managing pests and irrigating to make the fruit is getting all of the proper nutrients it needs before harvest. The varieties shown below are typically ready for harvest during the first half of June. California growers still pick, inspect and pack all of their nectarines by hand. This means long hours out in the orchards carefully selecting only the best fruit to send to market.

Yellow Flesh Nectarines

Honey Blaze

Spring Bright

Honey Fire

Honey Kist

White Flesh Nectarines

Kay Pearl

Ruby Pearl