Orchard Talk

Just read a wonderful article on delectable Michigan peaches in The Detroit News, along with a simple recipe for Peach Berry Crisp using Michigan peaches and berries.  You can also use blackberries or strawberries along with the peaches, or use nectarines in place of peaches.

From The Detroit News:

Peachy Berry Crisp

3 large peaches, peeled, pitted, chopped (about 3 cups)
2 cups blueberries
2 cups raspberries
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons plus 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oatmeal (not instant)
1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 8-inch square or oval baking dish. Toss fruit, sugar and 2 tablespoons flour in large bowl to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Bake fruit until juices bubble, stirring occasionally, about 40 minutes. Bake without stirring another 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees.

Meanwhile, whisk remaining 3/4 cup flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and salt in medium bowl to blend. Add butter and rub in with fingertips until small moist clumps form. Sprinkle topping evenly over hot fruit in dish.

Bake crisp until topping is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly. Serve warm with ice cream. Serves 8.
Per serving (without ice cream): 339 calories; 10 g fat (6 g saturated fat; 27 percent calories from fat); 62 g carbohydrates; 25 mg cholesterol; 82 mg sodium; 4 g protein; 7 g fiber
80 minutes

20 minutes to make
60 minutes to bake

From The Detroit News

Tags: blueberries, michigan peaches, peaches, raspberries, Recipes

John’s sweetcorn is in and it is AWESOME! Our pickles are coming in by the 1/2 bushel. Come in or call to reserve yours. Garnet Beauty peaches are being picked. These stick to the pit but are sweet and juicy. Nectarines can be mixed with the peaches as they are the same price. Red Havens will be starting end of the week next week. I hope in time for the weekend of Aug 7. Still a few apricots on the tree and plenty in the cooler. Apricot canning workshop this Thur 8/5 call for info. I’m planning a corn freezing party so keep a watch on my blogg for info. I will set date and time when corn is perfect for cutting off the cob. Get a group together, cook cut and bag corn. Then divide the costs between group and divide the bags and all will have corn in the freezer. Watch blogg for info. Anyone want to do a pickle party. I would need a leader but I would have the pickles and the place. Call me 231-544-6479. Betsy

Tags: peaches

Fruit-Filled Friday Orchard Tour at King Orchards

Tags: apricots, Cherries, honeycrisp, nectarines, peaches, raspberries, u-pick

Red Haven peaches

RED HAVEN PEACHES: Red Haven is the all-time favorite of peach lovers for both canning and eating fresh. They are freestone, which means that the fruit comes free from the stone when peeled. Other areas of the country may grow more peaches than we do, but Michigan peaches are renowned for their rich flavor and juiciness.

Market price 99 cents per pound; $15.00 per 1/2 bushel.
U-Pick $13.00 per 1/2 bushel.

We’re having a close-out sale on Garnet Beauty (semi-cling) peaches.  $8.00 per 1/2 bushel.

APRICOTS:
Market price $4.00 per quart; $9.00 per 1/2 peck; $15.00 for 10 pounds; $24.00 per lug
U-Pick price $1.25 per pound. Pick 20 pounds or more for $1.00 per pound.

NECTARINES:
Market price 99 cents per pound; $4.50 per ½ peck; $7.50 per peck; $15.00 per ½ bushel.
U-pick price $7.00 per peck, $13.00 per 1/2 bushel.

CUCUMBER SPECIAL:
$5.00 per 1/2 bushel for our delicious slicing cukes

Tags: canning peaches, michigan peaches, peach orchards, peaches, red haven peaches

Help! We’re being overrun by cucumbers!!!

If we can’t get to the phones, it’s because we can’t make it through the mountains of pickling and slicing cukes we’ve harvested from our gardens. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to plant 5 acres

Here’s what we’re offering this week:

Veggies: Now available at both markets: good quality slicing cukes (not too fat) and pickling cukes (sand-free). Our sweet corn is here: golden fresh and sweet. We also have lots of our own zucchini and summer squash in the market, plus amazing melons, juicy tomatoes and crisp, tasty peppers direct from Bay City.

Cherries: Last chance for delicious, fresh tart cherries. Get ‘em while you can, most likely through the middle of the week. If you absolutely can’t make it by then, you’re still in luck. We’re now offering frozen pitted tart cherries and sweet cherries as well. So many ways to enjoy this Northern Michigan favorite… What’s yours?

Peaches: Our Early Glo peaches are ready for picking. These are sweet and delicious; great for eating! Just a little while longer for the Red Haven canning peaches, which we’re expecting the last week of August.

Nectarines: They should be ready around the same time as the Red Havens. So far, it’s looking like the last week of August to enjoy these.

Apricots: The apricots are delicious and firm, still going strong. Come and U-Pick or find them ready to go at the market.

Blueberries: Direct from West Olive, we’re got luscious, plump blueberries-great for eating and making desserts.

Flowers: We have big, beautiful sunflowers available to U-Pick and in our market. We also have a plethora of statice: a bright, colorful way to brighten up your home or office.

Tags: apricots, Cherries, cherry orchard, cherry picking, Crop Updates & Orchard Talk, fresh cherries, fresh tart cherries, In the Markets, nectarines, peaches, pick your own, sweet corn, traverse city, u-pick, u-pick apricots, u-pick cherries, u-pick peaches

In Traverse Magazine’s Food Loving Summer, an “it-list of the fresh and fleeting discoveries that make life up here so delicious,” Emily Betz Tyra said King Orchards peaches are so irresistible, they will “make you weak in the knees.” Thanks Emily! We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

But don’t take Emily’s or our word for it. Come out to the orchard right now for fresh-picked or pick your own peaches. We’re starting this week with Early-Glow and Garnet Beauty varieties, both tasty and juicy semi-freestone peaches. Red Haven peaches, everyone’s favorite freestone canning peaches, should be ready after the 17th, along with our almost-famous nectarines. We’re talking running down your arm juicy good peaches and nectarines.

And that’s not all! Apricots are still jammin’ and there are plump red raspberries to be picked (they’re ever-bearing and will be here til September). In the fruit-stands, we have yellow and red plums, blueberries, sweet corn, melons, the best red & white potatoes ever, peppers, onions, zucchini, cherry chocolate oatmeal cookies, cherry juice concentrate, killer Balaton cherry salsa, dried cherries and our new Nuts about Cherries trail mix… practically everything for a perfect summer picnic.

For dessert, Lexi and Rose have been baking up a bevy of fresh fruit pies. Try the lovely Lattice Topped Cherry, Crumb-Topped Cherry, amazing Apple, beautiful Blueberry, righteous Cherry-Raspberry or their newest creation, the Three Berry Pie, a triple threat featuring Blackberries, Raspberries and Blueberries.

Tags: peaches, u-pick