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AMERICAN MIRABELLE (H) August 10 - 20
American Mirabelle was developed in the US, probably as an attempt to improve the eating quality of the famous Mirabelle’s of France. Ironically, this was accomplished by crossing an existing French Mirabelle with yet another French import, the Agen or French prune. The name “American” descriptor is a bow to American ingenuity, not the origin of the variety’s parents. A unique and luscious flavor, sweeter than other Mirabelle's. Small, teardrop-shaped with golden skin and flesh. Bruises easy but has a unique flavor of the highest quality, a reflection of its French pedigree. Excellent for preserves and tarts.
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DAMSON August 15 - 25
Our Damson plums are not the traditional heirloom varieties but improved forms developed by Cornell University. We grow ‘Jam Session’ and ‘Blues Jam’--- both with the distinctive tartness of the traditional Damson plums. Both new varieties make exceptional preserves and other culinary specialties.
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FRENCH d’AGEN (H) August 10 - 25
What is called the French prune in California is known in Europe as the d’Agen prune. The variety was introduced to California by Louis Pellier, a nurseryman in San Jose, who is credited with beginning California’s prune industry in the late 1880’s. The variety is famous as a dried product, but many people also like to eat it fresh. Very sweet and richly flavored.
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GOLDEN TRANSPARENT GAGE (H) September 1 - 10
One of the larger gages with bronzy to golden skin often beautifully freckled with red dots. The skin is a bit tough; most prefer to simply suck the delicate, succulent flesh from its less digestible skin. The golden translucent flesh has a very rich, Moorpark-like, apricot flavor. Great for dessert and makes excellent preserves and dried fruit.
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GREEN GAGE (REINE CLAUDE) (H) August 5 - 20
Small, greenish fruit. This is the famous Gage plum that has achieved cult status in England and continental Europe. Justly esteemed for its flavor; indeed, the variety itself defines the flavor. Rarely grown commercially in California, but we have a small planting of these iconic plums, and they grow beautifully in our inter-coastal valley climate. They are best eaten fresh but also excellent for preserves, tarts and other culinary uses.
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IMPERIAL EPINEUSE (H) August 15 - 25
Introduced to California from France in 1883 from Clairac where it was also known as Clairac Mammoth. Rarely grown there, but particularly adapted to the Santa Clara Valley where it was once grown and dried into an exceptionally large and high quality prune. Distinctive flavor as a fresh market plum, once used in England as a standard by which other fresh plums were judged at fruit tastings.
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MIRABELLE (H) August 1 - 25
This is a class of plums we grow that includes ‘Mirabelle de Nancy’, ‘Mirabelle de Metz’, and ‘Geneva Mirabelle’. All are small, cherry-sized fruits that many of our chef patrons desire for dessert making and other culinary purposes. Famous in the Alsace region of France but grown throughout Europe. Not often seen on this side of the Atlanta.
PARFUMME de SEPTEMBRE
Parfumee de Septembre, or Perfume of September, is a Mirabelle plum originating in France with aromatic very flavorful Mirabelle-type fruit. Excellent fresh, but can also be used for culinary purposes like other Mirabelles.
REINE DES MIRABELLES
Called "Queen of the Mirabelles" in France, this fruit is purportedly a cross between a mirabelle and a green gage plum. Excellent fresh flavor, nearly as tasty as the gages, but can also be processed.
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MUIR BEAUTY August 10 - 20
Muir Beauty is a relatively new prune plum developed by the University of California, Davis. It combines the sweetness of the old French prune with a rich flavor that is unique to this special variety. Primarily grown as a fresh market plum. Sweet, plummy flavor.
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SUTTER August 15 - 25
The Sutter prune was developed by the University of California for drying, but was soon recognized for its superior fresh fruit flavor and tender juicy texture. This is perhaps the most flavorful of all the fresh market prune-plums we grow. Small and teardrop-shaped, great flavor and juiciness.
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