The Tastiest Fruit is Delivered From Nature Right Into Your Hands
A visit to Belkin Family Lookout Farm covers some of the healthiest bases in life — togetherness, fresh air and exercise, and tasty goodness! To learn more about each of the U–Pick fruits you’ll pluck, read on.
Apples
Did you know that apple phytonutrients inhibit the growth of colon and lung cancers? It’s true! It was discovered during a study at Cornell University in June of 2000. Also that year, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that apples and similar foods may reduce the risk of lung cancer by as much as 50%. This finding was later supported by articles in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
And in addition to their great taste, an average sized apple has only 80 calories, contains no fat or sodium and has 15% of our recommended daily Vitamin C. An apple also acts as a great energy booster containing 21 g of total carbohydrates. And if you’re interested in controlling your blood pressure, grab an apple because they contain potassium which can help control your blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke.
So it’s true what your grandmother told you — an apple a day just might keep the doctor away!
Learn about our various types of apples below:
Cortland:
Appearance: Predominantly red flushed/striped over a yellow–green background; smooth–skinned; sweet–tart taste with a softer texture
Uses: General eating and baking; also great for fruit salads, garnishes, and kabobs
Availability: Late September to early October
Ginger Gold:
Appearance: Skin color is green until it approaches ripeness, then it turns yellow; taste is sweet, with a surprising amount of sugar; texture is crisp, firm, and juicy with yellowish–white flesh
Uses: General eating and baking
Availability: Mid–August to mid–September
Honey Crisp:
Appearance: Skin is mostly red with a yellow background, while the surface has shallow dimples and dots; flavor ranges from mild to strongly aromatic, depending on degree of maturity; flesh is cream–colored and coarse
Uses: General eating and baking
Availability: Early September to early October
Macoun:
Appearance: Skin is a dark red with a purplish flush; sweet taste with a hint of berry; flesh is juicy, snow white
Uses: General eating and baking; also good for sauce and salads
Availability: October through November
Fuji:
Appearance: One of the most unpredictable varieties in terms of color; most are yellow to pink in background color with different amounts of red striping; crisp; firm skin and juicy with a bit of a honeyed flavor; high in sugar when ripe, and low in acidity
Uses: General eating, as well as salads and sauces
Availability: Mid– to late October
Golden Delicious:
Appearance: As suggested by its name, color is predominantly yellow, skin is smooth; taste is honeyed and sweet; flesh is a yellowish color
Uses: Salads and pies, for baking, and even for freezing
Availability: Late September to mid–October
Jonagold:
Appearance: Skin has a yellow background with pinkish–red blush or stripes; rich, honeyed, almost aromatic flavor; crisp, juicy, yellow/cream–colored flesh
Uses: General eating and baking; also good for freezing
Availability: Early to late October
Macintosh:
Appearance: Skin is dark red, with almost a touch of purple; taste is bold, sweet–sour, and somewhat acidic; texture is soft, with very aromatic flesh
Uses: General eating and baking
Availability: Mid–September to late October
Red Delicious:
Appearance: Skin is a deep red and the apple has an unusual bell shape; flavor is sweet and typically crisp; texture is firm and flesh should be white or cream–colored
Uses: General eating and salads
Availability: Mid– to late September
Gala:
Appearance: They are usually red with a portion being greenish or yellow-green, vertically striped. They are sweet, grainy, with a mild flavor, and a thinner skin than most apples.
Uses: General eating and baking
Availability: Early to late September
Shizuka:
Appearance: Color is predominantly yellow, skin is smooth and taste is sweet and honeyed.
Uses: General eating and salads.
Availability: Early to late October
Asian Pears:
Big, juicy–sweet, and packed with nutrients — that’s our Shinseiki and Hosui pears, and we take great pride in them. We use all–natural growing methods with complex irrigation systems to produce the healthiest, tastiest pears possible. An Asian pear contains about 60 calories and is packed with vitamins A and C, along with a small amount of fiber, with a taste that has hints of pear, apple, and melon flavors.
Uses: Eating, salads, and baking
Availability: Mid–September to late October
Peaches & Nectarines:
Peaches and nectarines are almost genetically identical, and they both originated in China around 2,000 years ago. They’re high in antioxidant vitamins A and C, which promote healthy skin, good eyesight, and a strong immune system. They’re also good sources of potassium and fiber.
Uses: Eating, salads
Availability: Mid–August to mid–September
Plums:
Plums have been growing wild virtually all over the world for many centuries. Eventually, European and Japanese varieties were introduced to the Americas. Plums are very high in Vitamin C, which is an essential antioxidant that promotes good teeth and gums, strong bones and muscles, and a healthy immune system.
Uses: Fresh, frozen, canned, or preserved in jams and jellies
Availability: Mid–August to early September
Strawberries:
Strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C. Matter o’ fact, 8 strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange! Strawberries have only 50 calories per serving and no cholesterol or saturated fats. Eight strawberries also provide 20 percent of the suggested daily amount of folic acid.
Uses: Eating, salads, desserts
Availability: Mid–June to early July
* We also have Rainier Cherries available for U-Pick in early July. They are low in fat and a good source of fiber & vitamin C.
Seasonally Available In Our U-Pick Barn
Pumpkins:
Pumpkins are members of the vine crops family called cucurbits and are believed to have originated in Central America. We only grow a limited number each year for picking, but there are plenty available to purchase at the Farm Market and U–Pick Barn mid–September through late October. Pumpkins are rich in Vitamin A and potassium, a great source of fiber, and have zero cholesterol. They’re also loaded with the antioxidant beta–carotene, which helps battle a variety of illnesses.