The fall season brings not one, but two popular varieties of delicious persimmons: Fuyu and Hachiya. There are other specialty types , such as Giant Fuyu, Chocolate, or Tamopan. Kaki, as they are called in Japan, are considered the country’s national fruit. In Greek the name translates to “divine fruit”. Persimmons are slowly gaining popularity in the USA, but they have been cultivated for over a millennium in most Asian countries, including India. 

Fun Fact: in Mexico persimmons are known as Caqui, a derivative of the Japanese ‘Kaki’.  

While both Hachiya and Fuyu have a sweet, subtly spiced flavor and are a striking orange color, the similarities stop there. Hachiya persimmons have an acorn shape and reddish-orange skin. They  should be consumed only when they are fully ripe, as they are very astringent. At peak ripeness, the fruit will be extremely soft and requires gentle handling. The texture of the flesh becomes pleasantly squishy & jelly-like., The  honeyed  flavor has notes of mango and apricot. 

 Hachiya are ideal for sweet preparations such as smoothies, muffins,  and puddings, as well as eating out of hand. In Japan, dried Hachiya persimmons are revered for both flavor and texture and are traditionally made into Hoshigaki, a process that involves gently massaging the drying fruit while hanging from a string for weeks.  The result is a spectacular caramel-chewy treasure. 

Fuyu persimmons, on the other hand, are non-astringent and can be eaten raw at varying levels of ripeness or used in sweet and savory dishes. Their shape is squat, similar to a tomato, and their texture is firm like an apple with a satisfying crispness that enhances the apricot cinnamon flavor. The thin skin is fully edible. Fuyus add a bright color and crunch to holiday salads. 

Whether you’re Team Hachiya or Team Fuyu, the season is short. Don’t miss out on this treasured fruit! 

“Persimmons are not born soft, but they are valued for their softness.”–Yiyun Li 

New & Exciting! 

Apple: New varieties on the apple scene remind us why we love this season.  

• Ambrosia: Crisp, honey-sweet, and low in acidity, making them perfect for snacking or salads.  
• Empire: Gorgeous deep red color. Sweet with a crisp texture and bright white flesh. 
• Liberty: Juicy with a bold, tangy flavor and are often favored for cider, sauces, or eating fresh.  

Don’t sleep on the exciting heirloom varieties available now! Heirloom apples are older varieties that sometimes date back hundreds of years when apples were grown for specific purposes such as cooking, baking, juice, or hard cider. Over time, many apple varieties gave way to apples that were uniform in color, shape and bred for transportation hardiness, and higher yields. Some staff favorites right now include Ashmead’s Kernel (1600s) and Golden Delicious (1890s). Ashmeads AKA “the apple lover’s apple” are quite tart with superb complex flavor, like a party in your mouth. When grown in Northern California, Golden Delicious has a perfectly balanced sweet-tart flavor, crisp texture and lives up to their delicious name! (note Goldens are NOT related to Red Delicious). Check our list for our full offering! 

Asian Pear:  Earthseed Farm’s Asian pear season is in full swing with strong volume! This 14-acre solar powered farm is in Sebastopol, CA and is the first Afro-Indigenous, all Black-owned permaculture farm in Sonoma County. Their Asian pears earn a cult following every season for their superb quality and flavor. Current varieties include:

• Chojuro: Known for its rich and distinctive sweet butterscotch flavor (brown skin) 
• Shinseki: Sweet and juicy with a delightful fruity aroma. (yellow skin) 
• 20th Century: Exceptionally juicy, mild sweet flavor with hint of lemon. (light yellow skin)

Chestnut:  They are here now! ‘Tis the season for delicious, sweet chestnuts from Heath Ranch in Orland, California. (VV Exclusive) 

Fuyu Persimmon: The season is just starting up for this coveted fall fruit. Available in 1-layer flats from Biodynamic certified Beck Grove, with more growers coming on  soon. Fuyu persimmons can be eaten while firm and are still delicious when they soften up. Their golden-orange color contrasts nicely with red pomegranates and green kiwi for an attractive fall display.

Jujube: Fresh, whole and nutritious from Rock Front Ranch.

Pomegranate: Pomegranate season is kicking off with Early Wonderful and Wonderful varieties, featuring striking, vibrant red arils full of amazing flavor. Known for their versatility, pomegranates can be enjoyed fresh or incorporated into a wide range of sweet and savory dishes. The arils also freeze beautifully, making them easy to enjoy year-round. Packed with nutrition, pomegranates are considered a superfood, boasting three times more antioxidants than green tea or red wine. Perfect for fall displays, pomegranates not only have excellent shelf life but also bring a bold splash of color to your racks. We expect steady supply through December! 

Quince: Remarkably versatile fall fruit that often gets overlooked.  Completely inedible when raw but transforms into a sweet, floral delicacy when cooked. Often used in jams, jellies, or poached desserts. Quince slowly releases a delicate fragrance of apple, vanilla and citrus when left out on a sunny spot—nature’s perfume!  Looking for large volume? We have plenty of Pineapple Quince which tastes like a mix of pear, lime, pineapple, apple, and orange. It’s sour and delicious, especially when cooked into applesauce. 

Specialty Hard Squash: Organic Matters Ranch is starting up with their unique offering of specialty squash. Mixed bins (800 pounds with 24” walls) are available for pre-order. Single variety cartons will be available for Red Kuri, Turban, Carnival, Spaghetti, Sugar Pie, Acorn, Blue Hubbard and Red, Green, and Grey Kabocha. Check out our Winter Squash Variety Guide to learn more about the varieties.

Sunchoke:  AKA Jerusalem artichokes, are nutty, slightly sweet tubers that can be eaten raw in salads for a crisp texture or cooked—roasted, sautéed, or pureed—for a creamy, earthy flavor. Native to North America and very nutritious, they are now enjoyed worldwide. Just wash them,  no need to peel, and use them just like potatoes. 

Yellow Cipollini Onion: Small, flat, and sweet Italian onions known for their rich, caramelized flavor when roasted or sautéed. Their high sugar content makes them ideal for slow cooking or adding depth to sauces and braises. 

Promotable 

Brussels Sprouts:  Good volume on California-grown sprouts from Creekside Organics; expect steady supply through mid-January. Start building up your fall displays—this is a great item for promotion!

Garnet #1 Sweet Potato: A sweet complement to fall displays at a promotable price!

Grape: The crop is not going to last much longer, with rains coming. Still available in Red & Green Seedless: your choice of paper totes or plastic pouches. There is nothing sweeter than ‘end of the season’ grapes, so get ‘em now!

Hass Avocado: Supply is plentiful on 40 and 48 count from Las Palmalitas Ranch. Deals to be had on #2 fruit! Superb quality and flavor. 

Heirloom Tomato: Local supply continuing steadily on mixed heirloom cases from Veliz Organic Farm in Hollister, CA. Price is sharp!

Jack O’ Lantern: Get into the Halloween spirit with bulk pumpkin bins! Available in Regular (averages 50 pumpkins per bin) or Large (averages 30 pumpkins per bin) size. 

Keitt Mango: California-grown is available for a couple more weeks!  This variety is sweet and juicy with minimal fiber 

Marigold Bouquet: This eye-catching and fragrant flower is sacred in India and Mexico and are an important part of Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. The holiday falls on November 1st this year. Brighten up your floral displays with this seasonal beauty!

Red Starkrimson Pear: Known for their striking crimson skin and sweet, aromatic flavor. Their juicy, smooth texture makes them perfect for fresh eating, elegant fruit displays, or adding a pop of color to salads and cheese boards. 

Limited 

Broccoli: 14 count and crowns are limited. 

Cauliflower 

Cherry Tomato: Sungold and Sweet 100 are both winding down. 

Concord Grape 

Corn: Limited availability as the season winds down. 

Fig 

Gold Kiwi: Import season is winding down; there may be a gap before the California season begins. 

Honeydew  

Nopales: short gap while they re-grow 

Papaya 

Peruvian Blueberry: Expected to gap for 2 weeks 

Strawberry: Very limited due to recent rainy weather. 

Done for the Season 

Reed Avocado 

Thomcord Grape 

White Sapote 

Produce Resources 

Pear Variety Guide 

Apple Variety Guide 

Winter Squash Variety Guide