Harvest News
Outr of the office
Posted: Friday, May 02, 2008
May 2, 2008--We will be out of the office until May 7th and will not be able to process any orders until that date.
Please come back to check our website on Wednesday to place your order. Although we are getting close to the end of the season, we still have a few tasty varieties available.
Easter Greetings
Posted: Friday, March 21, 2008
Spring greetings and Easter blessings to our friends and acquaintances from all of the staff at Rising C Ranches.
We have been experiencing very beautiful spring weather—in fact we all have gotten bit by the spring fever bug. But who can be blamed when the scene just outside our windows encompasses a view of the wild flower covered foothills and the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
While we are well into the final third of our season there is still a lot of outstanding citrus available. Did you know that navel oranges are one of the few fruits that will continue to gain sugar if left on the tree? That is why an orange in March has an entirely different taste than a December orange (which is still quite tasty). Additional offerings at this time include: Murcott & Gold Nugget Mandarins, Minneola Tangelo, the very versatile Meyer Lemon, the Heirloom Navel, Cara Cara Navel & Tarocco Italian-type Orange. For people seeking something unusual we have our Palestine Sweet Lime—which has a very low acid count. And don’t forget to add grapefruit to your shopping list—we have the Melogold and Cocktail available.
This good weather also means the citrus bloom is nearly here. The soft fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines) are just about finished blooming—if you ever have an opportunity to visit Fresno County in February/March be sure to save time for a drive on the Blossom Trail. It is a short drive showcasing the beautiful orchards in full bloom. Learn more at http://www.driveblossomtrail.com
Leap Day
Posted: Friday, February 29, 2008
We are very happy to be observing Leap Day this year. Our weather has been so beautiful that we are grateful for the extra day. Last weekend was very stormy, leaving us with some very wet field conditions, especially in our blocks that are planted on heavy ground. But the warm days that followed helped to dry out most areas quickly.
As the season progresses we finish up with some varieties and move on to others. Please be sure to check the shop by variety area of this website to see what we are currently offering.
The Second Half
Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Our second half of the season is just starting. It is fairly safe to say we won't have a major freeze (although we have had our share of cold nights). And the days are getting noticeably longer which benefits us in many ways--less chance of freeze and more daylight hours to harvest.
Many of the crops we've been picking will continue but some are winding down and will be replaced by another--such is life!
We are excited about the 2nd half. Our Heirloom navels continue to sweeten and the Meyer lemons have started to obtain a beautiful golden hue.
We will start to harvest W. Murcott mandarins with stem and leaf (just in time for Chinese New Year) and it won't be long before we start the Tarocco Italian Oranges (home grown) and Minneola tangelos (a beautiful stem and leaf cut!).
There is lots more to come! So although we don't get a halftime break, we are excited and ready to go!
Stormy Weather
Posted: Friday, January 04, 2008
An expected rain storm will hamper our harvesting. We try to pick ahead for anticipated orders but it’s a balancing act between picking too much fruit and not enough to meet our customers needs.
Heavy rain can have an adverse affect on our remaining Satsuma mandarin crop and lot of rain keeps us out of the fields (to harvest). So, we're happy for the rain but there is a price to pay.
We have just started to pick Bergamot, Pamplemousse Jaune (cocktail grapefruit) & Cara Cara Navels.
Holiday Shipping Information
Posted: Sunday, December 16, 2007
Our last day to accept orders for the 2007 holiday season will be Tuesday, December 18th. Any orders received after 9am Pacific Time on the 18th will be held for shipment until after the first of the New Year.
If you are placing an order as a gift or for your holiday enjoyment it is our suggestion that you choose 2nd or 3rd day air if ordering on Dec 16 through 9 am on the 18th for shipping to areas east of Utah. This will give your package the best chance of arriving prior to Christmas day.
It's about to get crazy around here!
Posted: Tuesday, December 11, 2007
This week we are going to add more to our variety plate. Along with the mandarins, lemons, grapefruits and lime that we have been packing, this week we will begin to pack Heirloom Navels, Moro Bloods and Seville-type Sour Oranges. These additional offerings will really compound our packing schedules and our dedicated employees will have some overtime paychecks to spend at Christmas.
The Heirlooms are tasting good, but some customers will remember the fruit from last spring. The oranges of December will not taste the same as those late season fruits. Oranges, as all citrus fruits will continue to develop and mature on the tree.
The Moro Blood orange that we pick this week will look and taste very different than the Moro that we pick in late January.
So look for the fruit on your retailers shelf early next week.
It's also the time of year where we must defend the crops against bouts of cold weather. Dry years (like this) seem to be colder. Well water and wind machines are used to protect the fruit from subfreezing temperatures.
All in a day's (and night's) work!
Shipping the week of Thanksgiving
Posted: Friday, November 16, 2007
SHIPPING UPDATE
UPS will not be making deliveries on Friday, November 23rd (the day after Thanksgiving).
If you want citrus to enjoy with your Thanksgiving meal, please choose 2nd day shipping for all areas east of Utah.
If you are unsure, please refer to the service map on the UPS website. Otherwise your order will not be delivered until after the holiday weekend.
Please note that ground shipments to areas east of Utah will take an additional 4 days to arrive. If you want to use ground shipping it is our suggestion that you place your order after the holiday.
Satsuma Season Begins
Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007
We are very happy and excited to be starting our Satsuma Mandarin and Meyer Lemon season. Ask almost anyone around our offices and ranches to name their favorite piece of fruit that we grow and pack. The majority would name one of these two varieties.
We have a nice crop of Mandarins getting ripe in the groves, though the trees have responded to freeze we experienced last January by setting a large crop of smaller sized fruit. This is not necessarily a bad thing as the smaller fruit usually has a richer, sweeter flavor than larger fruit on the same tree.
We are just starting to harvest Meyer Lemons. They are as juicy and aromatic as you remember. If you have never tried this popular lemon, order our 5 pound box. This will provide you with enough lemons to use in a few of your favorite recipes.
It appears that many of you are looking forward to making marmalade this year by the number of calls we have received recently inquiring into the availability of Seville Sour Oranges. We typically start to harvest this unusual orange in mid to late December. The crop looks good so dust off those recipes!
As you plan your holiday tables don’t forget to include some of our unique citrus. Buddha’s Hand Citron will add drama to any tablescape. While many of our smaller varieties make wonderful garnishes and will dress up your platters.
Thank you for your support.
Let's Get Started
Posted: Friday, October 05, 2007
As hard as it might be to believe...October has arrived and with it a smattering of our small volume specialty products.
We are currently harvesting the following products:
Buddha's Hand Citron
Etrog Citron
Kaffir Lime (fruit and leaf)
Calamondin
Variegated Pink Lemon
Yuzu Lemon
Pomegranates
We will be start harvesting our first mandarin selection, the Owari Satsuma in late October or early November. We anticipate Meyer Lemons starting at approximately the same time.
Late Summer Update
Posted: Thursday, August 30, 2007
We hope everyone is having a good summer season! Our has been full of house remodeling, preparing for next season and actually taking it a bit easier. But the season is just around the corner and we wanted to fill you in our what's happening at Rising C.
Asian Pears: A good friend and associate grower has leased our packing facility for the summer. They are busy packing Asian Pears also known as Pear Apples. We have been so impressed with the flavor and texture that we were able to convince him that we have to share this treat with our customers via our website. Sweet, juicy, crunchy and loaded with flavor is how we describe them.
Amber Thompson Seedless Grapes: We started the season slowly while waiting for the color and flavor to fully develop, now the berries and bunches look good. Our grape program is relatively small and for now we are focusing on packing them for commercial customers only.
Satsuma Mandarins: A big set (lots of fruit of the tree) is making it hard for the tree to size fruit in some blocks. The fruit is very round with a thin skin. We anticipate the fruit being a size smaller than a normal year. It has been our experience that these are very good eating quality years (smaller/thin skin). Early November will be our start up goal.
Buddha's Hand Citron: A good crop continues to mature prior to some of our other fruit offerings. Expect a late October start up, in time for Halloween.
Meyer Lemons: Good sizes will be available early season. Expect early November start.
Heirloom Navels: Early season fruit will be medium sized, expect early December start.
Something New: While we continue to commit ourselves to specialty citrus, the frost of January 2007 reminded us that we must continue to "balance our portfolio" if you will with different products at marked time frames with different risk factors. While still maintaining the qualities that sets us aport from other farmers and packers. Our Amber Grapes are a perfect example, a mainstream crop with a different spin. We are trying to do something with an old pomegranate variety in the same way (with not quite the success yet!). And now we are ready to try a new one.
Mitsu/Honey Fuji Apple: This apple is a conventionally grown Fuji Apple grown in the Chowchilla district (North of Fresno). This region produces high color Fuji's with very high brix. The difference with this apple is the time it spends on the tree, we will harvest the fruit a good month later than normal harvest procedures. This technique is very popular in Japan and the fruit is revered for its crisp sweet taste and crystalline flesh. The apples will have small sugar cracks and not look like your traditional apple, but the taste is amazing. Eric has experiemented with this apple at home the past few years and is confident that our associate grower can get this done.
Thank you for your past support and our hope for a promising new season.
Eric & Kim
The season is over
Posted: Monday, May 14, 2007
Our season has come to an end.
We appreciate all of you that have taken an interest in our fruit.
Our summer will be busy tending to the grove's, working on the packing house and taking some time off to know why we do all this!
Please email with any questions. We will be back in season in November.
Blossom Time
Posted: Tuesday, April 10, 2007
We wish that everyone could be here to experience the wonder that is blossom time. The groves are filled with beauty and fragrance.
Our season goes on in high gear as we continue to harvest and pack and plan and farm for next season.
Warm dry weather has brought temperatures in to the mid 80's. We are in our final weeks of harvest with some very nice fruit available to finish the season.
We still have plenty of great tasting citrus available:
Heirloom Navel
Tarocco Sicilian type Blood Orange
Meyer Lemon
Seedless Lisbon Lemon
Sweet Lime
W. Murcott Mandarin
Ortanique Mandarin
Oroblanco Grapefruit
Cocktail Grapefruit
Warm Weather
Posted: Thursday, April 05, 2007
The calendar might indicate that spring will not officially arrive until next week, but that is not what we are experiencing. We have had a week of beautiful warm weather, with temperatures averaging at least 10° over normal in the 80s. It seems like summer must be right around the corner. The high temperatures have started to force the new buds and blossoms for next season's fruit. It is truely hard to believe that just a few months ago it was 22°!
Our season is in high gear now, though not at the level of a non freeze year. This is the best time to order Gold Nugget Mandarins, they are tasting great. We will have Oroblanco Grapefruit and Minneola Tangelos for approximately two more weeks. We have just started to harvest the Tarocco Sicilian-type Orange.
The freeze disrupted volumes on all items, but we discovered that we have good volumes of W. Murcott Mandarins. This particular block has traditionally produced some of our finest tasting fruit. We also still have good volumes of Heirloom Navels and Meyer Lemons.
We still have a couple of new offerings to come for the next month; Ortanique Tangor and our Mountain Top Valencia. The Mountain Top Ranch produces the sweetest Valencia oranges we have ever eaten. We hope to start harvesting them the week of April 16th.