Produce Briefs...
White Corn
White corn is a sweet corn variety. Its ears are wrapped in tightly layered pale lime green to white husks. One ear of corn can contain up to 400 kernels growing in rows lengthwise.
Iceberg Lettuce
It is the only lettuce type that does not occur in red form as well as green. Iceberg is the given name to dozens of cultivars of lettuce, all of which are adapted to specific planting regions and time periods.
Seasons/Availability
Boysenberries are typically available during the spring.
Current Facts
The boysenberry, scientific name, Rubus ursinus var loganobaccus cv Boysenberry, is a hybrid aggregate fruit that was cultivated by cross pollinating the flowers of three other berries: raspberry, loganberry and the blackberry. It is named after its originator, Charles Rudolf Boysen.
Description/Taste
The boysenberry is a large bramble berry with many features that are direct reflections of its parentage. Its size, shape and color are similar to the blackberry, bold in size, oval shaped with onyx and ruby hues. Its flavor is rich, complex and sweet with just a hint of acid, similar to a loganberry. Although its sweetness can be attributed to the raspberry, unlike raspberries, the boysenberry does not have a hallow center, its fruit produced directly from the plant's flowers.
Applications
Use as you would blackberries in all applications. Boysenberries are sweeter, therefore better for use alone with creams, in trifles, and to top fruit tarts. Highly perishable, extend the berry's shelf life by jamming or freezing. Bake into pies, cobblers or bars. Cook down berries with sugar, strain out the juice and make seedless jelly, or pancake syrup. Infuse light spirits and muddle into cocktails. Boysenberries should be used within a couple days of purchase-- keep cool and dry until ready to use.
Geography/History
The boysenberry was developed during the Great Depression by Rudolf Boysen, a Swedish immigrant and horticulturist who lived in the Napa Valley region of California. His first plant to bear fruit was in 1923. The boysenberry would find commercial success under the growing guidance and development of farmer and berry "expert" Walter Knott of Knott's Berry Farm. The boysenberry's popularity is the single most reason for making Knott's Berry Farm so famous. Boysenberries grow as trailing vines throughout the Western Coast of the United States and they have been naturalized in Northern New Zealand, where the fruit is grown for commercial export more than anywhere else in the world. Boysenberry bushes only bear fruit during the summer months and cannot tolerate soil that freezes.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Boysenberries. One
is easiest, three is harder.Recently Spotted
Someone spotted Boysenberries using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Santa Monica Farmers Market Near Santa Monica, California, United States About 4 days ago Spotter's comments : Murray ranches first of the season. Large, juicy and tart! |
