Ethylene Table

(Usually fruits produce ethylene, whereas vegetables are sensitive to it)

EP:Ethylene Producer

ES: Ethylene Sensitive

EN: Ethylene Neutral

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Red Flame Seedless Grapes (EN) are from France Ranch in Porterville, CA. Red Flame grapes are mild and sweet with a tart flavor. When they are ripe, the grapes darken flame to rust red color. Before storing, remove any spoiled grapes with broken skins or browning from the bunch and keep refrigerated; they should keep a week to ten days.

Black Mission Figs (EP) These Black Missions come from Bob and Karen at Maywood Farm in Corning, CA. The figs get their name from the missionaries who planted them as they traveled along the California coast. The dark skin of Black Missions can split when the fig is ripe, but that doesn’t negatively affect the fruit. Figs flower twice per season, which means you get one harvest in early summer and a second in late summer. The first flowering generally doesn’t yield as many figs as the second. We’ve also found that figs from the second flowering are often the best tasting. Click here for a Fig Tart recipe from the LA Times.

Hass Avocados (EP) are grown by Eco Farm in California. When the fruit yields to gentle finger pressure, it is ready to be eaten. Store at room temperature until ripe. Monitor daily to check for ripeness. Storing near other ethylene producers accelerates the ripening process and may result in rot if you don't watch closely enough.

Valencia Oranges (EN) are grown by Sunrise in CA. Valencia oranges originated on the Iberian Peninsula and are the world’s most common commercial variety. Valencias are thin-skinned, nearly seedless, and excellent juicers whose juice doesn’t lose its vitamin C overnight in the refrigerator. Store oranges in a cool place outside the refrigerator and try to eat them within a few days. If you need to keep them longer, refrigerate in a plastic bag or in the vegetable crisper section of the refrigerator.

Gala Apples (EP) The Galas came from two different smaller orchards: Chukkar Ranch, isolated in the steppes of South Central Washington and Stewart Ranch, an established orchard in the Mattawa area of WA. Galas have a shape similar to Fuji apples, but have a more polished skin. Apples are picked at their peak ripeness so additional ripening really means acceleration in the decaying process (they will become mealy and mushy). Apples should be refrigerated as soon as they are brought home. It is best to keep apples as cold as possible so store them in the back of your refrigerator. If stored well, apples can last for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Flavor Rich Pluots (EP) Pluots are a hybrid of a plum and an apricot and mainly retain the characteristics of a plum. Their skin is a light reddish-yellow color with some speckling. This fruit has one of the highest Brix level readings on a refractometer, meaning that it has a very sweet taste. Keep at 65-70 degrees for the most ideal ripening conditions.

Yellow Peaches (EP) are from Kokopelli Farms in Palisade, CO. Click here for some of their peach recipes. We recommend waiting until the flesh has a little give to it for best results.