June 20 is California Nectarine Day! Not every blossom that appears on a peach, plum or nectarine tree in the spring grows into a piece of fruit; if they all did, there would be too many pieces for the tree to hold. Instead, growers thin the fruit when each piece is about the size of an almond. Right now, many trees are being thinned in California peach, plum and nectarine country.

Thinning is done entirely by hand, tree by tree, and it is definitely an art. Growers select the strongest pieces on the “hanger,” the small branches that the fruits grow from, in order to get a finished crop of the best-sized and sweetest-tasting fruit.

Hangers on the lower part of the tree have fewer pieces of fruit left on them than the upper part of the tree, because the top of the tree receives more sunshine and has more area for fruit to grow.

Before a tree is thinned, it might have thousands of pieces of fruit on it. The number that will be left on depends on when the tree will be ready to harvest. More pieces are left on late varieties than early varieties, as the late varieties will have more time to grow. Early varieties might have as few as 350 pieces on the tree and late varieties as many as 1,200.
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Featured Recipe
Sweet Summer Fruit Bruschetta

This unusual bruschetta recipe is a perennial favorite of the Freshipes staff, and finds new fans wherever we take it. Sweet fruit tops baguette slices broiled with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in this unexpectedly delicious summer appetizer.
   
  
Ingredients
    
24   1/4-inch baguette slices  
1/4   cup butter, softened  
6
   tablespoon brown sugar, divided  
1/4
   teaspoon cinnamon  
1/2
   cup chopped peaches and/or nectarines  
1/2
   cup chopped plums  
2
   tablespoon fresh lime juice  
2   tablespoon chopped glazed walnuts  
       
       
       
Preparation

Lay the baguette slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Stir together the butter, 4 tablespoons brown sugar and cinnamon and spread on one side of each baguette slice. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until bubbly and bread is lightly browned on the edges. Stir together the remaining brown sugar, fruit and lime juice in a small bowl. Spoon equal amounts over the bread slices and sprinkle with walnuts.

Makes 8 Servings
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The Tip
The first peaches and nectarines of the year will be harvested at the end of April and beginning of May.

Plums will come along a little later, as the weather starts to warm up. Keep an eye out – they’ll be here soon.

 

     
     
     
   

 

 
       

 

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California Tree Fruit Agreement | 975 I Street, P.O. Box 968, Reedley, CA 93654-0968 I Phone: (559) 638-8260
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