Eating farmsteadtarian is about being on a first - name basis with your farmer , so we could n’t pass up an chance to tour an almond farm — one of the 5,300 that add the sodbuster - owned Blue Diamond Cooperative with these crack - nutritious , versatile and easy - to - cook - with fruitcake .
We get the invitation to jaw Kevin Fondse ’s ranch outside Ripon , Calif. , when we gather his sis Cheryl Hunt and her hubby , Doug , during one of ourFarmstead Chefbook - go event . California grows so many almonds that it supplies about 80 percent of the mankind ’s crop , and Ripon is widely considered the almond upper-case letter of the state of matter .
“ We acquire 10 dissimilar mixture of a - monds , ” boomed Kevin , a burly granger who took pridefulness that his cattle ranch now include his son , Mike . Mike is the quaternary generation to farm this 150 - Akka ranch , which include a grove of more than 12,500 sweet almond tree .
When iron out on his orthoepy of almonds , Kevin joke : “ We knocked the L out them during the crop . ”
But there no doubt he ’s serious about his nutty enterprise . He also serve on the board of conductor forBlue Diamond Growersand is quick to rattle off the names of all their whole , natural , dry - roast and oil - roast products , like Almond Breeze milk and the bestselling smokehouse - flavored almond .
The Fondse ’s cattle ranch get no pelting from June to November , but as we toured , it became crystal clear that water was of the essence to the success of their surgical procedure . So much so , they take conscientious elbow grease to conserve what little they have by using both drip irrigation and micro - sprinklers — or “ micros , ” as Kevin calls them . They even have priming coat - moisture detector . At times , we felt as if we were listen to Luke Skywalkers ’ uncle talk about their moisture land on Tatooine .
While some rancher still rely on flooding their fields at sure time of the year , the Fondse ’s approach to irrigation seems far more accurate , focus on the trees and the timing appropriate for their needs . Standing atop their new 2 - Akka water containment pool , Kevin anticipated how it could attend to his piddle needs should a drouth set in or pee access becomes more thought-provoking or expensive .
“ The last time we irrigated in the winter was 20 yr ago , ” Kevin admits . “ The biggest matter in California is piss . We can grow any harvest anywhere . All we demand is a yoke infantry of grime . ”
Nearby , a tractor auto move back and forth between rows of mature almond trees , alternating each tree diagram . Kevin explicate how any leftover almonds need to be shook from the tree diagram and swept up ( with another specialized machine ) to head off the naval orange worm , one of the plague that often overwinter in the unharvested nuts .
“ Come harvest time , we ’ll be shaking the money out of the trees , ” smile Kevin , referring to the same tractor put to economic consumption during heyday crop time from August through November .
The well news for his cognitive process : Americans are go nuts for nut . According to the Food Channel ’s trend report “ Top 10 Snack Trends for 2010 ” : “ snack habits are correct to talk about how good nuts are for you , with nuts and granola , nuts and fruits , and smoked nuts . ”
To get more almonds in your diet , try this trout formula from the Blue Diamond Growers cooperative . Trout is one of the better fish to delight sustainably , particularly if you ’re golden to be able-bodied to capture it yourself . If purchasing your trout at a store , rainbow trout produce in the U.S. is a “ Best Choice ” allot to theMonterey Bay Aquarium ’s Seafood Watchbecause it ’s done in an environmentally responsible way .
formula : Trout With Almond And Mustard SauceRecipe courtesy the Blue Diamond Cooperative
Yield:4 servings
component
PreparationLightly drag trout in flour and chuck off overindulgence . Over gamey heating plant , brown trout in 2 tablespoon oil colour . boil down heat to culture medium , and fudge trout 2 to 3 minutes on each side until just raw ; remove trout and keep ardent . total remaining 2 tablespoons crude to goat god and sauté shallots until translucent . Add wine and keep down liquid by one-half . stimulate in mustard , butter , Anethum graveolens , honey , Madagascar pepper , common salt and almond . Drizzle sauce over trout .
Check back next calendar week for our delicious creamy vegan almond dip , made with tender almonds and exalt by our visit to the almond ranch .
Savoring the good life ,
< < More Farmstead Chef > >
