NOWIS THE TIME TO SAVOR HEARTY SOUPS AND STEWS ALONGWITH THE BRIGHT TASTE OF CITRUS,WHICHWILL CARRY US THROUGH THEWINTER.


THE MANDARIN GROVES OF PENRYN, Newcastle and Loomis are greening up, soon to be covered with Owari Satsuma Man- darins, our sweet winter treat. The success of the Mandarin is a 21st-


century manifestation of a unique horticul- tural history that began more than a hundred years ago. In the 1880s Joel Parker Whitney led the effort to establish the Placer County Citrus Colony,which eventually en- compassedmore than 7,000 acres. By 1891, enticed by reasonable land


prices and the dream of profits from citrus, more than 50 English families had settled in the area, causing it to be known as the “Eng- lish Colony." Citrus continues to thrive in the region’s climatewiththeMandarinthe star of the show.


The Mountain Mandarin Festival cele-


brates the start of Mandarin season each year. The 18th-annual festival takes place November 19-21 at the Gold Country Fair- grounds in Auburn. Tens of thousands come out for this fam-


ily-oriented weekend full of great food, crafts, live entertainment, Alpacas for chil- dren to pet—and lots ofMandarins. Pilz Produce atHillcrest,WestviewGrow-


ers and Miller’s Citrus Grove are long-time festival participants, selling hundreds of pounds of the sweet fruit to eager buyers during the long weekend event. After the festival, mandarin enthusiasts


are invited to visit the orchards through Jan- uary to stock up on Mandarins for enjoy- ment at home and as gifts. Thomas Ranch is one of themany grow-


ers open for the season that offer packing and shipping, so that your family and friends can enjoy the sweet Owari Satsuma Man- darins. (See orchard guide on p. 17 or atMoun- tainMandarins.com).


PlacerGROWN


member products include locally grownmeat as


well as fruit and produce. Karin Sinclair and her husband,


Keith, raise sheep, chickens and cat- tle on the Sinclair Family Farm in Penryn. They sell lamb, beef, eggs and pastured chicken direct from their farm, as well as through the Sierra FoothillsMeat Buyers Club. To learn more about Placer


County’s family farms, orchards and vineyards, visit PlacerGROWN.org where you can search by product to find local producers, local farm events and links to farmersmarkets, produce stores and restaurants that feature great tasting and nutritious local food.


Blue Goose Produce is located in the historic Blue Goose fruit packing shed in the quaint foothill town of Loomis, California. We specialize in locally grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts. We also have free-range eggs, honey, jams, an assortment of gourmet sauces, and organic bread, cheese and butter, plus chicken,


lamb, pork & grass-fed beef.


3550 Taylor Road Loomis


916-652-8341 Store hours Mon-Sat 10-6pm Sunday 10-4


Our farm, Westview Growers, is located five miles “up the hill” in Newcastle.


FoodWineArt 15 |


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