Check out the date, November 21st and I’m writing about Santa Monica farmer’s market peaches from one of my favorite farmers, John Tenerelli in November!! As I write about them, I’m eating them for breakfast with Greek yogurt, slivered almonds and Vietnamese cinnamon & sugar, in November! This past Wednesday at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market John had his last harvest of Autumn Lady Peaches for sale, this is the latest I’ve ever seen them and it’s always nice to see his smiling face at the market. Although he doesn’t have much to smile about with this year’s crop. Tenerelli orchard lost almost its entire crop this year due to bad spring weather.
Tenerelli Orchards are in Littlerock CA. It is a 35 year old farm including 13 small orchards on 55 acres. It’s a family farm; in fact all of the orchards are within two blocks from his mother’s house. John’s dad was an old time butcher; the family has food in their blood. There is a bit of frenzy when John arrives on the market, you’re never sure when he will be there, his fruit comes late. But when he does, you better get there early! He is known to come with just one or two cases of something unbelievable and if you don’t get there before Sherry Yard from Sago does you won’t get any. Sherry loves John’s fruit and often buys all of one variety he brings to create her fantastic desserts. People like Sherry keep farmers like John in business. Thanks Sherry!
Whenever I talk to my orchard farmer friends they tell me everything rides on March because that’s when the trees bloom. My first drive from LA to San Francisco on the 5N happen to be in March during the bloom and I had never seen anything (or smelled anything) so wonderful. There is a side drive off the 99N you can take called the “Blossom Trail”, it’s worth the drive. If the March weather is mild with lovely gentle rain and good sunshine the blossoms thrive and they have a good harvest but just one cold bitter windy rain or frost can wipe out an entire crop. I have a small kitchen orchard with just 14 trees and have seen this happen within minutes. I can’t imagine it happening to an entire orchard and my lively hood.
Each day I go to the farmers market I am so grateful that my farmer friends continue to do what they do even after loosing huge harvests not-to-mention dealing with the recession, fuel increases, fire, other natural and unnatural disasters. Mother Nature does not always cooperate with their plans but when she does we all win. This year John didn’t win but his customers still did. The small harvest he brought to market was outstanding as usual and being able to eat John’s fantastic Autumn Lady Peaches until the week before Thanksgiving is remarkable. Good God we’re spoiled! Thanks John, for being such an amazing farmer ~ see you next year.
