One of the newer farms in the Harvest Time Brentwood family of farms is Kite Hawk Farms.  Kite Hawk Farms, owned by Lindsey and Sean McCord, aptly named from the Kite Hawk Lane where the farm is located, offers an extraordinary array of produce.  The McCords purchased their 5 acre property in the summer of 2017 and began taking steps to prepare soils for planting in January of 2018. Today, they are a contributing member of Harvest Time in Brentwood and can be found bi-weekly at Brentwood’s Farmers Market.

How Kite Hawk Farms Started

Prior to opening Kite Hawk Farms, Sean and Lindsey McCord had long dreamed of living a simpler life in the country. Lindsey was raised with stories of her grandparents and great grandparents working in the produce and farming business.  Her grandfather owned D’Accardo’s Market in Riverbank from 1953-1975. Her great-grandparents grew grapes, almonds, and walnuts in the Central Valley. Lindsey was drawn to farming because of the many childhood memories shared among her family.

In a life prior to Kite Hawk Farms, Sean and Lindsey worked in customer service and yearned for a life away from computer screens and fluorescent lights.  They enjoyed weekends raising chickens and tending a small family garden. The desire to live on open land, spend the days outside and working with nature became more and more attractive.  When the parcel on Kite Hawk Lane became available, they knew it was where they would build a farm and a home.

What Can You Expect From Kite Hawk Farms

Kite Hawk Farms consists of two main pastures, divided by the tree-lined driveway that leads to the McCords primary residence. Currently, only the ‘west’ field is actively being farmed – however, soils are being prepared in the “east” field. Soon, both 1.5 acre pastures will consist of five separate gardens that measure 65 feet by 100 feet. Once the garden beds are fully developed and producing, the McCord family will integrate fruit trees into the perimeter of the plants beds.

Today, a visit to Kite Hawk Farms means access to a variety of freshly grown veggies.  A current customer favorite is lettuce, which is fresh, crisp and a perfect addition to any salad, sandwich or burger.  Other crops include

• spinach
• arugula
• swiss chard
• red Russian
• Toscano Kale
• turnips
• beets
• peppers
• eggplants
• onions
• tomatoes
• Brussels sprouts
• broccoli
• carrots 
• cauliflower

While many estate farms specialize in only a few products, the technology at Kite Hawk Farms allows the McCords to produce a large variety of delicious veggies.

Technology on The Farms

Lindsey and Sean are dedicated to providing the highest quality specialty produce using the newest regenerative and economically efficient agricultural practices.  This means that all their produce is hand-grown, maintained and picked. As many large farms demand the use of large machinery, at Kite Hawk Farms, everything is completed by hand – or by using craftsman items such as a flame weeder, broad forks or other makeshift tools.  Due to the commitment of farming without large machinery, the McCords have learned to depend on innovative technology to ensure efficiency and productivity on the farm.

One unique strategy of innovation can be found within their propagation house. Inside, you will find five 40-foot long tables with radiant heating PEX tubing.  The heat in the tables allows the McCords to start planting sooner – which means their produce gets to market more quickly than other farms. They also use a bubble washer to clean their greens. The bubble washing is a 150-gallon tub filled with water, lined with PVC tubing at the bottom, connected to a jacuzzi motor.  When the motor is turned on, the water gently agitates the lettuce and any dirt or debris is removed from the leafy greens. The greens are then left on a drying table where they are ultimately bagged for customers to purchase. The washing and drying process leave the greens crisp, clean and ready to be enjoyed.

What’s Next?

The produce from Kite Hawk Farms can be found at their farm stand, restaurants, and at the Brentwood Farmer’s Market.  They are also expanding their farm tour availability. These tours will allow the McCords to introduce their farming strategies to the community and allow people to taste their delicious variety of produce.  The McCords are also planning to expand to other locations where they can further develop their educational programs on farming practices. If you are interested in visiting the new Harvest Time farm, visit the farm located on Kite Hawk Lane. You can also call the farm directly at 925-639-7109 with more questions or to schedule a farm tour.  

Cherries are one of the first Spring crops of the year.  For Harvest Time in Brentwood, that means U-Pick season is about to begin where you get to pick cherries directly from a local cherry orchard.  Today, if you drive through the outskirts of town, through the orchards, you will see gorgeous cherry blossoms spread throughout the landscape.  This beautiful view is a sign that cherries will be here soon. To get you ready for your cherry picking experience, here are some cherry picking tips that will help you get the juiciest, tastiest cherries of the season.

Know Your Cherries

There are many types of cherries.  Most of our Harvest Time cherries tend to fall into the sweet cherry category. These are cherries that are best eaten fresh. The other genre of cherries are known as sour, or tart, cherries. These are cherries people prefer to use for baking or canning, such as in pies, jellies, and jams.  When you hit our U-Pick farms, you will find an excellent variety of sweet cherries.

Here are a few popular varieties offered from our farms:

• Bing Cherry: The standard by which all other varieties are judged, Bing continues as the leading dark sweet cherry grown in the Western United States. Bing is also the No. 1 commercial sweet cherry sold in North America. The fruit is dark mahogany from its glossy skin to its dense, juicy flesh. It is exceptionally large and flavorful. 
• Coral Cherry: A low-acid cherry with glossy dark flesh and a very sweet flavor that is similar to Bing. Fruits are firm and large to very large.  It is precocious, heavy bearing, and will pollinate with Bing.
• Black Pearl Cherry: This variety bears black fruit that is firm, sweet, and split resistant. The cherries are good quality and store extremely well. 
• Lapins Cherry: The most planted commercial black cherries in the West Coast. The flesh is sweet and juicy with good flavor. Lapins is a large, mahogany-red and lighter red flesh. 
• EbonyPearl Cherry: Moderately firm and crunchy variety. EbonyPearl is dark red with excellent flavor and crack resistant. The stems are long and securely attached. 

Choosing Cherries to Pick

Once you arrive at the cherry orchard, there are a few tips you should be aware of.  First, cherries will increase in size until they are ripe. This means they should be picked when they are their maximum size. Cherries will not ripen off the tree. This means, if you pick a green cherry – it is not ripe and it will never be ripe.  Look for full bodies and boldly colored cherries to pick. You can tell when the cherry is ready to be picked because sweet cherries are firm when they are ripe. Expect the stems to stay attached when you pick it from a tree. If you plan on eating the cherry immediately, grab the cherry without the stem.  If you think the cherries may last a day or two, keep the stem attached for longer storage.

How to Pick the Cherries From the Tree

Although cherry picking may seem to be simple, there are some tips that ensure your perfect find stays perfect off the tree.

• First, gently grasp the berry with your forefinger and thumb.  
• Second, tug gently. Cherries that are ripe, and ready to be picked, will easily slide off the tree, with the stem attached. Cherries that are still not quite ready, will be resistant. Some people describe cherry picking like turning on a light-switch.  Gently pull up and the cherry and stem will pull off easily. Do not pull as it might damage the tree and disrupt future growth.
• Finally, gently set the cherries into the container you brought to collect your berries. If you throw or drop, your cherries into the bucket, chances are good you will bruise or damage the fruit before you can eat it.  Definitely, do not push and pack your cherries into the container to fit more in. Cherries are fragile. If you put pressure on them, they will burst and you will be left with nothing but a mess.

Preparing the Cherries for the Trip Home

Regardless of how long the trip home is, take some steps to ensure the sweet cherries you meticulously picked remain in prime condition for eating when you get home.

• First, keep your cherries cool. Make sure your freshly picked cherries stay out of direct sunlight. It is best to place them under the shade of a tree while you finishing picking.
• For the drive home, place your cherries carefully in the trunk of your car.  It is also a good idea to bring a cooler with some ice. Keeping your cherries cool will help them stay fresher, longer.
• Only wash what the cherries you eat. When you get home, wash them right before you eat them instead of washing them all at once. This also preserves the cherries for longer storage.
• For longer storage, refrigerate them instead of leaving them on the counter.

Visit A Harvest Time Farm

Cherry season is a perfect time to visit local Harvest Time Farms and Orchards. The spring brings forth a huge variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Cherry season is short. Make your plans to visit a U-PIck farm early in the morning and early in the season, to ensure you get the tastiest, juiciest U-Pick cherries of the season.  

To get notified when cherry season starts, remember to sign-up for our newsletter!

Springtime means you can feel the warmth of the sun, smell the fresh air, and see the blossoming flowers. Unfortunately, for 1 in 5 Americans, spring means: 

• itchy and watery eyes
• sneezing
• coughing
• sore throat
• congestion
• headaches
• trouble breathing

Springtime brings allergies!

What are Allergies

Pollen is a very fine powder produced by trees, flowers, grasses, and weeds to fertilize other plants of the same species. As the levels of pollen rises, we can’t help but inhale pollen. When we inhale pollen, allergies are the body’s way of attacking the foreign invaders (pollen), almost like a bacteria or virus. 

Natural Allergy Remedy

Many believe that local raw honey can alleviate allergy symptoms. How? Some are convinced local honey can act as a vaccine. Bees jump from flower to flower covering themselves in pollen spores which are then transferred to their honey. When you consume that honey, you also consume that same offending local pollen and build immunity through regular exposure to local allergens. Local raw honey is also known to ward off infections and boost immunity.

We are happy to share that many of our local farms and country stores carry the raw local honey that can be an antidote to your allergies!

• Mccauley Olive Groves 
• Gursky Ranch Country Store
• Loose Rooster Ranch 

This past week, 5 Star Cherries added 20 acres to their 100 acres of cherry orchards putting in a new orchard off of Walnut Blvd. Although these cherry trees won’t bear fruit until 4 years from now, this orchard will provide some of the sweetest cherry variety: Coral, Black Pearl, Lapins and EbonyPearl.

The Enos family owns and operates 5 Star Cherries; with three generations of farming up their sleeves, farming is a family affair for the Enos family where you’ll most likely find almost the whole family working the farms during Brentwood’s U-Pick season. Along with their cherry orchards, they also have 160 acres of young almond trees and ship cherries all over the world. 

Be sure to visit 5 Star Cherries during the upcoming cherry season! For a list of other U-Pick farms, follow this link and enter your desired fruits.

There are over 500 varieties of sweet cherries, below are information about the varieties added by 5 Star Cherries:

• Bing Cherry: The standard by which all other varieties are judged, Bing continues as the leading dark sweet cherry grown in the Western United States. Bing is also the No. 1 commercial sweet cherry sold in North America. The fruit is dark mahogany from its glossy skin to its dense, juicy flesh. It is exceptionally large and flavorful. 
• Coral Cherry: A low-acid cherry with glossy dark flesh and a very sweet flavor that is similar to Bing. Fruits are firm and large to very large.  It is precocious, heavy bearing, and will pollinate with Bing.
• Black Pearl Cherry: This variety bears black fruit that is firm, sweet, and split resistant. The cherries are good quality and store extremely well. 
• Lapins Cherry: The most planted commercial black cherries in the West Coast. The flesh is sweet and juicy with good flavor. Lapins is a large, mahogany-red and lighter red flesh. 
• EbonyPearl Cherry: Moderately firm and crunchy variety. EbonyPearl is dark red with excellent flavor and crack resistant. The stems are long and securely attached. 

To get notified when cherry season starts, remember to sign-up for our newsletter!

 

Petersen Vineyards launched their latest creation on February 9th, a Sweet Wine Vermouth called Tipsy. Made from fortified Chardonnay Port Wine with 14 different herbs and botanicals, served on the rocks or make a Tipsy Breeze by adding a splash of tonic water and an orange peel to make a refreshing summer cocktail. 

About Petersen Vineyards

Petersen Vineyards is located in Knightsen, Ca and was established in 2012. This charming family-owned vineyard is surrounded by 12 acres of grapes and 3 acres of cherries and specializes in red and port wines made with Portuguese, Spanish and California varietals.

Owner and operator, Peter Petersen had the desire to learn the trade from A-Z, starting with learning how to grow and manage their own grape vines. With the first harvest in 2013 they made their first wine, and by the following year in 2014 they crafted their now famous Diablo Sunset. Peter’s passion and education in the winemaking process have enabled him to produce award-winning wines.

2017 Central Coast Wine Competition

• Tinta de la Vida awarded Gold 
• Valedepenas awarded Silver
• Diablo Sunset awarded Bronze
• Petite Sirah awarded Bronze
• Zinfandel awarded Bronze

2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

• Valdepenas awarded Silver
• Petite Sirah awarded Bronze
• Diablo Sunset awarded Bronze

Here’s a list of local wineries and wine bars: 

• Bloomfield Vineyards, Brentwood, Ca
• Campos Family Vineyards, Byron, Ca
• Hannah Nicole Vineyards, Brentwood, Ca
• Orchard & Vine a Nunn Family Farm, Brentwood, Ca
  • To purchase Nunn Wines, send an email to info@orchardandvinebrentwood.com
• Tamayo Family Vineyards, Brentwood, Ca
• Co Co County Wine Company, Brentwood, Ca

Maggiore is a name synonymous with U-pick cherries in East County, and for good reason. Along with the Nunn and Seko families, the Maggiore’s helped pioneer the phenomenon that today sees more than 180,000 fresh fruit lovers swarming to area farms each year. It’s safe to say a lot has changed over the 35 years or so that they’ve been at it.

“We used to U-pick on Balfour Road, right where the Chevron station is now,” said Mark Maggiore. ”Not much picking goes on there now.”

Today the family runs both Maggiore Cherry Ranch (Harvest Time Member #5) and Maggiore Ranches (Member #8). “It’s a good life. It’s hard work, and it can be inconsistent as far as the fruit goes, but I love working with the trees, the vegetables and the people. It’s always a challenge until the season begins and it all happens.”

And the best part of it all?

“The kids. When they come out of the orchard with a bag of cherries in their hands, cherries all over their faces, and looking like they just think it’s the best thing in the whole world.”

Mark thinks May 11 will be opening day for Brooks cherries this year, with Coral Champagne coming in right behind. As with all U-pick farms, it’s best to call to check availability before heading out.

Maggiore Cherry Ranch is on Walnut Boulevard in Brentwood, a half-mile south of Balfour Road. Maggiore Ranches is on Camino Diablo in Byron, a half-mile east of Vasco Road. You can check on the status of both farms by calling (925) 634-4176.

There’s no need to go out of your way to find unique, thoughtful gifts this year. Harvest Time members have you covered with ideas that are special, delicious and best of all, nearby.

1. Gursky Ranch Country Store offers dried fruits and nuts, specialty soups, sauces and over 390 other gourmet food items. Buy what you like pre-packed or in bulk, and if you can’t decide which to get? No problem. They’ll pack a bunch of temptations into a custom gift basket, wrap it up with a bow, and ship it off to whomever you think deserves it. They can even send something to everyone in your Rolodex, as helping with your company’s gift list is one of their specialties.
2. When it comes to delicious, locally produced comestibles, you might say McCauley’s Olive Grove is crushing it. They grow, press and bottle their own delicious olive oils, and offer an always-open tasting bar so you can sample the many flavors they offer. There’s also a wide variety of balsamic vinegar, stuffed olives, nuts, jams, marinades, Brentwood honey, gift baskets, fruit pies and many other items. If you have a hard time deciding what to buy, McCauley’s offers pre-paid gift cards as well.
3. A visit to Smith’s Pumpkin Farm / Herbs & Christmas Trees during the holidays is more than a shopping trip; it’s an entire Christmas experience. There are Christmas trees, handmade wreaths and garland, holiday decorations, seasonal treats and candies and plenty more. Every weekend during the season, Santa Claus stops by for free photos, and a Christmas-themed barn hosts Mrs. Claus’s Bakeshop, Reindeer Flight Training Academy, Santa’s Vacation House and Snowman Wonderland. Low-price hot beverages are available throughout the week and free popcorn is offered on weekends.
4. Tess’ Community Kitchen offers local produce, wines, specialty beers, and cheeses; foods that can’t be purchased at grocery stores.  Their artisan sauces, lotions and soaps made fresh and local make great holiday gifts. You can also make up your own custom gift basket from an amazing selection of products that are made in small quantities just for us.
5. One of Harvest Time’s newest members, Urban Edge, opened earlier this year. Dedicated to not only providing produce grown on site and at First Generation Farmers, Urban Edge provides hands-on learning about where and how your food is grown. There are lots of gift and decorating ideas, including a wide variety of gourds, make-your-own wreaths (while supplies last), and delicacies such as their Artisan Pickled Asparagus, just for starters.
6. At Loose Rooster Ranch, you’ll find a lot more than just Certified Organic eggs, free-range chickens and local honey. There are also handmade signs, animal chalkboards, wine bottle lighting fixtures, natural honey soaps, beeswax candles and more. Kids can pet two friendly goats while you relax and sip some apple cider, tea or coffee made with Loose Rooster Honey. You can meet the farmers and beekeepers, too.

Of course no discussion about local, unique gift ideas would be complete without including the vineyards and their selections of award-winning wines. Below is a list of the local vintners sure to please your palate and pocketbook.

So while Harvest Time will continue to offer healthy and delicious U-pick fruits and vegetables during the summer, remember to stop by and support your local farms during the holiday season as well. You, and the people you’re buying gifts for, will be glad you did!

• Bloomfield Vineyards, Brentwood, Ca
• Campos Family Vineyards, Byron, Ca
• Hannah Nicole Vineyards, Brentwood, Ca
• Orchard & Vine a Nunn Family Farm, Brentwood, Ca
  • To purchase Nunn Wines, send an email to info@orchardandvinebrentwood.com
• Tamayo Family Vineyards, Brentwood, Ca

Hours and days open vary from member to member, so be sure to call ahead.

Congratuations to Lynn Gursky of Gursky Ranch Country Store named Woman of the Year.

Story written and published by ThePress.net

Lynn Gursky had just come in from the garden when she got the call from Assemblyman Jim Frazier’s office, leaving the outgoing Brentwood businesswoman uncharacteristically dumbstruck.

“I said to Jim, ‘you know me, and I have to say I am actually speechless,’” she said, laughing.

The phone call was to inform Gursky that she had been named Woman of the Year for Frazier’s 11th Assembly District.

“I am honored to name Lynn Gursky as the Woman of the Year,” said Frazier. “And as all who know her will tell you, Lynn is a special individual: determined, elegant, graceful and kind, with a huge heart and great sense of humor.”

She will be feted in two ceremonies – one at the state capitol in Sacramento on March 12 and again in a more intimate gathering at the Knightsen Elementary School library on March 16.

For the longtime resident, community activist, educator and supporter of agribusiness, the recognition is a humbling one.

“It’s such an honor, but it is also for all of those who are active in the community and believe in giving back,” said Gursky. “I feel I am representative of many, many people here.”

Gursky is the owner of Gursky Ranch Country Store, a business she and her late husband Roy started in 1980. Gursky taught at Knightsen Elementary School for 32 years, eventually becoming a mentor teacher and later the director of curriculum and coordinator of the Beginning Teacher Program. Now retired from the classroom, she still works as a part-time education consultant.

“Lynn has served nearly four decades as a member of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce and Harvest Time Growers Association and has supported the Harvest Festival of Brentwood, Brentwood CornFest and Brentwood Regional Community Chest,” said Frazier.

When Gursky moved to East County in 1968, the landscape was vastly different from today, but the area’s ambiance and spirit, she says, remains the same.

“Roy was very involved in the community, it was his community,” said Gursky. “I was the newcomer from Lafayette. There was nothing here, but it was a very tight-knit community; there has always been that sense of inclusion.”

Today the mother of two and grandmother of five remains active, participating in (among other things) Soroptimist International, supporting Brentwood’s Relay for Life and contributing to care packages for Operation Creekside. She also runs the family’s country store with the help of her son and daughter-in-law. Through it all, Gursky remains thankful to the community that welcomed her over 50 years ago.

“I have always been so grateful that I had this kind of place to raise my family,” said Gursky. “This is my forever home … I feel very deep roots here.”

The public is invited to attend the Knightsen reception on Friday, March 16, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., at 1923 Delta Road. To RSVP, call Frazier’s office in Brentwood at, 925-513-0411.