When you receive your peonies don't be alarmed by how they look, some browning is normal, the leaves might look limp, and they will be in bud form. Bud form is the best way to purchase these beauties as they will start blooming as soon as they are in water, and this way, you will be able to enjoy a few additional days of the peonies unique charm!
Care instructions:
If you don't want your peonies to start blooming as soon as they arrive, simply remove the packaging and then set them in your refrigerator without water. Make sure they are dry and that the temperature is not so cold that they freeze! Once you are ready for them to bloom, simply follow the instructions above.
If you want peonies to bloom faster, cut the stems shorter and remove more foliage, set them in warm water, and set them in a warmer room.
If you have any more questions, please email us at info@mccarthyfamilyfarm.com We want to make sure you enjoy the flowers to their fullest!
]]>Nothing says summer quite like a ripe, juicy peach. This summer, McCarthy Family Farm is introducing fresh, local peaches to our online store. Starting in July, we’ll be harvesting three varieties of delicious peaches. Here are some suggestions on how to eat them.
]]>Nothing says summer quite like a ripe, juicy peach. This summer, McCarthy Family Farm is introducing fresh, local peaches to our online store.
Starting in July, we’ll be harvesting three varieties of delicious peaches: Saturn (doughnut peaches), Blushing Glories (yellow flesh) and White Ladies (white flesh). When you order peaches from McCarthy Family Farm, they'll arrive at your door just days after they were picked. Most likely, they will be ready to eat within a day. But how do you know for sure?
How to tell if a peach is ripe
Softness is the key to knowing if a peach is ripe and ready to eat. To determine if a peach is ready to eat, use your finger pads to gently apply pressure to the fruit. If it's firm, it's definitely not ripe. If it absorbs a little pressure without bruising, it's almost ready. When it's soft to the touch, and your finger makes a slight indent, it's ready to eat.
If you accidentally bruise a peach, don't worry! Slightly bruised peaches are great in jam, smoothies, on top of ice cream or stirred into oatmeal.
Five of our favorite peach recipes
Peaches are such a versatile fruit. While many people dream of peach pie and peach cobbler all winter long, peaches are just as delicious when paired with savory salads and sides. In addition to the recipes below, we love adding sliced, fresh peaches to just about anything — from yogurt to grilled pork.
Peaches and Coconut Cream Smoothie
Grilled Peach, Hazelnut and Balsamic Crostini
Summer Peach and Kale Corn Salad
Find more delicious farm-to-table recipes at DishingUptheDirt.com.
Do you have a favorite peach recipe? Email us at info@mccarthyfamilyfarm.com and we'll share it on our next newsletter!
Place your peach order today! We're now accepting pre-orders for our Hood River Peach fruit gift boxes. Choose to receive a dozen peaches of one variety or a mix of all three. Order now.
]]>Starting in July, we’ll be harvesting three varieties of delicious peaches: Saturn (doughnut peaches), Blushing Glories (yellow flesh) and White Ladies (white flesh).
A Magical Formula
The Hood River Valley is a premier fruit-growing region, boosted by Mount Hood's rich, volcanic soils, abundant winter snowfall, and warm, dry summers. Our apples, pears and peaches grown at 1,725 feet have remarkable resilience and flavor.
Some might worry that the lingering snow this year in the Hood River Valley might have a detrimental effect on fruit harvests. Luckily, fruit trees need what is known as a “chilling period” to encourage the best fruit production during the season. This occurs when the trees enter a dormant state during temperatures between 32℉ - 45℉. So, if you find yourself grumbling because you are shoveling or plowing snow well into March, just remember how happy it is making your local fruit trees!
The Anatomy of a Peach
Peach pits are a sign of the season. Perhaps you have noticed that sometimes a peach pit is easy to remove, and other times, it’s just not. These “states” of peach pit actually have a name - “freestone” and “clingstone”. The weather can make a difference in how clingy a pit can be, but mostly this is determined by how soon the fruit reaches its peak ripeness.
Peach “fuzz” isn’t just cute, it’s functional. This soft outer layer of tiny hairs protects the fruit from light moisture by keeping the water away from a peach’s sensitive skin. This helps to prevent premature rot spots, fungus or discoloration that can occur when water touching the fruit skin doesn’t evaporate quickly. Some find it annoying, but we’d argue that it’s a pretty neat, natural defense system.
Place Your Peach Orders Starting in June
Beginning in June, we'll start accepting pre-orders for our delicious peach fruit boxes. If you're interested in wholesale or corporate gifts, our friendly customer service team is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to help answer any questions you might have and fulfill large orders.
In addition, you can join our McCarthy Family Farm Club for special access throughout the season to freshly available products that are not available through our online store.
]]>We offer more than a dozen different varieties to our wholesale customers. And, starting in 2019, we're excited to offer mail-order peonies to our online customers, too. Our locally grown peonies are grown in the upper Hood River Valley at 2,700 feet. A hardy plant that gets better with age, our family farm has grown peonies for over 10 years. We put a lot of love and attention into these plants, and it shows.
Peonies are perennials that often grow 2 to 4 feet high, producing numerous buds and beautiful, bushy foliage. They make delightful cut flowers, with long sturdy stems and lasting blooms, making them a coveted addition to any florist’s stock. Blooming season also coincides with wedding season in the Hood River Valley and greater Portland area, and the peony is a perfect choice for unforgettable bridal bouquets and banquet table settings. They are capable of making a statement all on their own.
Fresh-cut peonies can last more than a week in a vase and can be stored in the refrigerator, stems wrapped in a damp paper towel and in a plastic bag until ready for display. After removing from the cold storage, give the stems a quick snip and place in slightly warm water to reinvigorate them. For maximum use of these versatile blooms, pick the edible petals (yes, edible!) before they turn brown and use them to flavor a bright, lightly flavored peony jelly or as decoration on baked goods.
We are always looking to establish new partnerships with florists and nurseries in the Hood River Valley and Portland, Oregon region. Outside of our wholesale offerings, customers can sign up to for our McCarthy Family Farm Club, where you will receive a full bouquet of peonies in one of your quarterly farm deliveries.
If you’re interested in setting up an account, please contact our Customer Service Department or complete the form on our website.
Our great-grandfather, Homer Rogers, moved to the upper Hood River Valley in 1910. When he and our great-grandmother, Elizabeth Smith, discovered that the fertile volcanic soils around Mount Hood produced some of the best-tasting apples he’s ever tasted, he planted a small orchard where fruit trees still remain today. Lured by the beautiful streams, meadows and craggy slopes of the north side of Mount Hood, Homer and Elizabeth decided to build an inn (this was more than 20 years before the iconic Timberline Lodge was built near Government Camp).
Mt. Hood Lodge was a welcoming outpost for visitors who wanted to experience the recreational opportunities and scenic beauty of Mount Hood. Homer did some guiding on Mount Hood as well, and would summit 34 times in his lifetime. He also briefly owned Cloud Cap Inn (which he purchased from William Ladd for $5,000.)
"It was a grand life—of course you don’t make any money doing a crazy thing like that—no regrets when I think of these wonderful years—or when I watch my three daughters on horseback, all three superb horsewomen," he wrote in a letter in 1959.
Homer's sense of adventure and respect for the land has been handed down through generations. Today, Homer's great-grandson, Adam McCarthy manages McCarthy Family Farm on the same plot of land where the Mt. Hood Lodge once stood. The view of Mount Hood never gets old.