PCC’s Winter Guide to Organic Citrus
In the season of the Big Dark, we’re seeing some of the brightest fresh fruits. Citrus is at its peak in the winter – countless types of sunny oranges, radiantly yellow grapefruits and lemons, and a sweet-to-sour array of lesser-known favorites from fragrant Buddha’s Hand citrons to tart, pebbly-peeled finger limes.
Watch at PCC stores in January for citrus samples from Organically Grown Company (OGC), the Portland-based company supplying much of PCC’s organic winter citrus.
Some of that organic fruit is especially meaningful this year: It’s the first citrus growing season since OGC purchased Johansen Ranch, an organic citrus farm in northern California.
Stewarded by two generations of the Johansen family, growing Satsumas from rootstock that had been brought over from Japan, the farm was in danger of being sold on the open market. Its rows of heirloom fruits would have been replaced by almond groves.
Instead OGC, which is owned by a sustainable agriculture trust, acquired the land with plans to keep it operating just as it had. The company said the move “underscores our commitment to organic agriculture and our growers.” Citrus delivered to PCC produce departments from that farm includes Satsumas, Meyer lemons, blood oranges and navel oranges.