From the eastern tip of Maine to the coast of California, in each American fruit-growing community, harvest time is much more than picking time; it's a celebration that can last for weeks. It's a chance to indulge in fresh flavor that only comes around once a year, and to preserve a little for the days when the harvest is just a memory.
East Coast Blues
In Maine, you know it's late July when you can stroll down to a town square on a Saturday morning for the local Rotarians' blueberry pancakes. The blueberry harvest is no longer a celebration just for New Englanders; it can draw crowds comparable to fall-color tours.
According to the locals, that's okay. There's plenty of harvest to indulge in fresh, with enough left over for jam, syrup, flavored vinegar and more.
Ninety-eight percent of America's blueberries are harvested in Maine, where the rolling plains actually turn blue at harvest time. It's a sight New Englanders anticipate every year as nearly a quarter of a million acres yield a whopping 30 million pounds of blueberries.
For a flavorful topping with a definitive New England flair, put up a batch of blueberry syrup. Heat slightly and pour over whole-grain pancakes on some cold December Saturday. You'll be back on the town square green-if only in your mind.
Southern Sunshine
Southern hospitality gets especially tasty at peach harvest time, where the Georgia Peach Queen Contest, a "Peach Walk for Health," and the World's Largest Peach Cobbler (cooked in a 6-by-9-foot stainless-steel pan) mark the celebration.
It's no wonder Americans think "Georgia" when they think peaches. In Peach County alone-one of the largest producers in the state-more than 3,500 acres of peach trees yield over 700,000 bushels each year.
For Georgians who like to stock up on all that sunny flavor, peach jam is just the beginning. Try making some Georgia-style peach chutney for a delightful balance of sweet, tart and slightly hot. It's a perfect partner with tortilla chips or to accompany some thick halibut steaks on the grill.
Midwest Marvels
Hundreds of thousands of Midwesterners flock to Traverse City, Michigan, each summer for the Cherry Festival. Michigan leads the country as the largest producer of tart cherries and is among the top producers of sweet varieties of cherries.
The state produces over 225 million pounds of tart cherries-the pride and joy of Michigan growers. Each bright red fruit packs a wallop of flavor in pies, preserves, jellies, and juices.
As Michiganders have discovered, the flavor of tart cherries shines through in partnership with the flavor of almond. Cherry-Almond Jam, featuring a few dashes of almond liqueur, is an exquisite "Michigan-style" gift your loved ones will enjoy no matter where you find your cherries.
California Strawberries
While cherry season in Michigan is fleeting-the harvest lasts just a few weeks-California's strawberry harvest virtually never ends. Although the peak of strawberry flavor is from April through June, the California coast provides the warm, sunny days and cool, foggy nights strawberries love from January to November.
In fact, no place in the world is friendlier to the seedy strawberry than California. The state produces one billion pounds each year.
There's no end to the ideas for both fresh and preserved strawberries. The fresh-tart flavor is equally at home with rhubarb or chocolate-salad greens or crème fraîche.
What fruits are special in your part of the country? Raspberries? Cranberries? Citrus? Blackberries? Pears? Whatever the freshest flavors in your community are, stock a fruit-fest on your pantry shelves. It's time to plan how you'll preserve a bit of the harvest to warm those cold, winter days ahead.
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