Fall Fruit Harvest in the Pacific Northwest

By: Michael Sarko | October 09 2010
Posted in Find It - Uncategorized

The kids are back in school. The leaves are changing. The air is crisp. Autumn has arrived and with it, a bounty of delicious fruits. The Pacific Northwest seems built for this time of year, its rich soil, gentle rainfall and mild climate providing a perfect home for some of the nation's finest produce. Whether it's in the busy open-air markets that dot the region, in the kitchens of some of the best restaurants of the bustling cities or growing in your own garden, Northwestern fruit features prominently in the Fall flavor palate. This year, let The Local Dish be your guide to the joy of the harvest.

The city of Seattle is known for the variety of berries that grow there throughout the Spring and Summer, but the local hero crop of Fall is undoubtedly the noble apple. Sweet, colorful and surprisingly versatile, the apples of Washington are in season and definitely deserve some time in the spotlight, especially the Honeycrisp variety, a local favorite both fresh off the tree and in pies.

But that doesn't mean apples are just a Washington thing. The people of Oregon are doing some downright hip things with those shiny delights. Portland has the 411 on the perfect recipe for apple pie while nearby Hood River is juggling apples by the basket-full in front of its beautiful mountain vistas.

Elsewhere in Oregon, things are going pear-shaped (in the best way possible). Come behind the scenes in Eugene with a local pear farmer who is pulling those juicy, candy-like fruits from the trees presently, learn the subtle differences between pear varieties and try your hand at a couple original pear-focused recipes.

What's the deal with figs? Head to the San Francisco Bay Area to find out why this under-appreciated biblical fruit native to Asia is making such a splash in California. It's a star player in farmer's markets and Berkeley area restaurants aim to educate patrons' tastebuds about figs with some tasty, unusual treats.

So, grab your favorite scarf, take a deep breath of Autumn air and make room on your plate for some of the West and Pacific Northwest's finest regional Fall fruits.

Eugene

Portland

San Francisco Bay Area

Seattle