DLJ Produce

Both ready for harvest in the fall, DLJ Produce’s pomegranates and persimmons might share another common aspect: both are delicious and underrated fruits. But aside from their overall tastiness, harvest season, and same first letter, the two are drastically different. Nevertheless, both offer a freshness, nutrition, and burst of flavor that’s worth a try. Here is a glance at the delicious P’s of the fruit world.

Pomegranates

With more than 90% of the domestic crop, California is the undisputed leader in pomegranate production in the United States. Each year, the Golden State cultivates over 25,000 acres of pomegranates, which yields a total crop of 280,000 tons.

During harvest season between September and early December, pomegranates are at their tastiest. Juicy, sweet, and with just a bit of tartness, these fruits are a welcome addition to many recipes, salads, and cereals.

Plus, each one of the pomegranate’s tiny red morsels come packed with plenty of nutrition and health benefits. This list includes:

• Vitamin C (30% daily value [DV])
• Vitamin K (36% DV)
• 7 grams of fiber
• 3 grams of protein
• Potassium (12% DV)
• Antioxidants

In addition, pomegranates may also help fight high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease.

In the refrigerator, pomegranates stay fresh for up to two months, making them one of the longest-lasting fruits available. Once opened, the arils (also known as seeds or kernels) can stay in the refrigerator for up to five days, as well as fresh juice.

Pro Tip: Everyone seems to have their own trick to removing the arils of a pomegranate. However, the best method to prevent a mess is to break up the pomegranate underwater. You can also use a wooden spoon to whack the outside of the fruit to remove the arils.

Persimmons

Although persimmons are harvested around the same time as pomegranates, they’re strikingly different. Ranging in color from bright orange to dark red, persimmons come in a variety of types, but most notably in astringent and non-astringent. Astringent persimmons must be fully ripe before eating while non-astringent persimmons are ready to eat once firm.

Sweet, tart, and tangy, persimmons taste like no other fruit on the planet, with many people comparing it to a mix between mangoes and sweet peppers with hints of clove and cinnamon. Thus, they are quite versatile fruits, working well in both sweet or savory capacities.

Persimmons also have an amazing nutritional profile, offering all types of health benefits in just one serving, including:

• Manganese (30% DV)
• Vitamin A (55% DV)
• Vitamin C (22% DV)
• 6 grams of fiber
• 1 gram of protein
• 0.3 grams of fat
• Antioxidants

Persimmons have also been linked to improved heart health, enhanced vision, and a reduction in inflammation.

Before they ripen, keep persimmons out at room temperature. Once ripe, place persimmons in a bowl with plastic wrap over the top. These will keep for up to three days. If you want to keep them longer, put the persimmons in a plastic bag and throw them in the freezer, allowing them to keep for 10 to 12 months.

DLJ Pro Tip: While some people eat persimmons by cutting them in half and scooping out the inside, you’ll miss a ton of the nutritional value. Cut into slices to get the full flavor and nutrients. To tell when it’s ripe, the flesh and the outside is super soft, letting you know it’s time to indulge.

With tons of nutrition and amazing flavors, pomegranates and persimmons are two of the prized fruits of the fall season. So, pull out those recipes, gather around the kitchen table, and get ready to wow everyone with your culinary masterpieces. And thankfully, you’ll be the only one who knows that the fruits are doing all the work.

During this Thanksgiving holiday, all of us at DLJ Produce want to thank our customers, our employees and our truckers throughout the country.  We are here to provide you with the finest, freshest produce 365 days a year coast-to-coast, but we also know that you have a choice in a produce company and are always humbled you choose us for all your produce needs.

Happy Thanksgiving from our DLJ Produce family to yours.