Pop Quiz

I have this recurring dream that I'm back in high school in Mr. Ferry's Latin class except I'm an adult and my laptop won't fit into my Mead Trapper Keeper Notebook with the slide-action binder opener and the Velcro closing flap (man, was I cool or what?). We're translating a work about Cicero's exile and his hectares of wheat and fruit trees and Mr. Ferry calls on me. I stutter as I try to translate but am confused when I read that Cicero's farmers were "dangerous children who were filled with drinking too much cattle." In the spirit of Mr. Ferry who, I may have mentioned before, required us to call him "Zeus," let's have a pop quiz.
#1: Please describe what is in the crate this week:
Arkansas Black Apples: These are the very dark red, almost purple apples in all of our west coast crates this week. They are a dense "winter" apple (“winter” because they traditionally could keep through the cold months in a basement or apple cellar). They have an amazing flavor. The skin has a tasty sweet-cherry flavor that is unlike any other apple. Make sure you taste one. This apple is only around for a short time every year and this year’s crop is the best I've seen.
Persimmons: We always have questions about these so I want to highlight them again. These Fuyu persimmons can be eaten firm. You can quarter them, remove the seeds and eat in wedges, or peel and eat them like an apple. They have a sweet/spicy/fall flavor and really welcome in the season.
The First Satsumas: Those wonderful easy-to-peel mandarins are here. Just stick your thumb in the soft divot under this small citrus fruit, break the skin and zipper it off, then eat the wedges and enjoy. This first week just gives you the hint of the fruit's flavor and it will only get better in the next few weeks as their sugar starts to peak.
The First Navels: We are now into the winter citrus kick-off and the first navels are here as well. Refreshing and tasty they will have the hints of nutmeg and cinnamon that good citrus should.