Vol. 3 Issue 9                                                                        september 2021

Get Ready for Fall!

As summer comes to an end, our focus shifts to enjoying the fruits of our summertime labors. September is prime time for local stone fruits such as nectarines, peaches, and Italian prune plums. Cooler evenings and nights are a sign to cook up some of our famous house made Momma Rosa’s meatloaf. If you didn’t have time to make any preserved fruits this summer, don’t you worry about a thing—Red Hills Fruit Co has got you covered.
 
All of us at Sheridan Fruit Company would like to wish you a very Happy Labor Day. Stay safe and do celebrate responsibly.

A Plum Above
​the Rest

Italian Prune plums are a small to medium plum varietal with a distinct, oval to oblong shape with slightly pointed, tapered ends. The fruit’s skin is smooth, taut, and thin, transitioning from a dark red to a purple, almost black hue with maturity. Italian Prune plums are also covered in a powdery, white-blue bloom that acts as a natural barrier from bacteria, insects, and moisture loss. The fruit’s bloom is a sign of freshness, and over time, the bloom will fade.
 
Underneath the surface, the flesh is golden-yellow to green-yellow with a semi-firm, dense, and slightly juicy texture. The flesh also encases a central light brown pit that is easily removed from the fruit. When cooked, Italian Prune plums develop a jammy, creamy consistency with a rich, sugary-sweet flavor and will transition into a bright fuschia color. The flesh is also known for its low water content and high sugar content, creating a mild, fruity taste with citrus nuances. They are highly sought after when in season for baking, jam making, and drying into prunes.
 
Italian Prune plums acquired their name from their native growing region, but the variety has found greater success outside of Italy, favored as a home garden cultivar in Germany and the United States. The plums are also known as Empress plums, Italian plums, and Blue plums and are a boutique variety cultivated for the fruit’s dense flesh and concentrated flavors. Italian Prune plums are traditionally found through local growers and home gardeners, incorporated into fresh, dried, or cooked culinary preparations, or fermented into regional spirits.
 
Italian Prune plums are native to the coastal Mediterranean regions of Italy. The exact history of the variety is unknown, but experts believe these plums are a descendant of plums brought from Syria to Italy around the 12th century. The Syrian plums were grafted onto local European plum rootstock, creating several new plum cultivars. Italian Prune plums were gradually spread across Europe through trade routes and traveling peoples, as the fruits were a favorite dried nutritional food source to carry on long journeys.
 
These plums were brought to the United States sometime in the mid-19th century as stone fruit farms began booming in California during the Gold Rush. Today Italian Prune plums thrive climates with mild, cool winters and hot, dry, and extended summers. In the Pacific Northwest, these plums come into season in late-August and will last through September. Come and get some of these delicious plums while you can. They are also available for home delivery via Instacart.

Fall in Love With Momma Rosa’s Meatloaf

Autumn is just around the corner and the slight nip in the air makes you want to hunker down for some delicious comfort food. For many, nothing is more satisfying or comforting than a dinner of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Sheridan’s Momma Rossa’s meatloaf has a reputation that will put other pre-made and some homemade meatloaves to shame.
 
Legend has it some workers found the recipe for this meatloaf written on the wall with the name “Momma Rosa” behind some wallpaper back in 1916 when the store was being renovated. However, it is more likely the guys in the meat department decided to create something amazing with quality ingredients we had on hand, namely our house made Italian pork sausage and Painted Hills ground beef. This mixture is blended with some celery, onions and a little bit of this and a little bit of that. We could tell you exactly what goes in it but the spirit of Momma Rossa would not be pleased.
 
The meat department recommends cooking Momma Roasa’s meatloaf in a 350 F oven for 75 minutes or until an instant thermometer inserted in the middle reads 155 F. Rest the meatloaf for 5-10 minutes before serving. Meatloaf is usually served with mashed potatoes and for the other side, we recommend roasted sauteed green beans, which are in season right now.

Perfect
​Preserves

 Don’t get in a jam because you didn’t put up any preserves this summer—Red Hills Fruit Company has got you covered. They specialize in small, batch crafted preserved fruits. Using locally grown fresh fruit also ensures a superior quality product like no other. All of their fruits and berries are tree and vine-ripened to assure the same natural flavor and texture of home-canned fruits.
 
Sheridan currently has three varieties of Red Hills Fruit Co. preserves in stock. Their Black Cherry Preserves are made fresh with the Pacific Northwest’s finest black cherries. With its sweet flavor, this preserve works great as a base for a fruit sauce, a delicious ice cream topping or simply as a spread on your morning toast.
 
The ingredients in their Blueberry Preserves are simple – sweet, intensely flavorful Pacific Northwest blueberries and just the right amount of sugar. It is the perfect way to sweeten up a smoothie or enjoy on an extra special stack of pancakes. Their Tart Cherry Preserves is made from only the finest Pacific Northwest cherries and is perfect as a spread on toast or as a topping on yogurt. They’re also a great choice for traditional “thumbprint” cookies.
 
We are also planning to bring in the remaining two preserves from their line in due course. Made from the finest vine-ripened Pacific Northwest red raspberries, Red Fruit Fruit Co's Raspberry Preserves add a delicious burst of flavor to your breakfast toast or muffin. Their Marionberry Preserves are a true Pacific Northwest treat. Larger, sweeter and juicier than the traditional blackberry, the marionberry is Oregon’s unofficial state berry and the perfect spread on toast or bagel.
 
Made in Oregon’s Willamette Valley without articficial colors, flavors or preservatives, Red Hills Fruit Co's preserves are also certified gluten free and non no genetically modified products. They are also made without high-fructose corn syrup.

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