Latest news with #cherries
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trio caught stealing thousands worth of crops in Northern California, deputies say
( — Three people were arrested after they allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of crops from a Northern California farm. On Sunday, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of agricultural theft near Waterloo and Fairchild—and what they found was 'fruit for thought'. Deputies said three individuals were caught red-handed (and red-fingered) in the middle of stealing cherries. Northern lights may be visible in Northern California amid severe geomagnetic storm 'Turns out, they weren't just picking fruit—they were picking a fight with the law,' SJCSO said. Over $2,000 worth of cherries were stolen, and another $2,000 in crop damage was done, according to the sheriff's office. Additionally, the suspects are accused of being involved in a string of similar thefts across multiple counties. The suspects were allegedly selling the stolen goods at fruit stands throughout California. Thousands of dollars in cash were seized, their vehicle was towed, and all three were booked on alleged charges including theft, conspiracy, and agricultural crimes. 'This wasn't just a petty pick—it was a well-organized produce plunder,' SJCSO said. 'The investigation is ongoing, with leads sprouting up across county lines.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Times
Cherry season is here: Celebrate with these two delicious summer recipes
This week I'm focusing on cherries , the juicy, rounded red fruit that will be hitting our shelves very soon. They are known for their deep red colour and intense sweet flavour, and the season is short, beginning around July. European cherries will start to land on shelves from next week, with a season lasting from early June to August. Cherries need plenty of sun and heat to develop good fruit. With the weather of late, we could even see them land earlier than expected this year. [ Two classic shellfish dishes inspired by Donegal chefs at the top of their game Opens in new window ] We used to serve perfectly conditioned cherries from the Cerét region of France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, in a restaurant where I used to work. Before they arrived, we had grand plans for complicated and artistic dish designs. Upon tasting them, we quickly realised these were one of those magic ingredients that needed zero intervention. A perfect balance of sugar and acid, we decided to serve them as they were, on the stem, over crushed ice. Being the middle of summer, it proved the perfect ending to a lighter menu, particularly with a cup of herbal tea or single espresso. This week's recipes will equip you for the season ahead with both savoury and sweet options. The first uses duck breast, a readily available and cost-effective meat that is easier than you might think to cook. I've added the technique here that I learned in a classic French kitchen – using a low heat to melt down the fat layer between the meat and the skin so the skin goes crispy. With the cherries, I have made a very simple compote that can be batch cooked and kept for months in the fridge. Perfect with the duck, it's also very versatile. Try it with yoghurt and granola, or even on a pavlova for a larger dessert. Black forest gateau. Photograph: Harry weir Speaking of dessert, our second recipe returns to a classic. Black Forest gateau traces its roots to 1920s Germany and calls for chocolate sponge soaked in cherry liqueur or kirsch. Cake baking can often call for complicated equipment, so I have used a standard loaf tin to reduce the hassle. Cherry compote and fresh cherries bring the summer sunshine. This is a perfect dish to prepare in advance and keep in the fridge for a few hours, the soaking time will add to the finished result. Enjoy. Recipe: Crispy duck breast with cherry compote Recipe: Black Forest gateau
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Black Forest gateau
Serves : 6 Course : Dessert Cooking Time : 30 mins Prep Time : 30 mins Ingredients 6 large eggs, separated 160g caster sugar 60g cocoa powder 30g self raising flour 2tbs kirsch liqueur For the filling and topping: 3tbs icing sugar, sifted 1tbs vanilla paste 250g mascarpone 1 punnet of fresh cherries, stones removed 3tbs cherry jam 50g 70% chocolate Preheat the oven to 190 degrees and line a 450g loaf tin with baking parchment. Place the egg whites in a mixer bowl and whisk at a high speed until the eggs form soft peaks. Add half the sugar and whisk until the meringue is glossy and forms stiff peaks. Put to one side. Place the egg yolks in a mixing bowl with the remaining half of the sugar and whisk at full speed until the mix has doubled in size and turned pale; this takes about three minutes. Add the cocoa powder, flour and kirsch to the egg yolk mix and fold together until it is combined. Fold the meringue into the egg yolk mix in three stages, keeping in as much air as possible. Once combined, pour this into the lined loaf tin and tap to allow the mixture to fill all the corners. Place the tin in the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes away clean. The mix will soufflé up slightly but will level out as it cools. Turn it out upside down after about 10 minutes on a flat surface and remove the parchment, which gives a rectangular shape. For the filling, add the icing sugar and vanilla to the mascarpone and mix with a spoon until smooth. Slice the pitted cherries in half and set aside. To assemble the gateau, cut the cake in three through the middle. Spread a layer of cherry jam, a thin layer of the mascarpone filling and some halved cherries on two of the layers and sit one on top of the other. Place the remaining layer of cake on top, spread the remaining mascarpone on it, then finely grate the chocolate to cover the top before slicing and serving.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
USDA to purchase $3M of dried cherries amid poor San Joaquin County harvest
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY -- Fewer cherries, lower production and more financial struggle. That's what farmers are experiencing in the San Joaquin County, with a 43% drop in harvest predicted this year due to weather whiplash. "On a normal year, these would be loaded," San Joaquin County Farm Bureau Federation Vice President and Lodi Blooms Owner James Chinchiolo said. "This is not what I farm for." Two weeks after the disaster declaration was announced, local leaders helped push the U.S. Department of Agriculture to step in. "We're announcing a $3 million purchase of cherries immediately to try to make sure that folks can get back on their feet," Congressman Josh Harder said. "But this is just the beginning because we're seeing $100 million of losses just in San Joaquin County cherries this year." The move is to help stabilize the market and create another way for the current crop to be used. Most importantly, it will help family cherry farms and processors stay afloat. But, it's not just any kind of cherry the USDA plans to purchase. "In circumstances where we have an abundance of cherries and the what we call the seconds, or in other words, the cherries that don't make it to the Fresh Market, there's money that the government is providing for those cherries to become now available to people that would otherwise not be able to enjoy cherries," Chinchiolo explained. The only difference about these cherries is potential minor defects, like being off color or bruising. Instead of being thrown away, the USDA is drying these sweet cherries so they can still be enjoyed by cherry lovers and help farmers along the way. "If the government comes in and helps us, you know, and supports buying these and taking these off the marketplace, great. It's perfect," Chinchiolo said.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Josh Harder invests $3M to aid farmers amidst difficult harvest season
( — Republican Josh Harder announced purchasing up to $3 million of dried sweet cherries to assist farmers during a difficult harvest year. San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner requested a disaster declaration a couple of days ago after extreme weather impacted this year's cherry crops. According to Harder, the funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Section, which will help stabilize the market and create different ways for the current crop, and ensure family farms and processors stay up to date. 'The Valley is the fruit and nut basket of the world, and in our community, 1 in 3 jobs depends on agriculture,' said Harder. 'When crops fail, it's not just a bad season, it's an existential threat to local families and our entire economy. This $3 million in emergency support will help our cherry farmers and processors weather the storm.' Incarcerated person arrested hours after walking away from a camp in El Dorado County The Valley produces 40% of America's fruits, nuts, and other foods, stated Harder. In San Joaquin County, the cherries are the fourth most valuable crop that generates almost $300 million every year. With the extreme weather changes, over 40% of local crops have suffered damage, according to Harder. 'I'm calling on USDA Secretary Rollins to immediately expedite a federal disaster declaration so we can unlock the full range of resources our growers need not just to survive this season, but to come back stronger,' Harder said. Jason Chinchiolo, the owner of Lodi Blooms, told FOX40 that most of his crop was affected by the extreme weather temperatures. 'It's not looking great. I can tell you that,' said Chinchiolo. 'There's not as much revenue, potentially coming in. So, you know, there's an immediate need to think about the business standpoint of how to adjust operations to continue.' Chinchiolo told FOX40 that he is already thinking about what improvements he will make for next year's harvest. 'I'm looking at ways to leverage a lot more nutrition in terms of making sure these trees are as resilient as possible,' said Chinchiolo. Harder stated that this federal declaration would unlock new federal aid for valley farmers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
