So…yeah. I might have run someone down at the market this week.

In my defense, it was crowded and I was cold. Which doesn’t sound like a good reason to elbow someone I suppose, but it’s been around 60 degrees all week here in San Diego! Yes that’s right. Under 60 degrees at times. If I have to wear socks for one more day, who is going to see my pedicure?!? Who? Warm it up weather man or I am going to have to start posting toe polish pictures on my fruit blog and NO.ONE.WANTS.THAT.

Wait. What were we talking about? Oh right…figs. There should not be figs at the market in December. Should not. And because I was so cold, I thought sure they were some sort of desert mirage style illusion. I had to get up to that table before they disappeared. You can imagine my delight when they turned out to not only be real, but to in fact be the best tasting fig I personally have ever had. Apparently, and this will seem logical once you hear it, they are called Christmas Figs because after their main crop in the late summer, they produce another little bumper crop in early December. Thus the name of course. And thus the crazy, however brief, scene at the market.

Luckily [ahem] the victim next to me heard all the ruckus as I was bombarding the man at the stand with questions and was so intrigued that he bought a bag full for himself. You are welcome dear stranger. You are welcome. Also may I recommend some Arnica for that bruised rib.

APPEARANCE 3.5 out of 5 stars

Plump little green fig with pale yellow dots and gloriously deep red ruby flesh. Christmas indeed!

AROMA 2.5 out of 5 stars

Smells like plants. There is something fresh and almost herbal, but not quite.

TEXTURE 3 out of 5 stars

Gushy and soft with grainy tendrils and crunchy little seeds.

TASTE 4.5 out of 5 stars

Deeply sweet raspberry flavor.

OVERALL 3.38 out of 5 stars

Eating this fig is like eating a little pocket of the best raspberry jam you have ever had except without the cloying sugary sweetness of jam and with a complicated base of earthy flavor. I like to spread them on toast or crackers with a drizzle of honey to really glam it up. Then I call it “breakfast” and pat myself on the back for being so healthy.

(If you do not know this song, please just stop and go over to youtube and listen because I promise this song will make you smile. Next thing you know YOU will be the one humming it in the store next to me rummaging for some delicious fruit to take home.)

Now let me tell you about these little yummies. Wandering through my favorite farmer’s market this Sunday, I ran across these plums and was shocked to see them available. It is most definitely not stone fruit season here in Southern California. But I had just been surprised at the stand next door by finding fresh Christmas figs (it is also not traditionally fig season – post to come later this week), so I figured it was just a crazy day and I should start asking questions. A quick chat with one of the ladies, who I believe may have been the founder of the farm, Annie, told me that the season for these did in fact end late October, but they have been keeping them cold and they still taste fantastic. Only a week or two left of their stash! I’m so glad I stopped by.

September Yummy Plum

APPEARANCE 3.5 out of 5 stars

This is a rather large plum, more the size of a small apple with shiny burgundy, speckled skin and golden yellow flesh with a pretty red outline.

AROMA 2.5 out of 5 stars

No noticeable fragrance.

TEXTURE 4 out of 5 stars

Firm and a bit crunchy with a nice amount of juice.

TASTE 4 out of 5 stars

Well rounded flavor that is nice and sweet with a hint of tart at the end.

OVERALL 3.5 out of 5 stars

With a word like yummy in the title, this fruit had a lot to live up to and I would say it did. I tend to favor the softer plums, but this crunchy little number is, well, yummy. It has the perfect amount of sweetness without being cloying and finishes up with a tart little twist – never bitter like many of the plums and pluots tend to be. Delightful.

Anna Apples are tricky, in that one day they are crispy with a mild, fresh flavor (usually the green skinned ones) and the next they are headed straight toward mealy/mushy with a distinctly sweeter, nuanced flavor (the blushing red ones). The great thing is that you can appeal to all kinds of apple eaters if you have an assortment. Plus if you serve tequila shots next to them, no one will care one bit anyway. Also Anna trees often produce fruit a few times a year, not just in the late summer (their peak) — so you can have apples any old time with out having to store them for months on end. Awesome.

APPEARANCE 4.5 out of 5 stars

Green to red skin, with a tall, unusual cylinder shape like one of those goofy water snakes that slips through your hands and makes you feel slightly uncomfortable but you aren’t sure why (except we all know you kinda know why…).

AROMA 3 out of 5 stars

Mild, sweet apple.

TEXTURE 3 out of 5 stars

Crispy or mushy depending on the stage of ripeness, both with a nice mellow amount of juice.

TASTE 3.5 out of 5 stars

Low key, standard apple flavor that builds in complexity in your mouth if you pay attention to it. The nuances don’t scream at you though.

OVERALL 3.5 out of 5 stars

I love anything that has a non-standard shape or color, so this apple with its perky body stands out for sure. But the flavor is just ok and more middle of the pack than I was hoping. Nothing to complain about particularly, but nothing to brag about either.

APPEARANCE 4 out of 5 stars

Pretty. Red and yellow on the outside, creamy colored inside.

AROMA 3 out of 5 stars

Very little.

TEXTURE 3.5 out of 5 stars

Nice firm flesh with a big old seed.

TASTE 4 out of 5 stars

Nicely sweet and a bit lighter in flavor than the more common, Bing Cherry.

OVERALL 3.63 out of 5 stars

APPEARANCE 1 out of 5 stars

Eww.

AROMA 2 out of 5 stars

Meh.

TEXTURE 4 out of 5 stars

Fine.

TASTE 4 out of 5 stars

SWEET!!! and a little more complicated than most of the black mulberries I have tried.

OVERALL 2.75 out of 5 stars