Fresh jujubes are a rare treat. Also known as red or Chinese dates, these small fruits are typically dried to extend their brief season, so their sweet flavor and multitude of health benefits can be enjoyed all year long. Jujubes have been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine for millennia, rich in many vitamins and minerals and said to ease insomnia and anxiety. When green, jujubes have a texture not unlike an apple. As they ripen, they gradually turn brown, and the texture becomes slightly springy. Jujubes are tasty on their own as a snack, infused into tea and mixed into salads or porridge. Dried, they’re a common ingredient in Chinese and Korean cooking.
OGC’s jujubes come from grower Alisha Taff, whose Rock Front Ranch sits on 320 acres in the Cuyama Valley just north of Santa Barbara, California. Thorny jujube trees are incredibly drought tolerant and naturally have no pests, making them a great fit in dry Southern California. Growing up in an Asian American household, Chinese friends of Alisha’s mother would commonly give her jujubes, which were candy to her. When she grew up and learned more about the fruit’s health benefits, she started Rock Front Ranch to spread the jujube love.
Unfortunately, parts of Rock Front Ranch were in the path of the Gifford fire this past August, and the ranch suffered damage to fencing, irrigation and some trees, as well as the bees at the heart of Alisha’s honey operation. As the ranch tries to rebuild, your support of this grower and unique crop is more important than ever.
Download handy shelf signage so shoppers know what to expect from this unique fall treat.
