For the past couple of weekends, I’ve been driving past one particular corner in our neighborhood, hoping to see an old yellow pickup truck and whitewashed signs hand-painted with one word: CHERRIES. The Alberg Farm cherry truck usually makes its first appearance at the top of Queen Anne by mid-June. I was sad not to see it two weeks ago, and concerned when it wasn’t around last weekend. Many local tree fruit growers lost the majority of their crops to this April’s late freezes, and I wondered whether Alberg’s losses had been so great that he wouldn’t be coming to Queen Anne at all.
This morning, as I drove home from the University District Farmers’ Market, I decided to swing by the corner where the truck has parked for years. And — hooray! — there were the signs, and a big blue patio umbrella shading the open tailgate of that old yellow truck.
Alberg Farm lost 80-90% of its crop in April. As a result, Mr. Alberg is picking most of the crop by himself, or with friends. Fewer cherries means higher prices, but cherries from the old truck are less expensive than at local farmers’ markets, or at Alberg’s own stall at Pike Place Market. Anyway, I’d be willing to pay a premium for them, as they’re the most luscious cherries I’ve eaten. They are sweet, crisp, winey — summertime bliss, really, except for the pits.
(Alberg Farm is in Royal City, WA, just north of Yakima. It’s 137 miles from Royal City to our house, placing Alberg cherries on the edge of our 150-mile local foodshed.)
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Gorgeous bowl….and even more gorgeous looking cherries - I would eat them until I made myself ill.
Thanks for popping by,
Hen
Beautiful cherries! We’ve had them here, not at our farm market, but at Whole Foods and they’re from your neck of the woods- so I’m waiting until next month for Traverse City cherries putting them within the 200 mile parameter.
Reading back, I remember that I came on board here right when you were starting your kitchen remodel. It’s beautiful- clean and simple and elegant all at once. I love the book nook, too- my cookbooks are residing in a closed cupboard above the sink- but that’s only until I get the kitchen of my dreams- and it won’t be here in this city brickhouse. The design is in my head at this point.
Serg and Lyra! Sophie and McCloud are almost always easy with each other but about once a week the daily “battathon” escalates to a real spat. Usually cabin fever is to blame. But they never, ever, ever get on the kitchen counter. Never. Not ever.
You’ve made my mouth water.
That is the prettiest picture - the cherries in that blue.
Same thing with the gentleman we have been buying from here at work for the last 20 years.
We were blessed with one box which we shall eat slowly and enjoy ever single cherry.