At the Farmers Market: Pomegranate Possibilities

CalabasasPatch.com
26 December 2011

Versions of this short-season fruit can be enjoyed year-round, courtesy of a Northern California-based grower. 

Photo courtesy of Skylake Ranch

Pomegranate season is in full swing but is typically very short, lasting from late fall to early winter in Southern California. 

To extend the enjoyment and numerous health benefits of this wonderful fruit beyond its short market season, one family decided to make pomegranate products.

Popular and versatile
Skylake Ranch, the Brown family’s 20 acres of farmland located around Chico and Durham in Northern California yielded 150,000 pomegranates. From that initial harvest in 2009, the Browns developed the now top-selling balsamic grill sauce and the marinade.

It was still early last Saturday at the Calabasas Farmers Market and several items were almost sold out, according to employee Karen Onifer.

“I really love pomegranates," said Diana Dibble who purchased the marinade and the jelly.

“The marinade has that subtle hint of sweetness and that vinegary taste,” said the Studio City resident, who will be opening a restaurant in the area in early 2012.

For everyday cooking or grilling, the balsamic grill sauce works well on meat and vegetables.

The marinade can also double as a low-calorie salad dressing. Low in sodium, meat is not supposed to dry out even after several hours or a day of using this marinade.

Onifer also described their other pomegranate products. The fruit spread was one. Made up of 60 percent fresh pomegranate juice, the fruit spread is perfect on scones, pancakes and English muffins, she said.

Another promising possibility was the syrup. “You can drizzle this over desserts or use it to glaze your barbecued meat,” said Onifer.

Gift-giving ideas
Beyond food, how can one overlook pomegranate juice? Certainly not the Brown family who painstakingly ensured that three-and-a-half pomegranates went into every 12-ounce bottle.

For a mean martini, margarita or Shirley Temple, try using the pomegranate grenadine, said Onifer. The all-natural grenadine can also be added to champagne or sparkling water for that added flair.
Except for the combo sets, most pomegranate products are in the $5 to $9 price range, with volume discounts available.

For the holidays and for corporate give-aways, try the gift packs of Skylake Ranch. There are unique combinations of grill sauce and marinade; jellies and syrup and one featuring the entire line-up of pomegranate products.

The Calabasas Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at 23504 Calabasas Road, across the street from the Sagebrush Cantina.