An apple a day keeps the doctor away

At its peak:

Gala. Try some of G Bar G Ranch’s local San Mateo grown, small but sweet.

Other in-season apples:

Fuji, golden delicious, granny smith, gordon, red delicious, jonagold, yellow delicious.

Tips for selecting, storing and preparing apples:

Choose apples with smooth, shiny, clean skin and good color. Avoid those with dull skin or bruises and punctures. Depending on the variety, apples can be bought through May at the San Mateo Farmers’ Market.

Depending on the variety, apples are quite a hardy fruit which store favorably in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Try preparing an apple chutney with another in season fruit, pears.

Apple and pear chutney

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds apples, firm pears (Asian pears)

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup orange juice

3/4 cup honey

1 medium clove garlic, minced

1/2 tablespoon chopped ginger root

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cardamom

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

Cooking instructions:

Coarsely chop fruit, removing stems and seeds. Set aside.

Combine cider vinegar and orange juice in a saucepan over medium heat.

Stir in honey until it melts and then stir in remaining ingredients.

Add fruit and cook until mixture begins to bubble. Cover, reduce heat and cook five to 10 minutes. For firmer fruit, remove immediately and serve.

For softer fruit allow to cook another 5 to 10 minutes.

Serving suggestions:

Serve warm as a topping for meats or mix into rice or couscous for a tangy side dish.

What’s in Season is provided by the College of San Mateo Farmers’ Market, which operates year-round, rain or shine, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the College of San Mateo, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd. The market is operated by the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association. For more information, or to find other farmers’ markets in the area, visit www.pcfma.com or call (800) 949-FARM.