Summer will be golden

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Apriums and plumcots: All indications are that this summer is going to be a great one for stone fruit, thanks to plentiful cold weather this winter that gave the trees a good long rest and early and consistent warming that is allowing fruit to ripen steadily. And although this early in the season smart shoppers at the farmers market are waiting for the first Blenheim apricots (they’re still a week or two away), there is a good alternative already ripe for the picking. Crosses between apricots and plums -- variously called apriums or plumcots depending on the dominant parentage -- are showing up in greater numbers than ever. Once regarded more as curiosities than real fruit, new varieties are combining the best traits of both parents. Check out a Flavorella, technically a plumcot, though it looks like a perfect golden apricot. The flavor is intriguing -- take a bite of just the inner meat and you get pure, juicy apricot, but get some of the skin and you taste sweet plum tang. Though it looks almost identical to a Flavorella, Tasty Rich is classified as an aprium and has an apricot’s rich texture. Also keep an eye out for Flavor Supreme, Flavor Delight and Honey Rich.

Fitzgerald’s Premium Stone Fruit and Honey Crisp, $5.50 to $6 per pound.

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Rainier cherries: By all accounts, Rainier cherries are the very devil to grow -- susceptible to birds, bugs and all manner of blight. That’s probably why even today, when California farmers have enthusiastically adopted the dark red Bing, Rainiers are still relatively scarce. Rainiers are blushing cherries -- when ripe, they are an appealing mix of bright cherry red and creamy gold. They are usually sweeter than Bings but may be a little milder as far as pure “cherry” flavor goes. And their texture is almost buttery, whereas a Bing is nearly crunchy. Choose Rainiers by their background color -- it should be golden rather than yellow -- and select carefully to avoid any with peck marks or soft spots. As with all cherries, the stems should be green and flexible, not dried out.

Nicholas Farm, Barbagelata Farm, $5 per basket.

-- Russ Parsons