This years' pomegranate tasting is well organized, and combined with a few persimmon tasting. This year, my daughter and I have more than enough time to do a thorough sample. I brought my clipboard caliper to actually measure fruit size and I have those measurements if requested. The harvest date is not exactly the date that the fruits ripen. It is shown only for documentation. Soft to medium seed hardness (score of 3 and lower) with a Balance and Flavor of 6 and greater are strongly recommended for fresh eating. I have kept the wine notes to myself this time around but will post if for those interested.

Many thanks to the people who organized the event, especially to the USDA staff who prepared all the arils and also gave us a free shuttle ride to the pomegranate orchard. There were more than 100 people who attended the event (including those in the Orchard already). Harvey and Peruzan (both Citrus Forum members) were there, as well as Paramount Farms Representative. (Paramount has 12,000 acres planted to pomegranates, IIRC, as Harvey whispered to me).


By joereal at 2008-11-10

Joe another amazing post. I have a wonderful but I will be looking for some others now using your rating as a guide.

Helix

Joe, I am glad to see that you rated Wonderful highly, as I have a wonderful pomegranate planted in the ground. The tree produced some nice growth and fruit this year. I wished I could have made the tasting. Is it back on an annual cycle again? - Millet

So which were your overall favorites?

-Brett

You're welcome to it Helix! You can order pomegranate cuttings from the USDA germplasm this winter.



Joe, I found a USDA germplasm site but I didn't see anything about how to oder cuttings. Do you have more info?

Helix

Helix and Other Pomegranate Enthusiasts:


Where to download order forms and send them
http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=53-06-20-00

General information about Pomegranates
http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=12170

Here's the Pomegranate Accession ID number that you place in your order form.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=12856

Another Pomegranate Report.

Posted by fleabane of CRFG Golden Gate Chapter:



The tasting took place in the little house you first encounter as you drive in, and it was packed! I counted at least 100 people at one point, most not from CRFG, and more kept coming. I asked Jeff Moersfelder if he knew why there were so many, and he said it was partly that more people were growing pomegranates these days (15,000 acres in the Central Valley, way up from just a few years ago) and the growers were passing the word on to their neighbors, partly that the word went around in UC Extension circles, and, especially, among the Master Gardeners. In any case, it was quite a mob.

They had laid out a lovely display of 17 pomegranates (bowls of arils and whole fruit) and half a dozen non-astringent persimmons (slices, whole fruit, and beautiful fall foliage) on tables in the middle of the room. There were forms for taking notes, and a tally sheet where they asked people to write their favorites. It looked as though the pomegranates Ariana , Ink, and Parfianka were in the lead, although my favorite was Molla Nepes. I liked that one because the flavor was strong, not too sweet, and had a good “sustain,” whereas the others faded quickly. My favorite from last year, Al-sirin-nar, was not on the table this time. Izu was the clear favorite among the persimmons.


For those who didn't attend, just feast your eyes on the above pomegranates!

complete article here: http://crfggoldengate.blogspot.com/2008/11/pomegranate-tasting-at-wolfskill.html

Pomegranate Fruits and Arils at Wolfskill Experimental Orchards
Pomegranate Tasting November 8, 2008 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
4334 Putah Creek Rd, Winters, California, 95694, USA

Photos taken and assembled by Peruzan.

Enjoy: