Tale of two fruits

Just in time for Halloween, you'll see trees around town covered in what appear to be mini-pumpkins. They're actually persimmons. There are two main varieties: Hachiya (the pointy ones) and Fuyu (the “apple” ones). Eat Hachiyas when they're fully ripe and very, very soft, pureeing them into muffins or ice cream. Fuyus are ready when they're bright orange and have a little give when squeezed. Slice them into wedges to toss in salads and grain dishes, or grill them to serve with meat. Another persimmon product to look for is hoshigaki. Otow Orchard specializes in these Japanese-style dried persimmons to enjoy with tea or coffee.