We discovered Toigo Orchard at the Del Ray Farmers Market in Alexandria, Va. The market is open from early spring through late December on Saturday mornings. All the vendors are top notch, but Toigo Orchard is the crown jewel. They specialize in gorgeous fruits and veggies. Prices are a bit higher -- higher than pretty much any other produce vendor at the market -- but because Toigo concentrates on certain produce, it's often a bit higher quality.
Toigo shines brightest during the summer and fall months with their orchard-fresh apples, pears, and stone fruit. They offer dozens of varieties of apples, all crispy, juicy, and flavorful; they put grocery store apples to deep, deep shame. Other fruits also taste intensely how they are supposed to, and the pears, plums, and peaches are all succulent. If you are lucky enough to live close to the orchards, you can go pick your own! If not, they have a lovely web site where many of their packaged products are available for purchase.
As winter approached this year, Toigo began bringing pints of home-grown chestnuts to the market. Husband and I love chestnuts but are usually disappointed by those we pick up in the grocery store...typically bland, and many times half lost to mold under the shell. Toigo's chestnuts -- tho small in size -- are soft, sweet, and not too mealy. We bought several pints a week until the season ended!
Toigo Orchard also offers a number of professionally pre-packaged, all orchard-made products. We're addicted to many of them. We loved their "Lynn's Attitude" mustard, tho they've since discontinued it. Toigo's salsas and spaghetti sauces are made with heirloom tomatoes which lend a nice, sweet depth of flavor. Honeys are made from the bees that pollinate Toigo's orchards.
But our absolute favorite Toigo Orchard product is their "Birth of Pain" Bloody Mary mix. Heirloom tomato base, sharp bite of horseradish, and -- best and most different of all -- the intense heat of scotch bonnet peppers. The heat hits you instantly but, much like wasabi, the burn fades quickly. The flavor of this cocktail mix can't be beat when paired with a good quality, smooth, and icy cold vodka. YUM!
Support your small farms and treat yourself to anything at Toigo Orchard! read more