Super Navels, Dark Bloods in Riverside

Riverside’s Friday morning farmers market is the oldest, the largest and arguably the best in the Inland Empire. A lively social event, it features many local growers and not much dross.

Luther and Eliza Tibbets planted California’s first Washington navel orange trees in 1873 a few blocks east of the market’s site, and the large, seedless fruits formed the basis of the state’s citrus industry. The Riverside district still grows the finest examples, which abounded at last Friday’s market.

Joan and Elton Rockwell, retired chemists, sold fabulously sweet and juicy navels with intense, sprightly flavor, just as if they were homegrown. They also had avocados with thin black skin from trees labeled Zutano when they bought their property. By an amazing coincidence, the actual variety turned out also to be named Rockwell, a cold-hardy Mexican type once planted in home gardens.

Vincenzo and Theresa Cappellino also sold superb navels, along with acorn, butternut and banana squash. Koreen Strandberg of Corona had exquisitely tender and sweet Tarocco blood oranges, darker than usual because of the cold this winter, as well as Oroblancos, Villafranca lemons and appropriately tart Nagami kumquats. Greg and Reginald Scrimshaw of Lake Elsinore had fine Taroccos, Cocktail grapefruit and Minneola tangelos. From Fallbrook, Miguel Arenas brought what he called “strawberry oranges,” actually Vaniglia Sanguigno (‘Vanilla Blood’) acid-free oranges, tinged with lycopene, like pink grapefruit, with a mild flavor hinting at Creamsicle.

Rebecca Buenrostro sold sweet Chandler strawberries from Lake Elsinore, along with Swiss chard, cilantro and a mountain of fresh dill. New Hope Organic Farm of Romoland, a favorite with market regulars, set out an attractive display including dandelion greens, arugula, celery and baby bok choy. Rick Machado of Menifee sold fresh salad mixes in various blends from mild to spicy, including kale, mustard greens and magenta-colored orach, similar to spinach in form and taste. Lily Ying of Bih Shan farm had organic locally grown oyster, abalone and shiitake mushrooms and, most unusual, reishi mushrooms: large, pale, flat-capped fungi said to possess medicinal properties.

Riverside farmers market, Arlington and Streeter avenues, Fridays 8:30 a.m. to noon.