Dan Best This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Peaches of our memories

   www.sacbee.com/content/lifesty - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/10/2002   Last Visited: 7/10/2002

   Dan Best, coordinator of Sacramento County's farmers markets, agrees that peach farming is for gamblers.
   
   "When you are dealing with an industry that is trying to survive, what farmers grow is generated by what consumers demand. A good portion of the peach industry is geared toward shipping, which means that a firmer peach is more likely to sell."
   
   That poses a dilemma for growers.
   
   ...
   Now, according to Best, there are so many varieties of peaches that it is difficult to count them all. He says if you want a truly wonderful peach, the best place to get one is from a store that buys peaches directly from the grower or at the farmers markets where you can talk with the farmer.
   
   "The whole valley is peach country," says Best. "Each variety is harvested for about a two-week period, then farmers move on to the next variety. When you shop at a farmers market, it's easier to find out the variety of peaches you are buying. That's not always possible at grocery stores. Then, if you remember when you found a peach that you really enjoyed, you can look for it every year about the same time.
   
   "Early peaches, like Queen Crest or Spring Lady, are generally available in early May.
   ...
   "In my opinion, the peaches with the best flavor are the ones consumers find in July and August," says Best.

2. 2. The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Farmers markets start afresh

   www.sacbee.com/content/lifesty - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/2/2002   Last Visited: 5/2/2002

   The one at Garcia Bend Park in the Greenhaven area has been discontinued, but Dan Best, coordinator of Sacramento County's farmers markets, is negotiating to start one at Exposition Boulevard and Ethan Way, on a Cal Expo parking lot.