Garlic harvest was just getting underway in mid-July at Christopher Ranch, headquartered in Gilroy, CA. Patsy Ross, marketing director for the garlic and specialty products’ firm said the company was looking forward to a good harvest.

“Yields are expected to be normal vs. last year’s crop, which was down about 15 percent,” said Ross. “The demand for garlic in the market for the past couple of years has been strong and the supply has been down a little. So far this year, the size of the garlic bulbs are looking promising.”

Water issues continue to hinder California producers, specifically for the upcoming fall planting for the 2015 crop. Ross explained that row crops will be taking a back seat to the orchard and vineyards.

Christopher Ranch offers a wide selection of specialty garlic and onions in mesh bags.“We are looking for new growing areas for the immediate future and beyond for ample water supply as well as available labor,” she said. “As always, market pricing could be affected by an increase in supply of Chinese imported garlic. ‘Monviso’ continues to be an important part of our garlic program, but we start out the garlic season with our early variety garlic that is well known for its good size and early harvest.”

Christopher Ranch introduced the proprietary “Monviso” heirloom variety of garlic, which it has been working on for the past 50 years, in Sept. 2011. At the time of the launch, Jeff Stokes, vice president of sales, said the company had been working hard to get the variety to year-round capability.

“We accomplished that,” he said. “In doing so, we felt it needed — and deserved — its own signature and so we branded it ‘Monviso.’ During our testing on the ‘Monviso’ we turned to chefs asking what they were looking for in a garlic profile and they told us. In turn, we started digging into the properties of ‘Monviso.’ Chefs told us that it has a bold, nutty flavor that lasts throughout the entire experience of the dish.”

Stokes likened the profile of different garlic varieties to apple varieties, explaining that each one has its own profile. Some garlic varieties are hot and others are mild. Some are full of water while others are full of oil. The “Monviso” has higher oil content, and its bold, nutty flavor lasts longer than other garlic.

Ross pointed out that food safety is an integral part of Christopher Ranch’s growing, packing and shipping of fresh garlic, noting, “We have an extensive HACCP program and consistent superior ratings by third-party audits.”

The company is also well known for its specialty onions, which are a growing part of the Christopher Ranch product mix. It offers shallots, cipolline, pearl onions and boiler onions, which are all perceived as elegant members of the onion family.

“We offer these items peeled, ready-to-use with no labor and they contain no additives or preservatives,” said Ross. “These onions remain fresh for seven weeks from the pack date when kept refrigerated. Both professional and home chefs appreciate the delicate and unique flavor these items add to dishes, and so we offer appropriate size packaging for both.

“Some of our supermarket customers handle our fresh line of specialty items,” she continued. “Christopher Ranch’s line is also comprised of ginger and elephant garlic. Roasted Garlic is another of our offerings at retail for home chef, foodservice operators and processors.”

The company peels its garlic cloves and slow roasts them to produce the desired rich, nutty flavor expected. This means that for users there is no labor or waste, and they are preservative-free.

“We offer two styles: natural roast and lightly seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper,” explained Ross. “Other specialty items that Christopher Ranch offers include a full line of dried chili peppers from Mexico packed for both the retail and foodservice markets. We also hand-braid our garlic in a beautifully decorative but useable form. These are a big hit at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival as well as being featured in some supermarkets in late summer and early fall.”

Most of the items in Christopher Ranch’s product line are also available in an organic option.