Searchers for the sweetest fruit just have the tang of it

Under sunny skies Saturday, thousands flocked to the Gold Country Fairgrounds for a day of entertainment, crafts and sweet citrus during the 13th annual Mountain Mandarin Festival.Dave Spears, of Auburn, has a strategy for finding what he says is the best mandarin."I look at the color and the size of the mandarin," he said. "We tried several throughout the festival, but (Sunset Ridge Mandarins of Newcastle) fruit seemed the most ready. They are excellent."Thousands, about 26,000 to 30,000, are expected to enter the gates of the fairgrounds during the two-day festival, said Karen Spencer, public relations director for the festival."The weather is cooperating and it looks like it will be a good weekend," Spencer said. "We've had a good crop this year and there are plenty of mandarins. Buy them early and spend the rest of the day enjoying the festival."Jim Karpowicz, of Mandarin Hill Orchards of Penryn, was busy Saturday morning handing out samples of his Satsuma mandarins."The festival is excellent as usual. We get a lot of repeat business at the Mandarin Festival," Karpowicz said. "I expect we'll sell about 100 bags today alone."A 10-pound bag of the small citrus fruit costs $13 and a 5-pound bag is $7 at just about every booth.Jyll Aguilar, of Mandarin Hill Orchards said their fruit is the best, by far."We have the sweetest mandarins in Placer County," she said.Connie Pepper-Lewis, of Auburn, hasn't missed a festival in years and has a strategy for finding the best fruit."We come every year. It's a tradition for my 12-year-old son and I to come every year," she said. "It's a good family affair."As a well-versed mandarin chooser, Pepper-Lewis has a system."I sample first. I'm looking for tart and sweet," she said. She's looking for more than tasty fruit."I buy 30 pounds every year and use them in Christmas baskets," Pepper-Lewis said. She snagged some locally made preserves to add to her holiday gifts.The Festival features fresh Mandarins, Mandarin trees, arts and crafts, live entertainment, free children's activities, and plenty of food featuring Mandarins. Professional chefs hold cooking demonstrations and tastings. The Mandarin Recipe and Thanksgiving Centerpiece Contests are crowd favorites. Budd and Linda Wuelfing along with their sons Colton and Chase, enjoyed the event and the beautiful weather."It's a fun day - we like the mandarins and sampling the food," Budd Wuelfing said.Their neighbor Linda Malmstedt buys mandarins to make tasty dishes."I love mandarins and last year bought the cook book and use the fresh mandarins in the recipes," Malmstedt said.Throughout the day visitors enjoyed the rustic sound of hillbilly washboards, hip-hop dance and Broadway tunes, she said. The Washboard Wizsardz present musical comedy with washboards, guitar, bass, banjo and kazoo.Another addition this year is a shuttle service. For a $2 fee and ride the shuttle (to and from) the parking lot with your purchases," Spencer said. Event coordinators have arranged with Troop 13 of the Tierrra Del Oro Girl Scouts to help with heavy loads of mandarins.The festival celebrates the new crop of locally grown Mandarin oranges, a recipe cooking contest, Thanksgiving centerpiece contest, professional chef demonstrations, food, crafts, free activities for children, live music and entertainment. Proceeds benefit the scholarship fund of the Newcastle Area Business Association. In addition to all the entertainment and snack possibilities there will be a recipe contest. The annual Kitchen Craft recipe contest has been a highlight of the festival. Each recipe must contain mandarin oranges. The grand prize for the recipe contest this year is a set of Kitchen Craft cookware valued at more than $1,400. There are also cash prized for the top recipe in each category.All the food vendors will be offering at least one Mandarin orange item on their menu, Spencer said. Visitors can find funnel cake, flan, egg rolls, pepper steak and cheesecake all with mandarins as an ingredient. The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com.