Fresno Bee's food writer departing for Hawaii

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The Fresno Bee's ag-savvy food writer Joan Obra has decided to put aside her word processor and return to her parents' Hawaiian coffee farm. It is an enormous loss for the Valley and its agriculture industry. Obra is a rarity among food writers, publishing as much about farming as restaurants and recipes.

"I'm going home," Obra wrote in her weekly column published today. "In a way, it's a testament to my time in the Valley: Local food producers have inspired me to become one of them."

In today's piece, which she said isn't her last, Obra wrote about local treats that she believes capture the history, culture, climate and flavor of the central San Joaquin Valley.

Second on the list, after a specialty rice she remembers from her childhood, is the University of California Lindcove Research and Extension Center.

"Oh, Lindcove Research & Extension Center, how I will miss you," Obra wrote. "Tucked in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, this University of California field station houses all the citrus varieties that are of commercial importance in California."

Obra noted how much she enjoyed touring the Foundation Block at Lindcove, where more than 100 virus-free true-to-type citrus selections are maintained to provide budwood to California nursery operators and farmers.

"Touring one of its orchards was a decadent treat. We sampled bergamots, page mandarins and Cara Cara oranges," Obra wrote. "We sniffed Buddha's hand, a fruit with fingerlike growths that's prized for its yellow, aromatic rind."

Obra frequently turned to UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors, sharing with consumers UC's science-based news about sugar-sweet baby watermelons, farm stand-fresh strawberries, super-spicy hot peppers and antioxidant-rich blueberries.

"She has done countless articles about Fresno’s strawberries - varieties, growers - and always lets the reader know where the strawberry stands are in the county," said UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Richard Moloinar. "Joan’s focus on fruits and vegetables grown in Fresno has always been a part of her articles – making the stories of great interest to residents in the Central Valley."

Oh, Joan, how we will miss you.

Fresno Bee reporter Joan Obra.