Get Your Jujubes at The Cerritos Farmers Market

Last week at the , I discovered the fascinating fruit known as jujubes, or Chinese dates.  Though they are not found in conventional grocery stores in the U.S, the fruit has been widely consumed throughout Asia for its health benefits.  

For many years, jujubes have been used in Chinese medicine to alleviate stress, calm the mind and fight insomnia. It is believed that stress can weaken our digestive system, causing poor appetite, nausea, bloating or poor concentration. Many incorporate this unique fruit into their diet to help fight those symptoms because it may aid in revitalizing the organs and replenishing the body.

It’s really one of those kind of foods you have to try for yourself and see how your body can uniquely benefit from it. You may find that jujubes can help you feel more calm or relaxed, or they may just be a unique way to help you get your healthy dose of vitamin C and fiber. Either way, they are something new to shake up your diet this fall.  

Jujubes have a crunch similar to apples, but they have a more subtle sweetness and are smaller in size. I’ve also found them to be excellent on-the-go snacks that are easy to tote around in a Ziploc bag.

At the , you can get the organic variety called Li at the Gonzaga Farms stand. Farmer Ronnie Gonzaga believes the fruit does have a relaxing effect on him, and some days he'll simply eat jujubes while drinking lots of water. He has been growing jujubes for six years, and the fruits from his farm are organically grown without any pesticides or chemicals. He says the sweetest jujubes are the ones with a darker maroon color or the ones with dark spots on them.  

Some Asian supermarkets sell jujubes, but they usually do not sell the organic variety. The organic variety from Gonzaga Farms are gems, and is THE place to stock up on them. They are only available until mid-November, so stop by the market today from 8 a.m. to noon to get your portion!

The Cerritos Farmers Market is located in the Cerritos Towne Center at Park Plaza Drive & Park Plaza West, just north of the Performing Arts Center.