Wonder Fruit

Spontaneous meetup alert! Today, we had an amazing time at Wonderfruit Pomegranate Farm in Socorro, Texas with the De La Story boys. We missed you, Exploring Paso! This charming farm is nestled past the freeway, amidst the sprawling housing developments. It's truly heartwarming to witness this little farm standing tall in the face of rapid development. Patricia and her husband have been nurturing this farm for over 7 years. Her husband hails from Sinaloa and boasts impressive agricultural knowledge. A few years ago, Patricia transitioned to cultivating pomegranates due to their resilience to drought. Did you know that pomegranate trees are self-pollinating? That means you don't need separate male and female trees. Wonderfruit boasts around 700 pomegranate trees and even has a fantastic horse riding school. By the way, their riding school is a national championship school, especially for levels two and three. Besides pomegranates, they also have quarter horses and other magnificent steeds, as they operate as a breeding farm too. Being on the farm takes you on a journey of appreciation for the countryside. The tranquil and pristine surroundings transport you, despite the ongoing development in the area. Small farms like Wonderfruit deserve our unwavering support. To share the wonder of their exceptional fruit, they organize fabulous festivals. I first heard about their festival when I arrived in El Paso, but alas, it was canceled due to COVID. But guess what? The festival is making a grand comeback this year, and it's going to be bigger and better than ever! Imagine tons of free activities for the kids, delightful food trucks, a farm-to-table event, arts and crafts, games, thrilling horse rides, and more. Since it's a small farm, they'll be hosting the festival right at their house. Their aim is to unite the community and showcase their fruit, which has been carefully chosen and certified by the USDA for optimal ripeness. Patricia shared her fascinating knowledge about picking pomegranates. To determine if a pomegranate is ripe, look at the shape on the bottom. Circular means it's not quite ready, but if it's a hexagon or square shape, the juicy arils (seed sacs) are ripe and ready to be savored. Picking pomegranates is a delightful experience, and Patricia also demonstrated how to extract the fruit. Of course, my favorite part was indulging in the delicious pomegranate seeds. They also press the pomegranates to create fresh juice, which is simply fantastic. Pro tip: use scissors/shears to cut the stem, leaving a little attached to the fruit, and your pomegranates can last up to 3 months in the fridge. And here's a fun fact: you can use every part of the pomegranate, including the peel, which they dehydrate to make a tasty tea. Did you know that pomegranates are considered superfruits? They're bursting with antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C. Throughout history, pomegranates have been cherished for their medicinal properties, and now they're gaining recognition as a superfood in North America. The powerful antioxidants in pomegranate seeds, called polyphenols, are believed to promote heart health and offer anti-cancer benefits. I've had the pleasure of savoring countless pomegranates since one of my exes is Persian, and they incorporate the fruit in so many creative ways, including stews. Right here in El Paso, I was fortunate enough to try Chiles en Nogada, a delightful dish featuring pomegranates. We picked up a bunch of pomegranates from Wonderfruit, and I can't wait to share them with friends and family. It fills me with pride to have such incredible fruit and produce available in a region often deemed an arid desert. Wonderfruit Farm is defying all expectations! -TODOELPASO