Almaden Resident
Community
December rings in holidays and pomegranate season
By Eli Segall
Statues of it were buried with Egyptian pharaohs. Ancient Israelite coins bear its likeness, and it is a Jewish symbol of fertility. In Iran, it is used to cleanse the soul.
And in Almaden Valley, it is grown locally.
Phil Cosentino, an Almaden Valley rancher, grows and sells pomegranates on his Carter Avenue property. Knowing how to properly eat pomegranates comes easy for some, but for others, tackling a fruit of such intricacy is a work in progress, so Cosentino speaks to local civic groups about the ruby red fruit, including the correct way to eat it. Although the fruit, known for its deliciousness and messiness enjoys only a brief three-month season, it has become an increasingly popular snack, especially during December, said Cosentino, whose family owns Cosentino's Market.
"Pomegranates caught on in the U.S. only four or five years ago," he said. "There's still a lot of people who don't know what to do with them."
Cosentino's ranch isn't the only place to find a pomegranate in Almaden. The fruit is celebrated in many segments of the community during the wintertime.
"Pomegranates are a delicacy," said Matt Kamkar of Almaden, a planning commissioner and Persian community leader. "In Iran, it's a compliment to tell someone their skin pigment is red like a pomegranate.
"Well, it's more like a pick-up line," he added, laughing.
Native to Iran, pomegranates permeate the folklore and traditions of many cultures, as the fruit is long associated with health and fertility.
"They're incredibly symbolic," said Rabbi Melanie Aron of Congregation Shir Hadash in a Los Gatos. "Pomegranates are mentioned in Biblical love poems and eaten on the Jewish New Year. The shape itself looks like a crown."
The pomegranate's status and significance are greatest in its home country. Known in Farsi as anar, its powerful red juice functions as a dye for clothing and Persian rugs; stomach aches, ear aches, diarrhea, tooth decay and indigestion are all treated with anar; according to Persian folklore, its nectar can wash away impure thoughts.
Pomegranates are also invoked in the Quran as one of God's heavenly fruits.
"Having pomegranates in your home shows that you're an Iranian," said Shideh Mehr, an Iranian-American who lives off Almaden Expressway.
Mehr works at Café Pomegranate, a popular downtown lunch spot on E. San Fernando. Its owner, Tehran native Affie Mahini, named the restaurant after her favorite childhood treat.
"Growing up, we'd sit on a big spread by the fireplace, and my dad would break open pomegranates for us," Mahini said. "It was a time to gather and talk, and that's what I wanted my café to be like."
Eating a pomegranate is indeed a time-consuming experience. Typically 3 to 4 inches in diameter, cracking its thick, leathery skin reveals a kaleidoscope of seeds among dense, spongy tissue. The instant the fruit is opened, juice drains out; each bite into its seeds--which are enclosed in juice-filled sacs--sprays the potent red liquid in every direction, staining all in its path.
Scientific research show high levels of iron, potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants.
"Pomegranates are a niche crop, and they went from zero to 60 because people found out they have antioxidants," said Clay Weeks, a U.S. Department of Agriculture horticulturist based at UC-Davis. "Antioxidants are the holy grail of this whole 'nutri-ceutical' gig, and the guys who get in first always make out like bandits."
That bandit is Los Angeles-based Pom Wonderful. Founded in 2002, the pomegranate grower, distributor and juice maker helped put pomegranates on the map with clever advertisements such as "Floss Your Arteries." Since 2003, company earnings have more than quadrupled to $91 million, and its success helped spawn an entire industry. From 2002 to 2005, nearly 200 new pomegranate-flavored food and beverages hit the shelves of American supermarkets, including breakfast bars, chewing gum, ice cream, truffles and sausages.
Ask Cosentino why he thinks pomegranates have become so popular, and the longtime rancher will say, "It's just a fun fruit to eat. "
