Santa Clara Valley

before it was silicon valley
it was covered with orchards
cherries and apricots mostly
a few small heritage plots
may exist here and there
but for the most part
the orchards are gone
I used to go and pick pears
at what is now
pear tree estates
there is nothing like
fruit just off the tree
warmed by the sun
the intensity of flavor
is matched at no other time
there still are orchards
outside the urban area
and fruit bought
at one of their stands
runs a close second
because the fruit
has not been chilled
which may preserve the fruit
but not the flavor

© 2010 Sandy Vrooman