Courtesy of Justin:
As if a switch was flipped, it seems we have suddenly begun our swift transition to Fall. Temperatures are pleasant and mild during the day and refreshingly cool at night. Biking to work in the morning I am almost chilled enough to start wearing gloves and more layers! Despite Mother Nature signaling the approach of Autumn, plants are continuing to bear fruit like crazy. Our staple long-season crops, such as bell peppers and tomatoes, are offering up an outstanding bounty this season. Our tomatoes especially are ripening quicker than we can pick them in some cases! Definitely a good problem to have. Of course, the entire crew has been putting in the work to harvest, wash, check for quality, and pack away shares so we may share the “fruits of our labor” with all of you. Then our farm maven Sarah loads up the box van and brings the shares to you (or at least to your neighborhood).
Speaking of deliveries, there was quite the thrilling event which unfolded Wednesday whilst I was delivering bulk chile peppers to our friends at Double Take Salsa. While heading northbound on highway 52 between Hampton and Coates, the front passenger wheel decided it had had enough and exploded with a loud thud, blowing up a few other parts in the process! Luckily, I was able to limp over to the shoulder safely and call a mobile tire repair shop to deliver a new tire to the incapacitated box truck. As inconvenient and stressful as it was, I am very, very glad it did not happen on CSA delivery day, when we have a very tight delivery schedule. As far as a bad situation is concerned, it turned out to be the best possible outcome. With life as stressful as it is, events like this help bring perspective to our collective daily struggle. For me, I am humbled by the idea of turning something bad into something good. I hope you all can find a way to shift your perspective on a less than favorable situation too and see the world through a more positive lens. I’m still practicing, but I think I’m on the right track! Enjoy your farm share and have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.
Have a great week!
Justin
Notes on select items in this week's share:
Bell Peppers (green)- Our peppers are still beautiful and bountiful. Some of the green bells may be showing a blush of color but still have wonderful flavor.
Mini Sweet Pepper- Are at their peak production. We have more pints available this week, so stock up. They freeze well for use in winter.
Tomatoes, Slicers: We are still at the peak of the season for slicing and heirloom tomatoes! Along with fresh eating, slicers work well for winter preservation. Salsas, sauces, you name it, they’ll work and have even more flavor than Romas. Just expect to cook them down a bit more to account for their higher moisture content.
Tomatoes, Romas: We are beginning to push out roma tomatoes. These guys tend to be a favorite for canning, due to their lower seed and moisture content. They’re listed as a swap-in item, so you’ll have to take action if you want them. Because they’re most often used for sauces, we’re offering them in 5 pound bulk bags.
Spinach: This week will offer more spinach as well! The leaves are tender and crisp. As a result of some of the heavy rain last week, some leaves have small holes. Taste is top notch- they’ve appreciated these cooler days.
Fennel: Back in rotation after a long absence! We’ll likely be bunching a few smaller heads together. Fennel is fantastic raw in salads or roasted for an end of summer BBQ.
Watermelon: Beautiful, sweet, refreshing, add it to a salad, salsa, or it enjoy it as a snack. We won’t have these too much longer, so grab them while you can.
Melon: These melons are mostly larger than you saw earlier in the season. Fall is nearly here and their harvest window is limited. They won’t be with us too much longer.
Green Leaf Head Lettuce: An offering of lettuce heads from a direct seeded planting is available in the share this week. We haven’t distributed head lettuce for a while, but with the cooler temperatures, heads will have milder flavor.
Salad Mix: A ton available and mild flavor.
