Heirloom Tomatoes:  Summer is officially here now that the tomatoes are and they are delicious! We have Black Brandywines, Red Brandywines, Piriform, Lemon Boys, Copias, Purple Calabash, and Green Zebras  just to name a few.  They are of varying ripeness with the intention that you will have some that are perfectly ripe to eat right away and some that will be great in the following days. Please note that some of the heirloom varieties are green and are ripe. These are from our transitional fields, so they are not certified organic. Please contact us with questions about transitional produce &  organic certification; we’re happy to explain how we keep the items separate. We finally entered our third year of transition to organic on our leased piece of land — we’ll be able to have the parcel certified Nov. 2010!  Store on counter upside down (never in fridge!). Tomatoes are famously fragile, so please make sure you eat them soon! Cherry Tomatoes OR Shady Lady Tomatoes: It’s a tomato fest!  Some of you may receive a basket of cherry tomatoes and others will receive slicing tomatoes.  These are from our transitional fields (see above) and are not certified organic. The shady ladys are a slightly heartier slicing tomato and will last longer than the heirloom tomatoes.  Store on counter (never in fridge!) and eat soon.

Roma Tomatoes: These are from our transitional fields (see above) and are not certified organic.  These are plum tomatoes that are perfect for sauces and salsas.  Store on counter (never in fridge!) and eat soon.  These will last longer than the heirloom tomatoes.

Strawberries: So sweet & tasty! Store in fridge in green basket in paper bag or in closed plastic container with a damp paper towel. Wash only when ready to use. Eat soon. Please return green baskets to your delivery site in an orderly fashion! Basil: Yum! It’s gorgeous, succulent, and oh-so-aromatic! Please keep in mind that we are growing three different varieties this year (a large, curly variety called Genovese; a narrow-leaved variety called Lemon Basil; and a regular, Italian Large-Leaf basil). Adds depth to many dishes. Use soon. Store in plastic bag in fridge. Keep dry and remove blackened leaves.

Peaches OR Plums :   Some of you will receive peaches and some will receive plums. Some of the plums this week are black and some are of the Emerald Beaut variety and boy are they amazing!  Don’t be fooled- they actually have green skin on the outside and yellow flesh on the inside so they are ripe and ready to eat.  To ripen fruit if slightly firm, store in a paper bag on the counter for a couple of days.  Store ripe fruit in fridge, and wash before eating. YUM!

Summer Squash:  Store in fridge in plastic bag.  Can damage easily but adds a special something to any sauté, soup, or bread.

Eggplant:  These are absolutely gorgeous!  The best way to draw out bitterness  is to cube it & cover with a LOT of salt (in a bowl). Let sit for 20+ minutes. Wash off salt & sauté or otherwise cook.  Store in fridge crisper for best results.

Red Bell Peppers:  Oh how we love peppers!  Keep in the crisper for best results and wash before use.  To roast peppers, place over flame on stove (or in broiler).  Rotate so entire pepper is blackened.  Remove from the heat and place in a bowl with lid/plate covering it.  When cool enough to touch, rinse off blackened skin.  Delicious! Sweet Gypsy Peppers:  We just love these sweet little peppers.  They are great sauteed, roasted, or raw. See above for information on roasting peppers.  Store in crisper in fridge and wash before use.

Lemon Verbena:  Super delicate herb!  It may show up to you already mostly dried—it dries out within a few hours of being harvested.  No fear!  It’s still great to use!  It works amazingly as tea (pour hot water over the leaves and steep 10 minutes.  Sweeten as needed.)  It makes a wonderful summertime iced tea, too.  If fresh, store lightly wrapped in plastic bag or upright in a small amount of water in fridge.  If mostly dried, hang upside down to complete drying.  Store in a cool, dry, dark place.

Carrots:  Incredibly sweet and tender!  These are from the transitional fields (see tomatoes above) meaning they are not certified organic.  Wash well before eating (as always) and enjoy!

Purple Potatoes:  These beautiful spuds are chocked full of anthocyanins giving them their lovely blueish hue.  They are make great potato salads, home fries, and give great texture to soups, stews, and casseroles.  Store in fridge and wash before eating.!