what’s in the box this week?
(Listed from shortest shelf life to longest shelf life)
Spinach Bunch: The spinach is big enough now to bunch so we can dispense with the plastic bag. Use what you need and wash thoroughly. Yes it is dirty but is keeps much better that way. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Sugar Snap Peas: Just a tease as this is the first pick. Add to a salad or use in the soup. Lemons: This versatile fruit adds a great touch to winter greens and salads. Store in the fridge as these have not been waxed like so many fruits in the store. The brushing and cleaning removes the protective bloom. Use within a week. From our long time friend Nacho at Twin Girls Farm in Fresno who also packs for purity hence the labels on the fruit. Arugula: From the beds right next to the lettuce in the picture on the front page of this newsletter. I hope to sow several varieties of Arugula to do a taste test to find out the preferred variety. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Baby Lettuce: Theses small baby lettuce are cut and bagged in the field. We thin the crop in the field to allow room for the remaining lettuce to mature to a larger size. Store in the fridge. Chard: It has been a while since we have been able to include this in the harvest share. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Dandelion: A bitter green that can be stir fried or eaten raw. This is one of those vegetables that is very good for you. So you have to eat it. Try it in Lorraine's recipe across the page. I will be checking on you. Store in the fridge. Red Cabbage: Some have yet to discover the delights of cabbage. My doctor is San Francisco has been seen buying red cabbage from us and saying he is making sauerkraut with it. I need to make sure my doctor is healthy so he can take care of me. Store in the crisper. Green Garlic: It is such a delight to have this back in our harvest shares. My favorite way to enjoy is to stir fry the chopped garlic in a skillet with some olive oil. Then stir in eggs for a delicious green garlic scrambled eggs. Store in the crisper. Carrots: These come from Los Pablos at Terra Firma Farm in Winters. We grow amazing tasting carrots here on our farm but the germination is sporadic because our soil is a little too heavy. I covert the field next to us as it has a nice sandy area. Forgive me. Store in the crisper Leeks: These large alliums are rather mild in flavor and simply melt to perfection when sautéed. Use in soups, stir-fries, or in place of onions in other dishes for a delicious and more subtle flavor. Save the dark green tops for making vegetable stock! Store in fridge and wash well. Navel Oranges: Nacho at Twin Girls Farm has wonderful red headed twin girls, obviously with our twin boys we had a lot to talk about at the farmers market. Nacho specializes in fruit and has taken over many orchards from retiring farmers or those people with a farm and no experience of fruit tree care. They are all certified organic. It sounds like he spends most of his day in a truck looking at all the trees. Not quite my idea of fun, the driving that is. Nacho sells most of his fruit through Purity so that is why you see the labels on the fruit.