(Listed from shortest shelf life to longest shelf life)

Melon or Strawberries: These melons are modern varieties. I have pretty much given up finding a good heirloom for the boxes. Please eat the strawberries right now. If they arrive damaged let me know and I will replace them. The overwhelming response from members is to pick them ripe rather than the crunchy one’s you buy in the store. Basil: Our plan for next year is to build a temporary mini greenhouse in the field for this crop. It will make the leaves bigger and the stems softer. We have just ran out of time this summer. Each year we try to make your boxes even better. The greenhouse will cost about $4,000 but should return the money in the first year. Lemon Verbena: This makes the most delicious tea or you can use it to flavor ice cream. It dries very quickly so it make look a little shriveled when it gets to you. It is just as good fresh as dried. Hang it in a cool dry place out of the light if you want to keep it for latter. A member is getting three bunches today as she cannot be without it when she goes on vacation soon. Heirloom Tomatoes: These are fragile so we have included some a little under ripe. In a few days they will ripen. You should get a mix of ripeness. Do not put them in the fridge unless they are split or you save a half for another day. Summer Squash: We have four types of squash planted so you may get the light green Mexican, dark green regular squash, yellow squash or the round ones. Store in the fridge. Persian Cucumbers: The cucumbers are from seed given to us by our friends and neighbors at Magnum Seeds. They like to see how their seed does in the rigorous conditions of an organic farm without all the pesticide protection. Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes: The seeds for these wonderful summer fruits have been grown from seed we have selected and saved over the last twenty years. We will try and give you a range of ripeness so they last longer. Do not refrigerate. Plums or Nectarines: We have moved to picking these under ripe as so many of you were having them arrive damaged. i was heartened last week to hear how they did ripen in a couple of days and one member told me they were they best nectarines she had ever had. Patience. Hot Peppers: These are hot. The label on the bag says... ‘If you find these on your doorstep then they have been re-gifted by a member of Eatwell Farm who cannot stand the heat. Please enjoy them and consider joining our community. eatwell.com’ Eggplant: Aubergine to those from Europe. This  is not bitter like the store bought one’s. I never liked them unless they were soaked and salted. These taste great, Lorraine dipped the slices in batter last week. Store in the crisper. Yellow Onions: We have dug these right out of the field. Yellow onions store the best but we have lots so no need to be sparring with them. Let me know if we are sending too many, just enough or not enough. Keep on your counter and use within a couple of weeks as they are not fully cured yet.