Hello CSA Members!
We had some big storms this week and tornados all over the area but we were lucky enough to not have any damages or hail or anything except a lot of rain! We really needed the rain for some of our crops and the heat and humidity is pushing some of the heat loving crops we planted last month along nicely like the green beans, melons and eggplant which are later then we like but should still make it before frost with all the heat this year. Tomatoes are just looking amazing and its one of the things we focus on so i’m glad all our hard work is coming to fruition. Lots of tomatoes for shares this week for sure as a result as we hone in on the one thing we do best mid season. Our peppers are starting to show some color change and I like to wait until we get a lot of ripe fruit normally to disperse any peppers cause I just think ripe yellow, red, and orange peppers are better than green peppers but they are bulking up with the heat and rain so we should have a nice flush of peppers soon. Here is the crop list for this week!
Cherry tomatoes: Our cherry tomatoes are some of the best around and very firm and sweet. One thing you can do with them besides fresh snacking which I have not suggested yet either is dehydrate them or roast them into a paste for sun dried tomato or roasted tomato paste if they are cooked in the oven on low for many hours they make a roast sweet paste. I still think the best is just caprese on a stick with these using the little mozzarella balls and some fresh basil on a toothpick they make a great appetizer or lunch.
Heirloom tomatoes: We have so many types this year and usually try to use the firmer ones in shares so they don’t bruise as easily being delivered to you but if you can’t use them alll for BLTS or tomato and cheese sammies, then try simply freezing them in a freezer ziplock after taking the skins off in some hot water and you’ll have a sauce ready tomato for your winter soups, sauces, and chili.
Zucchini: The hot weather is pushing these along after they started slow this year we have a lot coming in now. I used them on homemade pizza this week but zucchini fries and fritters are still some of my favorite zucchini dishes.
Summer squash; We have the long yellow type and the yellow patty pan saucer types for you but they all can be prepared the same as you would use a zucchini.
Garlic: Chesnook Red garlic which is a new type for us this year is in the shares and great with everything from fresh pasta sauce with your tomatoes or roasted in the oven on low until it is spreadable on your bread or with basil for fresh garlicky pesto.
Leek: Our leeks are a thinner summer variety made not for storage but to have a long portion of usable onion. Great for some chilled potato leek soup in the summer which is my favorite leek dish or any other type of soup. I always cook them in butter.
Chard: Our chard is still going strong and ready for sautéing or use in any dish where you would use spinach. Because it has similar flavor it is a great substitute when we can’t grow spinach in the summer heat.
Pea Shoots: Micro greens are a crop we strive to keep going strong all year every week. This hot year has been hard for micro growing but we are pushing through. I have plans in the future to build another greenhouse just to expand our micro business with and have a proper ventilation system and shade for them so they don’t overheat very easily in the summer which is the hardest to grow them in except for deep winter. These are great for salads and anywhere you would use lettuce.
Carrots: Carrots are one of the more difficult things to grow. We’ve been doing pretty well with them for a few years now and they keep coming this week with our orange Yaya carrots which are really tender compared to the yellow carrots and maybe not as bright but I like the consistent flavor with these also. I’ve heard from some members that the kids love these and I would agree that carrots is one veggie which my kids will always eat and i’ve always wanted to have a steady supply of for CSA so I’m happy we can keep our carrot streak going!
Enjoy the crops everyone, we will keep on harvesting and as fall approaches planting a few more thing for late season. Also IDK about you all but its time to start thinking about back to school so we are getting ready at home for school season including soccer teams for my kids (Alora and Evan), registration, and supplies so in between all the work this week that is the goal to get prepared for the end of August. I hope everyone has a great week and has some time to enjoy the summer while it’s here. -Kyle
