LaPlata Area Food: This week's Food (8/28/09)

Policies

1) A la carte orders must be received by the posted deadline. Late orders will probably not be honored. If you'd like us to confirm that we received your order, just ask.

2) Payment is due either upon ordering or upon delivery/pickup. Established customers can pay by check. New customers are asked to pay via paypal or in person cash the first two times. A paypal invoice will be sent if you wish to pay in that way.

3) As of 11/18/08, delivery charges are calculated as follows: $2 flat fee per delivery plus a $0.50/mile charge for the one way distance between us. So if you live 5 miles from me, your charge will be $2 + $2.50 = $4.50. If you live 2 miles from me, your charge is $2 + $1 = $3.

4) Your produce will be delivered in reusable bags/boxes each week on Monday; alternate delivery days may be selected based on what you order, where you live, and how full my refrigerator is! We need you to leave the containers from last week where we can retrieve them when we make our delivery. This includes any cloth bags. waxed boxes, plastic bags from veggies, glass jars, and egg cartons. When you forget to leave the containers for us, you will need to bring them to us before the next week's delivery. If we forget to pick up the bags, we will be responsible for retrieving them from you. Boxes/bags that are not returned withing 2 weeks will be assessed a replacement fee. Timely return of glass jars is especially important.

5) Cold and hot weather are not very friendly to fresh produce. If you can not be home to receive the delivery, please leave a cooler outside (and tell us where it is!) in which the produce can wait for your return.

6) If you encourage other families in your neighborhood to become LAF customers, your delivery charge will be reduced. We just need to know who to credit...

7) Since farming is not a precise, predictable science, sometimes items will either not be ready for harvest, will be beyond harvesting, or will have changed between bagged, bunched, and loose. Substitutions for one variety over another will also be made upon occasion. If substitutions are unacceptable, please notify us when your order is placed. If an ordered item is not available, your account will receive a credit towards your next order or you will simply not be charged.

How Does This Work?

Every week, we visit local farms, talk with the farmers, and purchase the freshest, yummiest food. We support farmers who nurture their soil, strive for sustainable farming practices, and don't use harmful or questionable products. Each week, you choose a la carte from the list of available food and pay for what you choose. We pack your share into reusable containers and you get your food. You, in turn, leave us the empty containers from last week's order and arrange payment. It's that simple!

To assist in your enjoyment of local produce, we will share storage information, preparation tips, recipes and ways to use new foods via this blog.

Sometimes, customers will have the option of adding eggs, honey, meat, cheese, mushrooms, bulk fruits, and other foods to their orders. Monthly, we order dry goods and food staples from Neshaminy Valley Natural Foods (based in Philidelphia, PA). These additional options are called Special Orders.

Is the food organic? Organic is such a key word these days. We go for local first, choosing farms that are as close as possible to the LaPlata area. Whenever there is an organic option, we will go with that. After that, we look for farmers who use IPM (integrated pest management), composting, and other sustainable practices. If you would like your food to be strictly organic, just let us know when you become a customer!

There are three membership options:
I) Weekly delivery to your home - cost $12/month + mileage charges
II) Weekly pickup at my home - cost $12/month
III) Special Orders Only - cost $5/order

Thursday, August 27, 2009

This week's Food (8/28/09)

This week orders are due by friday at noon. If you are coming to the Earth Dinner tomorrow, I am providing the watermelon and a watermelon sorbet! I am currently going with the same list as last week since I don't have an update from the farmers yet.

From Next Step Produce:

TOMATO SALE !!! : 3lbs or more @ $2.70/lb; 6lbs or more @ $2.40/lb; 25lb box @ $25/1.00/lb !!!

Now come on people! That is quite a deal. Tiss the season to make your own sauce, can it, freeze it for the winter. You can make your own ketchup or simply freeze whole blanched peeled tomatoes! Don't buy the canned stuff from who knows where!

Last week I made delish seasoned pasta sauce for year round meals and also tried my hand at homemade BBQ sauce. No one came to play with me though :-(

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic

* Watermelon @ $1/lb - heirloom seeded red, heirloom seeded yellow, seedless red, seedless orange, seedless yellow (no watermelon will cost more than $10)
* cherry tomatoes (red or yellow) @ $3.50/pt (or $6 for 2)
* regular red tomatoes @ $3.00/lb or a 25 lb box for $25 (wow what a great price)
* heirloom pinks/purples/blacks tomatoes @ $4/lb (only $3/lb if you get 3lbs or more heirlooms)
* heirloom yellows/oranges/marbled tomatoes @ $4/lb (only $3/lb if you get 3lbs or more heirlooms)
* tomatillos @ $5/quart
* green bell peppers @ $2.50/lb
* ripe red bell peppers @ $5/lb
* italian eggplant @ $2.60/lb
* asian eggplant @ $4/lb
* zucchini (green and yellow) @ $2.50/lb
* summer squash (yellow straightneck) @ $2.50/lb
* slicing cucumbers @ $2.00/lb
* yardlong beans (green or purple) @ $3/bunch
* parsley bunch @ $2.50
* cilantro bunch @ $2.50
* dill bunch @ $2.50
* basil bunch @ $3
* sweet potato greens @ $3/bunch
* red malabar spinach @ $3/bunch
* purslane (golden) @ $3/bunch
* green cabbage @ $2.40/lb
* fennel bulb @ $1.50
* large red gold or carola potatoes @ $2/lb
* small red gold or carola potatoes @ $5/qt
* regular onions @ $3/lb
* garlic or elephant $8.50/lb (typical head is $1.75)

From Fresh Start Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2.50/dz
* heritage breed chickens available now @ $2.50/lb with typical weights under 4 lbs (these types of chickens are good for roasting and have small breast compared to the cornish hens)

*** Cornish hens will be available again at the end of September, and then NOT AGAIN UNTIL SPRING. Order now!

From Me:
* kombucha starter and instructions @ $3 (ask for a taste if you've never had this fermented beverage)

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

LaPlata Area Food

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Thursday, August 27, 2009

This week's Food (8/28/09)

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