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


Wednesday, June 2, 2010

This Week's Food (6/4/10)

Orders are due by noon friday!

New! From Wooded Bliss - Fresh and locally roasted coffee!

Available as whole beans or pre-ground, in a variety of sizes: 1/4 lb ($2.50), 1/2 lb ($5), or 1 lb ($10). Coffee will come in a refillable glass jar; return it for next time!

Bean Choice #1:
Brazil Joao de Campos Wet Process Decaf
The farm is in a region called Alto Paranaíba near Serra do Salitre. It is a high plain in Cerrado Miniero, Minas Gerais state.  This decaf lot is quite consistent with the non-decaf lot: We like this coffee for its consistency.  The dry fragrance has a lot of roast notes to it; both sweet-savory aspects and an interesting fruit-nut-chocolate compound scent. At City roast the aromas are malty sweet and lightly fruited, with a hazelnut note, but at FC+ they are much more aggressive and potent, with bittersweet chocolate tangy scents. Full City has the best cup, a nice balance between caramel and chocolate roast notes. The acidity is very muted, and the body thick, buttery, dense.  Enjoy a cup of decaf  without the benefits of a full caffeinated coffee.
Be sure to let me know if you would like a FC+ (dark roast) or a City roast (not as dark).

Bean Choice #2:
Java Kaju mas Organic Wet-Hulled
This coffee hails from the Kajumas area in East Java, and is the first certified Organic Java coffee my supplier has offered.  Wet-hull processing means the coffee is picked, the skin pulped, and then the seed is partly dried.  When it still has 25-30% moisture it is hulled out of the parchment, and laid out in the sun for final drying.  Much of that low-toned Indonesia flavor is due to this unique process.  The dry fragrance has a sweet woody quality, a foresty wet earth note and a bit of syrup to it.  It is definitely Indonesian in character.  The cup has huge body and earthy chocolate flavors.   If you like it let me know and I’ll see if I can get more.  There is a limited amount and I can only order 1 lb at a time.  Currently I have 1 lb of beans on hand.  As I write this I am drinking a freshly roasted cup.  It is very smooth with very low acidity.  Pleasant aftertaste. 

From Good Fortune Farm:
* certified organic asparagus @ $5/lb

From Next Step Produce:
The following are all certified organic

Strawberry season at Next Step Produce is over. Hope you enjoyed them and "put by" enough to last you all year!

* fava beans @ $4/lb (these delicious mediteranean beans are delicious with parsley, onions, garlic, and olive oil - in pasta or risotto or pureed into a fabulous dip! shell them, then cook them as you like. short season crop - does not like the heat.)
* spinach @ $3/bag
* lettuce mix @ $3/bag
* mesclun mix @ $3/bag
* loose leaf green head lettuce @ $3/head
* loose leaf red head lettuce @ $3/head
* escarole @ $4.20/lb
* endive @ $4.20/lb
* pac choi @ $3/bunch
* herbe stella @ $3/bunch
* swiss chard @ $3/bunch
* green wave @ $3/bunch
* curly kale @ $3/bunch
* lacinato kale @ $3/bunch
* collards @ $3/bunch
* dandelion greens @ $3/bunch
* kohlrabi @ $3/bunch (crisp apple-like white flesh of this enlarged bulbess stem. Wonderfully fresh and sweet with a mild tang. great addition to stir-fry for it maintains a nice crispness when cooked, as well as excellent raw since it is so nice and sweet.)
* beet greens with baby beets @ $3/bunch (last week they were larger than eggs)
* cherry bell radishes @ $2.50/bunch
* turnip greens with baby hakurei turnips @ $3/bunch (japanese turnip unlike other turnips! Tender and sweet and great for eating raw or cooked oh-so-tenderly.)
* spring onions @ $3/bunch (also known as green onions - baby onions with fresh greens.)
* garlic curls @ $3/bunch (the flowering stalk of the garlic plant. very tender, very crisp, very garlic-ky! makes fabulous rich pesto all on its own. also great stir-fried and in soups in the place of garlic cloves to come only in july. this is a short season item - get'em while you can!)

From It's Only Natural Farm:

* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2.50/dz
* The first batch of chickens has been processed. If you want to get chickens from the next batch, place your order at ION Farm's Online Store.

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

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)