LaPlata Area Food: January 2011

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

Friday, January 28, 2011

Storing Veges without Plastic

In case you are trying to go plastic-free in your kitchen, here's a lot of good info on storing your veges without plastic bags, containers, or other accoutrements. This article also contains a link to the Berkeley Farmer's Market's handout on plastic free vege storage (which I found quite useful). Enjoy!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

This Week's Food (1/28/11)

Orders due by saturday at 11 am. Delivery is monday afternoon/evening.

From Next Step Produce:
The following are all certified organic

*** Order # of pieces you want - even if the charge is by the pound.

* lettuce mix @ $3/bag
* kale @ $3/bunch
* swiss chard @ $3/bunch
* small fingerling beauregard sweet potatoes @ $3/pint
* butternut squash @ $2/lb

*** Order these things by the pound or fraction thereof:

* med-large beauregard sweet potatoes @ $2.40/lb
* sunchokes @ $5/lb

From It's Only Natural Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2.50/dz

From Locust Grove Farm:
* fresh goat milk @ $8/gallon, $4/half gallon, and $2/quart
* goat milk cheddar cheese @ $6/lb
* cow milk colby cheese @ $4/lb
* goat hot pepper and garlic cheese @ $6.75/lb
* goat blue cheese @ $8/lb

From the Swaruy Dairy:
* fresh cow milk @ $4/gallon, $2/half gallon, $1/quart
* butter @ $5/pound
* buttermilk @ $1/quart

Enjoy a Cup of Bliss Coffee from Wooded Bliss
All coffee is fair trade, organic, and shade grown. Coffee is roasted per order.
Order 1/4 lb, 1/2 lb or a full pound. Prices are $2.50, $5.00 and $10.
Let us know whether you would like whole bean or ground; regular or decaf.
Packaged in a reusable jar. Please return the jar.

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

Thursday, January 13, 2011

This Week's Food (1/14/11)

This is the week to fill your pantry! Orders due by saturday at 11 am. Delivery is monday afternoon/evening.

From Next Step Produce:
The following are all certified organic

*** Order # of pieces you want - even if the charge is by the pound.

* lettuce mix @ $3/bag
* baby spinach @ $3/bag
* kale @ $3/bunch
* daikon radish @ $3/bunch
* small fingerling beauregard sweet potatoes @ $3/pint
* butternut squash @ $2/lb

*** Order these things by the pound or fraction thereof:

* med-large beauregard sweet potatoes @ $2.40/lb
* sunchokes @ $5/lb

From It's Only Natural Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2.50/dz

From Locust Grove Farm:
* fresh goat milk @ $8/gallon, $4/half gallon, and $2/quart (perhaps, depends on whether farmer is still giving all the milk to the new kids)
* goat milk cheddar cheese @ $6/lb
* cow milk colby cheese @ $4/lb
* goat hot pepper and garlic cheese @ $6.75/lb
* goat blue cheese @ $8/lb

From the Swaruy Dairy:
* fresh cow milk @ $4/gallon, $2/half gallon, $1/quart
* butter @ $5/pound (perhaps, if the baby cows are ready to share their mama's milk)

From S&S Maple Camp in Western Maryland:
* Grade A or Grade B maple syrup @ Approx $40/gallon (we split shipping so price is approximate until I get final shipping quote)

Gallons may be split if you prefer a smaller quantity, you provide the glass jar for your portion. Maple syrup will be ordered on monday and so will not be ready for this delivery cycle. However, you will be paying for it with this order.

From Neshaminy Valley Natural Food Distributers:
There is a whole catalog of food and household items to order from. Delivery truck comes next wednesday. If you have anything requiring cold storage (freezer or refrigerator) you will need to pick up from me on wednesday. Otherwise, you order can stay here till convenient - but not for two weeks :-) To guarantee your NV order gets in before their deadline, I highly suggest you send this portion of your order to me by friday @ noon.

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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