Cippolini Onions
Nicola Potatoes (golden)
Tomatillos
Anaheim or Poblano Peppers
Chiles
Red Leaf or Summer Crisp Lettuce
Watermelon
This week August 4th– 10th is Virginia Farmers Market Week. Please help promote the importance of buying food directly from producers by encouraging those around you to take a little extra time out of their week to get better tasting, fresh, and healthy food into their homes. There are a multitude of farmers markets in the Richmond area and throughout Southside Virginia where we are located. It would not be difficult for most people to find two easily accessible markets each week for a majority of the year. It is Virginia after all where we have quite a long growing season.
Not only is going to a farmers market important, but searching out producers who grow, raise or make their own products brings each of us that much closer to understanding and connecting with what food can be and should be, not for special occasions but daily. We use the term “local” like “organic” or “sustainable” so that it has become a label that make us feel we are buying the “right” thing, but most important seems to be bringing each individual closer to where their food comes from; who grew it, where, building an appreciation for its availability and then there is the reward of cooking and eating with such high quality ingredients, which cannot be beat. As farmers we truly appreciate the joy many of our customers express about making a delicious meal or trying a new preparation with a vegetable they have never used before. Through encouraging people to change how they buy food, not out of convenience, but looking for the best they can get, helps to instill a passion for food, cooking, and of course eating. A passion our communities desperately need.
I was thinking about this week’s share and all the delicious things that can be made with potatoes, peppers, tomatillos, onions, or chiles. They go together so well in a variety of dishes: New Mexico green chile, chile rellanos stuffed with potatoes and cheese, eggs baked in a tomatillo and poblano sauce, salsa verde over home fries, potato salad with a homemade poblano mayo, or a potato, onion, and anaheim pepper quiche. Watermelon makes a excellent dessert for any of these meals or make watermelon juice (blend, strain, and add a little lime) as the most thirst quenching drink of the summer. This will be the last time you get tomatillos, so have fun with them. This will be the only time for watermelon (we have a very small planting that the crows and groundhogs like to snack in) so please enjoy…. Autumn and Brian
onion harvest
red noodle long bean