CSA Week 7
Like clockwork, tomatoes are starting to come in. As you might already know, we stopped growing our own tomatoes a few years ago when the pest pressure for tomato crops got really bad at our farm in North Miami. Simultaneously we developed a relationship with Michael Borek who specializes in growing tomatoes in Homestead. His family has been growing tomatoes for many years and although they are not certified organic they are a "low-spray" farm, meaning they use minimal spray because they also incorporate a well rounded pest management regiment; they use beneficial insects, insect traps and physical barriers along with organic approved sprays. We're including carrots from Verde Farm again because we know everyone loves carrots and they were so sweet! We'll be harvesting some fluffy escarole for you and French Farm is providing us with his beautiful swiss chard. The starfruit in this week's share are foraged from an abandoned orchid nursery in Homestead near French Farm; half of the papaya is grown on our farm and the other half is from Empower Farms in Homestead. You might recognize Empower Farms from the farmers market because they set up a booth that is usually overflowing with papayas! They are a non-profit farm run by a few enthusiastic young farmers who are doing great work. Check out their instagram for farm pictures and to learn more about them in general.
Small Shares:
Choice of kale or chard from French Farm
Cabbage from Verde Farm
Carrots from Verde Farm
Red tomatoes from Micheal Borek
Escarole from our fields
Choice of papaya or starfruit
Rosemary from Verde Farm
Large Shares:
Choice of kale or chard from French Farm
Cabbage from Verde Farm
Carrots from Verde Farm
Red tomatoes from Micheal Borek
Escarole from our fields
Choice of papaya or starfruit
Rosemary from Verde Farm
Extra tomatoes
Extra fruit (large shares will get both papaya and starfruit)
FYI, cabbage can store in the fridge for about a month (if not longer). The outer leaves will yellow, but as you peel away 2 or 3 leaves you'll find that the core is as good as new. Keep this in mind when you're managing your share this week. Eat up the escarole and kale or chard first, save the cabbage and carrots for later. Starfruit can be kept in or out of the fridge, but they should be eaten as soon as they are an even yellow; when they get too ripe they develop a nasty fermented flavor, yuck! Tomatoes are best kept out of the fridge as long they aren't going to over ripe before you get to them. They are like chocolate or red wine in that their flavor is richest at room temperature.