Second to last week! How welcome that .2" of rain was! It made everything feel fresh and clean- a fitting way to start the day post election results.It's time for us to really get down to the business of getting the fields ready for Winter. Mike and the tractor team (Juan Carlos, Lucas, and Sam) have been busy starting to sow cover crop, getting everything else ready for cover crop seed, and prepping Winter beds for the soon to be planted strawberries and plantings that will overwinter. The rest of the crew will be busy this week digging up the dahlias to store for planting next year, taking down trellising on tomatoes and flowers so beds can be made ready for cover crop seed, and picking up all the random tidbits that will soon be buried in greenery if we don't put them away before the rains wake up the winter weeds and cover crop.
On a sadder note, on Saturday night we said goodbye to long time employee Esteban Martinez (pictured on the left with our Crew Leader, Raul Ruiz). He's headed home to his native Mexico to help his elderly father who is the last family member living there along with his youngest sister, who is in high school. They haven't seen each other in 15 years. We are immensely sad to lose him and he will be sorely missed, but it only adds to my respect of him that he's headed home where he is sorely needed. Most recently Esteban has been our Pack Out Manager but before that was our Irrigation Manager and has also subbed as Crew Leader and at markets here and there. Esteban has been one of our core crew that has really helped build this business since Spring 2013- he is one of the really good ones. Smart, capable, responsible, trustworthy, fast, immensely hardworking, and with a good sense of humor. We always wished we could clone him ;) We have spent many many very long days, and wee hours together. We're praying for his safe travels and arrival home and wishing him good luck with his endeavors in his native Oaxaca where he hopes to start his own business.
Apples this week:
Mutsu- Relatively well known and hailing from Japan. I've saved the big Mutsu week for this week as they tend to improve in cold storage. FYI, they're huge!! After noticing some of last week's Mutsu extras were averaging 1lb each we decided on a larger bag size and lower price this week.. Sweet, non browning, great keepers. They're just a lovely and all around likeable apple.
Also still available are Idareds, Corail, and Golden Delicious.
