Welcome back to week 13 of the 2022 Flat Tack Farm CSA program!
What's Happening?!
The pepper patch in the high tunnel is looking good! This is Patrick's favorite crop to grow. We grow lots of types of peppers from sweet bell to super hot Ghost peppers. The one pictured above (bottom right) is a Purple Bhut Wrecker cross. This spring was a very challenging one. We lost a lot of plants from rot and rain and had to replant multiple times. We were a little worried about getting any fruit this year from both the peppers and tomatoes. Luckily, they're finally catching up and we hope to be getting more harvests by months end.
Product Highlights
We got the Beet! Our beets have been thriving this summer and we're clearing our bed this week. Beets are super nutritious and great for reducing inflammation, boosting nitric oxide production (helping your blood carry more oxygen), keeping blood pressure in check and great for detoxing the liver. Here's a link for 22 delicious beet recipes https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/our-best-beet-recipes/ from stew to pickled eggs with beets. Also great for summer- beet salads and borscht cold soup!
The top right photo is a Cukamelon. They're also ripening and looking great! The cukamelon or Mexican Sour Gherkin is a cucumber that looks like a tiny watermelon. They are about the size of an oblong dime and have a crunchy cucumber flavor that is slightly sour. I love to eat them fresh or sliced in salads. They also make wonderfully cute pickles. This week we will the cukamelons listed as the surprise item along with eggplant and a few other farm items that are ripe but we don't quite have enough of them to list on their own.
This weekend we're debuting our hot sauce at our Vancouver Farmers Market booth on Saturday from 9-3 pm. Come by and grab a taster or order a bottle today! We have 3 varieties made from our pepper harvest last season:
The Caldera, a medium heat sauce made with Bishops Crown peppers. I think of it as a better (less sweet) version of Sriracha and it goes great on pizza, sandwiches, burritos and eggs.
So far, the crowd favorite is the tropical hot sauce called Piña Fuego. It is made with sweet and hot peppers, pineapple, passion fruit and mango and packs a good heat with delicious fruity flavor.
The next up is our rendition of a Mexican Molé - the Sauce of the Gods. This tasty sauce has Chocolate, Cherries, Dates and super hot peppers to pack a slow burn that lasts.
Herb of the week is Green Coriander. This is the same plant as Cilantro but when it flowers it is called Coriander. It has a delicious crunchy flavor and goes great in pickles, curries, salsa, stir fry or add them to mayo for a nice dressing. Here's a link with more great info and recipe ideas for this herb https://foragerchef.com/green-coriander/
Other Reminders
We're hosting our annual potato dig next Friday, August 26th from 2 pm to 5 pm. Come out and dig for gold with us! Please RSVP by emailing us back and letting us know how many people will be coming out. We will meet at the farm stand.
Things to bring: Hat/Sunscreen, water, gloves, and a digging fork if you have one!
After the dig we usually have a potato feast potluck aka potato bar. Bring your favorite potato topping to share and we'll cook up the freshly dug potatoes.
Thank you for supporting locally grown and we hope you enjoy this weeks goodies!
Your Farmers
Kelly, Patrick & the Flat Tack Team
