The rains came through in a violent fashion last Thursday evening, but we are grateful to have been spared significant wind damage and it did give us some respite from irrigation. The edamame crop is ready to harvest this week and the tomatoes are still coming on strong. You can add bulk tomato cases to your weekly pick up by adding them as Extras during your customization window.
While we always want you to be able to enjoy your share personally by rescheduling your pick up if you can't make it or by sending a friend in your place, we want to share a little bit about what happens to produce if you don't make it to your pick up, and when we have an overabundance of certain crops. Some of the groups that we have been working with for a number of years are Enfield's Loaves and Fishes, Foodshare, Rachel's Table, Hands On Hartford and the Connecticut Food Bank. This year we are also working with Archbishop Dexter C. Burke to bring donated shares to his congregation in Hartford every Saturday.
We got to meet several organizations that were new to us this past February when we ran our Adopt a Hubbard project, where folks brought home a Hubbard squash and submitted photos to "earn" donations from us to area food pantries. Over 2700lbs of sweet potatoes were donated through that project and if you want to check out some of the fun entries, just search Facebook and Instagram for #OxenHillFarmHubbardsForCupboards.
Four years ago, our farm team member Jennifer reached out to Mr. Carter Sutherland of Carter Cares, Inc. upon the advice of one of the many food pantries he services.
Every week now, Carter comes and picks up pallets of our produce to deliver to local food pantries, senior centers, churches and other organizations who, in turn, distribute the food to area citizens in need. Carter helps bridge the gap between the astonishing amount of food from area manufacturers and farms that can needlessly end up in the waste stream, and those who can gratefully use it on their tables. We thank you, Carter, for helping us help others!
Some of the produce you receive has been washed from the field, but like all fresh produce, should be thoroughly washed and, usually, refrigerated by you at home.
THE EXCEPTIONS TO THE REFRIGERATION RULE ARE Eggplant and TOMATOES. Tomatoes and eggplant should never be refrigerated until they are cut or prepared, as the cold changes their texture.
