Melon trials
In search of a delectable small melon: We try an assortment of cantaloupes and honeydew melons, with the hopes of finding a reliably sweet, small variety that would also fit into your totes nicely. Here are three that we have on hand that we are giving out -- the darker green one is named Lambkin, and is a honeydew type, and at times has been just fabulous, but sometimes now resembles more a cucumber in taste and texture than a melon. The round cantaloupe is called Sugar Cube, and is a cute, round, 1-person or 2-person melon that sometimes has had really nice flavor, and the last (with the green stripe) is called Snow Leopard, and is also a honeydew type, and is probably our favorite of the three. Most melons will have the most flavor when they are dead ripe, and so the dilemma is always whether to pick them earlier so that they have a longer shelf-life, or pick them when they are at their sweetest (and softest), and then risk them bruising and getting too soft by the time they reach you. Other types have been rejected for a variety of reasons (very short shelf-life, susceptibility to diseases and pests, lack of good flavor, etc.), but these three all seem to hold some promise. The larger, standard, 5-6 lb. cantaloupes are also possible, but often lack a nice taste, and are just a little on the large size for our totes.
This week's offerings: Lots of sweet corn this week! We will expect to give out corn twice, or maybe three times, this season, and this first batch of bicolor sweet corn looks good! There should be a way to order extra if you would some additional for freezing or canning, from the Harvie store. We also start with our peppers this week. A large, mostl-green frying pepper to begin with! Basil still holding on well, and plenty available this week too! Like the corn, (and eggplant, and other items), you should be able to swap for, or outright purchase, additional basil if you would like! And a melon too! In addition to the melons, we also send out small versions of watermelons, usually the yellow-fleshed variety called Yellow Doll.
Coming soon: Leeks will be coming soon, as will more carrots. We will have soon red and white onions, in addition to the regular yellow onions.
Michigan peaches coming next week! From Joshua Rick, of Flavorland Farms in Baroda, Michigan we will be bringing over their great peaches. We usually offer them in 2 sizes, 25 lbs., or 8 lbs. They would come in separate boxes, so if you order them, you would need to look for a separate box with your name on it. Ordering will be through the Barn2Door platform, and we will give you the link once it is posted. Delivery would be for Wednesday, the 24th. The peaches are not organically grown, as we cannot find a producer of local (midwest) organic peaches that could supply us. (If you know of one, please let us know!) But Rick does limit the sprays on his orchard, and follows the IPM protocol of only spraying when absolutely necessary, and not following a standard schedule. (For any of you young growers out there, there is certainly a market for organic fruit, if you can figure out which varieties might work best under an organic management!)
Some beautiful kale!
Likely doubling up of eggs: For the next few weeks the eggs that we are getting from the Miller farm are the pullet eggs, which are the first that the hens lay upon reaching maturity, which are slightly smaller than the regular eggs. Pending supply, we are likely to give anyone who is receiving eggs a complementary dozen to compensate for the smaller eggs.
Have a good week!
Peter & Bernadette
