Clearly, we love our veggies. After all, we’re vegetable farmers, first and foremost. But despite our deep adoration of all the varieties of winter squash we’re harvesting right now, we know that fall is also apple season. We can make room in our hearts for some homemade apple sauce alongside our roasted kabocha, and little apple pie after our pumpkin soup. We can even make some room in your CSA boxes!
This week our friends from across the Potomac River at Kingsbury Orchard are contributing bushel upon bushel of freshly picked, locally grown Fuji apples to our farm shares. Gene Kingsbury is a tree fruit magician, running a fifth-generation family orchard that grows cherries, peaches, plums, apples, pears, and more. They’re located in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland’s Agricultural Reserve, on farmland that’s been worked by Kingsbury farmers since 1907. Gene is also the Co-President of the Board of Montgomery Countryside Alliance, a conservation organization working to protect open space in the Ag Reserve. He’s even developed his own signature yellow freestone peach hybrid, the Kingsbury’s Pride!
Fuji apples are a specialty at Kingsbury Orchard as well, and for good reason. This cross between the Red Delicious and Virginia Rawls Jennet apples is a nationwide favorite for its sweetness and crisp texture. Thanks to their slightly thicker skins, they have an exceptionally long shelf-life as well. Apples are best stored in a crisper drawer in the refrigerator, in a perforated plastic bag or with a with a damp towel. All apple varieties emit a small amount of ethylene gas, which can age your other produce more quickly; store them separately to avoid any adverse effects. (Please note, although we are proud to offer these apples, they are conventionally grown and not organic.)
While you’re envisioning apple crumbles topped with rich vanilla ice cream, we have just a few housekeeping notes on your Harvie preferences and how they function. When a new farm product is added to our list, your preference setting is automatically neutral until you adjust it otherwise. That means that if you love apples and want to be sure to receive them if they’re available again, you should take a moment to update your preferences! You’ll notice on your Harvie home screen that there is a reminder to do so whenever we offer something new.
In other News...
Food Truck at the Farm Stand Saturday September 7: We’re excited for the return of Flavour Food Truck and their amazing Short-Rib sandwiches and Truffle Mac-N-Cheese! It’s easy to see why these guys were voted Loudoun’s Favorite Food Truck of 2019. See the full menu here, and come grab brunch from 11 to 2 PM. Yum!
*Due to unexpected circumstances, there will be no pizza served at the Farm Stand during CSA pick-up on Tuesday September 10th. The Pizzeria Moto team appreciates your understanding and looks forward to firing up the oven for you again on September 17th.*
Eat Well Today and Be Well Always,
Ashley, Collin, John, Nate, James, Rory, Lex, Alexandra, the black dog squad, the feisty hens, and the pigs who would like some apples, too!
