Lloyd Craft Farms Fresh Produce, Locally Grown

Good Morning Everyone!–And a good morning it is–Yesterday the temps hit 92 degrees, and we felt it–But always nice to have the sunshine and clear skies.

This week is our 12th of 16 weeks—Our Veggie Shares this week have Greens, fresh dug Carrots, Grape tomatoes or Snack Peppers, Red Beets, beautiful thick-meated Green Bell Peppers, and Acorn Squash.

A note on the greens.  This week we had two varieties of Salanova, both of them speckled with insect protein…in layman terms aphids and white fly.  I apologize!  We  checked them the week before and they were okay…we harvested Tuesday not noting anything unusual…and then when I popped the container open for Pick Up the little critters were emerging from the greenery.  I almost pulled them but it was our Butter head which is easily washed and super good.  The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday groups have the Green Incised Salanova which has been triple washed and bagged in 5 oz ziplock bags.

We released the last of my 9,000 ladybugs and we’ll see what they can do for next week.  Washing is very time consuming and takes great care, but is sometimes necessary in organic production for eye-appeal.  Ingested insects are not harmful, but in America we are not accustomed to seeing them on our food.  Here, at The Farm, we chose to avoid the rash of chemicals currently used commercially, especially on lettuce, to kill the bugs.  Bear with us as we hone our art.   🙂

Fruit Share this week is simple:  Witch Fingers grapes and 3-1/2#’s of Organic Italian Prunes (type of Plum).  The Witch Finger grapes are an example of patient hybrid breeding techniques.  They are elongated instead of round, and have a great flavor and texture.  The parent grape is a Mediterranean variety.  The prunes are wonderful–my favorite plum!  Easy to eat–wonderful taste–and great firmness.  I’m squeamish on my plums…can’t gage down a soft plum…and love them to be a true free-stone.  The Italian prunes are both!

Enjoy both the Veggie and the Fruit Shares.  With the change of the season from summer to fall, you will see the share sizes getting a little smaller.  We are moving from the hot weather night-shades (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers) and corn, to the root crops (carrots, beets, turnips, sweet potatoes, potatoes), brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli) and squashes.  Still to come–Brussel sprouts, thicker-leaved celery, potatoes, carrots, Scarlet Queen turnips, onions, and a plethora of winter squashes.  AND a surprise from the hoophouse as the Bok Choi and Spinach reach harvestibility!

ENJOY–Eat healthy to be healthy!  The Farmer’s Wife