Lloyd Craft Farms Fresh Produce, Locally Grown

By the way…we just had broccoli for breakfast.  The yellow flowers do not detract from the flavor, the stem holds the sweetness, and I’m going back for MORE!  Second indicator of the age and condition of the broccoli is whether the stem is firm–this is…    Thanks for your time– The Farmer’s Wife

This is a message to all Buyer’s Group members —

If your broccoli head has small yellow buds it may not taste as good as it could. When we received it Wednesday night it was fine, but as the day progressed yesterday I noticed it changing.  This is a change we have witnessed at our farm in broccoli in cold storage that is nearing its ‘expiration’ date, the date at which its quality begins to diminish.

Broccoli with yellow buds should not make you sick, it just won’t taste as good as it could, and probably won’t keep in your fridge.  Its on the down-side of its life-cycle.  We like our produce at its peak–we want to deliver you produce at its peak, so we will replace the broccoli next time around!

The Farmer’s Wife

Thanks to those that came down and purchased before Bee Healthy closed today–It helped tremendously!

I still have quite a bit of certain items and will be at Bee Healthy Friday (tomorrow) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Below is a list and the price I need to cover my investment.

Hope you can stop in and load up–next Sale Day is March 5th!

Grapefruit–very good and sweet–$.50 each (20 left)
Pineapple—Sale Price–$4.50 each (4 left)
ORG Avocadoes– firm and fresh– good value–$1.25 (23 left)
ORG Baby Bok Choi-very tender and fresh–Sale Price–$.75 each  (9 left)
ORG Mini-Rainbow carrots– snack bag–$1.75  (8 left)
ORG Cucumbers–firm and fresh–$1.00 (may have 28 left)

ORG HERBS – Baby Dill, Mint, Oregano—Sale Price— $2.00 (2 each left)

ORG MUSHROOMS— Medium White–Sale Price–$1.75 (3 left)
Crimini–Sale Price–$2.50 (4 left)
Portabello Caps–Sale Price–$4.25 (1 left)

ORG HOT PEPPERS— Jalapenos–Sale Price–3/$1.50 (8# left)
Serranos–Sale Price–$.25 each (26 left)

ORG Purple ‘Creamer’ Potatoes—
tiny potatoes meant for boiling, skins on–can cover in cream sauce! Sale Price–$2.00/# (8# left)

ORG Sweet Potatoes–Yellow colored…different flavor than ‘yams’…softer sweetness–$2.00/# (20# left)

ORG Butternut Squash—Sale Price–$2.50 each (6 left)

ORG Broccolette-colini—Sale Price–3 bunches for $4.00  (12 left)

ORG Medley Cherry Tomatoes– 1 pint– Sale Price–$2.75 (10 left)
ORG Tomato-on-Vine- Clusters— Sale Price–$2.75 (7 cluster left)
ORG Roma Tomatoes–$1.25/#  (8 left)

Hope to see you!  The Farmer’s Wife

I’ve got more produce than I can fit in the little fridge in the shed.  Can anyone come down and help me out?

I’ve got organic lettuce, kale, and chard…I’ve got avocados, pineapples, a mango, and 20# of sweet, sweet Heirloom California oranges…I’ve got good tasting cherry tomatoes-on-the-vine, and not so good tasting tomatoes-on-the-vine, but still better than those Mexico beef tomatoes from two weeks ago!  LLoyd Craft carrots, cabbage, and onions!  Broccoli, cauliflower, and Broccolette-colini…Come and check it out– will be here until 5:30—Bee Healthy on Big Horn Ave.

the farmer’s wife

The Truck Driver called and he will deliver earlier than usual tonight!  We’ll be setting up for pick up of the Buyer’s Group and sales of the EXTRA’s.  Quantities are limited on many items–shortage of space–no storage after Thursdsay–can’t buy more than I can sell….so come before NOON for the best selection!

REMEMBER:  All ORGANIC unless noted otherwise.  We follow the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 guidelines.  🙂

EXTRA’S FOR SALE

Sunchokes (Jerusaleum Artichokes)…$5/#

Plain ORG Tofu- non-GMO…………$3.45

Kruegermann Sauerkraut- natural………….$3.75

Butternut Squash……………………..$   TBD      each

FRUIT

HONEYCRISP Apples (MT Orchard)- $1.20/#

Freeze-Dried Blueberries……………$4.00

Fresh Blueberries…………………….$5.50

Blackberries……….…………………$3.00

Raspberries……….………………….$5.50

Strawberries……….…………………$5.75

Bananas………………………………$.85/#

Mangoes………………………………$2.50 each

Non-ORG Pineapple…………………..$5.00 each

Meyer Lemons- (small, round, and sweeter)……..$1.00 each

Kiwi- Living Organic 6 pack……….$3.25 each

Non-ORG Sumo Mandarins…………$2.75/#

Non-ORG Halo Tangerines- 5# bag….$7.00 each

Non-ORG Rio Star Grapefruit………..$.50 each

Non-ORG Heirloom Navel Oranges- 4# bag…$3.25

OR  $1.25/#

Avocado………………………………$1.25 each

Cherry Tomatoes-on-vine (12 oz)………$4.00

Medley Cherry Tomatoes (1 pint)………$3.50

Tomatoes-on-vine……………………….$3.00/#

Roma Tomatoes…………………………$1.25/#

Yellow Bell Peppers………………….$1.25 each

Green Bell Peppers……………………$1.00 each

Hot Peppers-   Anaheim……………….$  TBD   each

Poblano……………….$  TBD   each

Jalapeno………………$  TBD   each

Serrano………………..$  TBD   each

POTATOES

Sweet Potatoes (yellow)……………..…..$2/#

Purple Creamer Potatoes (small)………..$2.25/#

VEGETABLES

Gold Beets……………………..…..$2.00/#

Baby Bok choi………………………$2.00/#

Broccoli Heads………………………$2.75 each

Cauliflower Heads……………………$3.75 each

Broccolette-colini…………………..$3.25 bunch

Green Beans (12 oz), Taylor Farms…….$3.50

Carrots- 1# bag, Lloyd Craft Farms…..$1.25

Rainbow mini-carrots bag (12 oz)………..$1.75

Celery head…………………………..$1.50 each

Cucumbers…………………………..$         each

Onions, White peeled—Lloyd Craft Farms….$1.00 each

MUSHROOMS

Crimini Mushrooms………………………$2.75

Portabella Caps……………………………$4.50

Med Mushrooms…………………………..$2.00

GREENS/HERBS

Red Chard, bunch…………….…………$1.75

Green Kale, bunch………….…………..$2.50

Red/Purple Kale, bunch…………………$2.00

Spinach, bunch………………………….OUT

Fresh Basil, 2 oz………………………….$3.50

Fresh Basil, 4 oz………………………….$4.75

Fresh Baby Dill, ¾ oz..…………………..$2.25

Fresh Oregano, ¾ oz……………………..$2.25

Fresh Mint, ¾ oz…………………………$2.25

Fresh Italian Parsley, bunch………………$1.25

LETTUCES/ salads —

Green Leaf, head………..…………………$2.25

Romaine, head……………………………..$2.00

Litehouse Salad Dressings………….$4.00

Seasoned Croutons………………….$2.00

Salad Spinners…………………………$5.50

The sun is warm and wonderful…the farm is a mud-mess…the winter kitten keeps bolting for the door! 

It is official:  Garden time will be here before we know it–Time to get ready for the 2015 season!

Working on the CSA membership updates–a few changes to the program–and sign up is rapidly approaching for this year!  Current members will get an email to update their membership, after which we will open up the membership to new people–

Stay tuned…and, BTW, it is not Spring yet…HIGH Monday is supposed to be 30 degrees–  But we love living in the Mountain Region of this great US of A!

The Farmer’s Wife

We are looking for someone to be our Farmer’s Market Manager– highly organized, outgoing personality, love of people…and produce!  Farmer’s Market is 8:00-11:30 a.m. starting in July.  Preparation for market is Friday for two to four hours.  Interested?  Give me a call.  431-1219

There is an on-line training class starting February 16th–perfect opportunity to sit with the Farmer’s Wife and plan for success!  Payment will depend on experience and how much energy you have to invest–

The Farmer’s Wife

Thanks to everyone that showed up on Thursday–I covered the cost of the produce, which is good and instrumental in continuing to bring the Organics in– 🙂  Following up with info on the produce you got–It is sight unseen until we get it Wednesday night.  

ENGLISH CUCUMBERS–we sent back 13#–poor quality…Because they are wrapped in cellophane they keep longer…because they are wrapped in cellophane they don’t breath and go soft and spoil–cucumbers are fragile and short-lived.  USE YOUR CUCUMBER FIRST!

Cukes can be grated and added to slaws and other raw salads.  They are great sliced and eaten as a snack, and perfect sliced or chopped into salads.  You can score the cukes lengthwise with a fork and then slice into pretty fluted flowers to beautify your salad.  (Check out Fruit/Veg Info tab  http://www.lloydcraftfarms.com to learn more of the unique nutritional value of cukes.)

BEEF TOMATOES–We are in the dead of winter–Most Tomatoes are hot-house raised in Mexico.  The Farmer found the white core to be slightly bitter. Let them ripen a couple of days on the counter–do not refrigerate tomatoes–and if still bitter, cut around the white core. Watch them closely–they will show small spoil spots.

A little historical background:  Tomato plants thrive in the warmer climates, outdoor is best, vine-ripened superior…nutrients in the soil, the amount of water, and type of light all effect the flavor and quality of a tomato. Hybrids have been developed with thicker skins for transportation to market and field harvest with machines–at the sacrifice of flavor.  That’s why Heirloom varieties have become so popular–but they are best in season and vine-ripened.  Roma’s and Cherry tomatoes naturally have thicker skins and many of the varieties raised for the packers are F1 hybrids which are one generation away from heirlooms. 

LETTUCE— Romaine and Red Leaf quality and condition were good this week…Butterheads were a little man-handled…oops, sorry guys!  Lettuce should be prepped as soon as possible. Run a cold sink of water, take the heads apart leaf-by-leaf, discarding the bruised or spoiled leaves.  Let them soak in the cold, cold water for a minute or two–we are removing any grit and letting the leaves pull the cold water into their veins.  Next, place them in the salad spinner to remove as much water as possible.  Do not over-fill the spinner or you will tear and bruise the leaves.  The whole leaves can be placed in zip-lock bags or other water-proof containers until you are ready for them.  For your salad, tear the leaves apart…cutting will be okay if you aren’t going to save the salad for another meal–Cut leaves ‘rust’ sooner than torn leaves.  Lettuce will keep a week or two if cared for and in a cold refrigerator.  If you don’t have a spinner, I have four left for $5.50 each–Ikea special:  simple and don’t take up as much space on your shelf!

The Green Swiss Chard and Red-Purple Curly Kale were super–young and tender, great flavor!  I only ordered 3 each–the order before they were on the more mature side–  🙁

Next Buyer’s Group and sales at Bee Healthy is February 18th–Eat healthy to Live Healthy!

The Farmer’s Wife

Bee Healthy, Thursday, February 5th– 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

NEW THINGS to try:  Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes) and Plain Tofu

FRUIT:  Blueberries, Strawberries, Bananas, Red Pears, and Avocados

CHERRY TOMATO-on-the-vine- (12 oz clamshells), RED FINGERLING POTATOES, SWEET POTATOES

HEADS OF BROCCOLI, RADICCHIO, and ROMAINE and BUTTERHEAD LETTUCE

BUNCHES OF GREEN CHARD, SPINACH, PARSLEY, and 2 kinds of KALE

Lloyd Craft Farms Sugarsnax CARROTS–fresh dug and young and tender, Lloyd Craft Farms RED ONIONS

Taylor Farms Bagged Veggies and Green Beans

Organic Litehouse Ranch Dressing, Raspberry/Lime Dressing, and Seasoned Croutons

And MORE!–

COME BEFORE NOON FOR BEST SELECTION–

Reminder to members–review your Order Email and reserve your Extra’s TODAY–order will be placed tomorrow for delivery on Thursday at Bee Healthy.

Non-members or Walk-in’s…watch for a post Monday afternoon with what we are expecting on Thursday for sale on the Extra’s Table.  Our goal is to sell out Thursday–so don’t wait in hopes of picking up left-overs on Friday or Saturday. No where else in Worland can you get USDA certified organics at these reasonable of prices–

Everyone– Enjoy the game today between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots!

The Farmer’s Wife