The Scoop from the Farm
Whenever I am late for an appointment (which doesn’t happen very often), I always like to break the ice by saying “Sorry I am late, my car hit a water buffalo on the way.” By saying that I can usually avoid the awkward moment of needing to explain why the heck I am late and just move on to business.
Recipe Idea: Heirloom Tomato Basil Soup
So when I tell you that this week we have the most fruit that we have ever had from Excelsior Orchards, you better believe you are in for a treat. Paul has brought us Peaches, Plums, Nectarines, and Pears! We have honestly never had this much abundance from his trees in one week. What a fantastic way to celebrate Labor Day and all the hands that Labor to keep you and your family fed on a daily basis. Enjoy.
Well it is easy to say that August continues to impress me. Right after we get prepared for the beginning of Excelsior Orchards’ peach harvest, I got a phone call from Dean Schwebach (Schwebach Farm in Moriarty, NM) saying that his corn is ready for harvest. What??! Just when you think things can’t get any better, Local corn comes out of the field.
We combined Paul’s sour/tart cherries and Swiss Alps’ pie dough (with a recipe) and bundled it up for you.
If you love food, you love August. July is incredible but it is just an appetizer to the main course of local food that August and September are.
As you are hopefully by now aware, we have tons of blueberries for you this week. And eating these berries over the weekend has brought two things to my mind that I want to share with you.
Believe it or not, I am a huge food lover. Foodie. Food dork. Call me whatever you will, but food shapes my life. I look forward to seasons like I look forward to vacations; seasons are burned into my mental calendar. I know that like any good papa bear, I am supposed to love all of my cubs the same. And I do love the flavors of all the seasons, but July is my absolute favorite. No disputing that and no apologies.
One thing that I have seen over and over in the marketplace is that nothing ever stays the same. Not so long ago, Blockbuster Video had an entire College Football Bowl game named after them, fast forward 10 years and kids these days will never step foot in a video store their entire lives. Businesses have to be thinking about what is coming around the bend or they will end up a speed bump to the speeding semi truck that we call Progress. Demands change, lives change, and so businesses have to change in order to be relevant as calendar pages turn.
So believe it or not, we are steaming into June. I don’t know about you, but the this year feels like it is flying by for me. But before we get off on a tangent about years, calendars and the meaning of life, let’s keep it simple and talk food.
Lots of really amazing produce items for you this week. Melons, tomatoes, greens, roots, avocados, and some wonderful citrus. So good. Put your water wings on and dive in.
Let’s look at a few quick things here this week. Strawberries. We will finally start to see more berries hitting the scene. I always look forward to the berry season, but at the same time I hate being the first one at the party. The start of strawberry season usually is filled with colorful fruit but lacking in flavor. Growers fight so hard to extend their berry seasons, but flavor is usually sacrificed. So we sit back in the dugout and wait for our time. And this week begins “our time.” Look for berries to be around into June.