The Scoop from the Farm
I have to say that a couple of my favorite words in the English language are “Cherry Season.” In that order of course because if you say Season Cherry you just sound like you fell off the turnip truck. So when our head orchard dude, Paul from Excelsior Orchards, called me and said Cherry Season is on, I got a little misty eyed.
I have been thinking a lot recently about our upcoming Independence Day. Well, actually I have just been thinking about the word Independence and what it means to us all. And what is at the root of independence?
First off this week, just a slew of amazing fruits continue to roll in this week. You will be enjoying the blueberries, nectarines, and peaches. But one of the late comers to the fiesta were the grapes from the desert. Along the border of Arizona and California, in a very hot and dry region, come some of the most amazing grapes that you will find. Water is a scarcity, so the plants (and skilled farmers) pack a lot of flavor punch into the fruit. You will see these for a bit.
As we head into June, I have 2 words for you, I love fruit. Ok, maybe those aren’t just 2 words, but I just want to make sure you are paying attention because the fruit season is about to get very real here amigos.
I have to say that I love the first week of June. By June 1st all of the summer plants are in the ground. When you get too far into June, any long season plants like tomatoes and melons will have a hard time producing before the nip of Jack Frost will kill their momentum. So we really use the first week of June as the end of our summer planting.
First off, I would like to take a moment to welcome our Phoenix members to the farm. This past January, some of you may recall, we began home delivery in the greater Tucson area. Over the last 4 years, the number of growers we have partnered with in Arizona has become very strong. Our winter producers are almost all in Arizona. It is funny, we are ramping up in our fields and they are heading into the last month before their “off-season.”
Hey folks, this week has been an absolute burner of a week, so I will have to run a new newsletter next week.
Plant Sale, all I can say is wow. Biggest turnout ever, selling 1,600 plants in the span of 3 hours. Thank you to everyone who came out. I think we got through it without too many snags. Definitely a lot to learn from moving forward, but we are getting better every year with it. Next year I think we are looking at expanding it out over two weekends to accommodate all the interest. Thank you!
Reminder!! Spring Plant Sale is Saturday, 4/30, 9am-Noon. At the warehouse, 3435 Stanford Dr NE. Come check out the baby goats, buy some plants, and I will be hosting a free gardening class at 10am. Come with questions. This is probably the best event we do all year. Come join us and feel free to bring folks with you.
First up this week, I want to introduce you to the “Sale Barn.” I know you might be asking yourself if I have fallen off the tractor 1 too many times, but there is a point to this I promise. We have been bringing you so many new items and there are times when these new items don’t get onto the radars of our members.