Summer CSA Last Week! | Thanks for a great summer!
Week 11: August 27th - August 30th
It seems like just yesterday we were gearing up for warmer weather and welcoming you to the summer season. But time has raced along and suddenly we find ourselves in the final week of the Summer CSA! Which means the only thing left to say is: THANK YOU!
This summer has been a wild ride, full of ups and downs. We weathered a bad hailstorm, endured an extreme heatwave, and currently find ourselves in the middle of severe drought. But through those challenges we’ve become certified organic, improved infrastructure on the farm, and produced a heap ton of delicious vegetables. It’s a testament to this community and the tireless work of our farm team that when we look back at the season our first thought is of bounty, not hardship.
This summer has been an interesting one for small-scale vegetable growers, in the Minnesota sense of the word. As input costs for seeds, compost, tools, and packaging have risen in the past year or two, we’ve seen margins tighten and a number of experienced farmer friends call it quits. At the same time, recent news about food-borne parasites and improper practices on large monoculture farms has driven people to reconsider where their food comes from and how it’s grown. As you may have noticed while picking up your share, this has been the busiest summer at 10th Street in the farm’s 14 years, with TONS of new shoppers looking for food they can trust.
They’re coming here because they trust the way we grow our vegetables, the way we treat our farm team, and the way we share our love for feeding our neighbors. And it’s uplifting to feel trusted, in this moment, when the need for trust and community is only growing. In the face of uncertainty, there’s power in placing your trust in people.
And what is a CSA if not an exercise in trust? You sign up for a share without knowing what will be in it on any given week, but with confidence that we will do our absolute best to fill your bag with delicious, healthy, varied vegetables that will fill your kitchen and dining room with the taste of the season. We don’t take that trust for granted, and we appreciate each of you for coming along on this journey with us. CSA members are the farm’s lifeblood and we spend many hours thinking about how to offer you a diverse choice of what the farm has to offer each week. We look forward to seeing you in the market barn throughout the season, and hope you feel the same way.
We hope you’ve had an amazing summer eating alongside the farm, and whether you’re continuing on with us for the next season or not, we hope to see you in the farm stand as summer turns into fall and fall turns into winter. A note for those of you who are continuing on with us in the Fall CSA: the first fall pickup is not next week, but the week after (September 10th-13th). The market will still be open during regular hours next week.
Thank you so much for your support, and your trust.
Have a summery week,
Chris, Ashley, and the 10th Street Farmers
In Your Share This Week
Peppers: Sweet peppers are amazing raw, with dips, or added to a skillet or grill. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Choice:
Carrots: These carrots are sweet, crunchy, and oh so addicting! Remove tops and store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Beets: These earthy beauties are good in sweet and savory roles alike. Boil, roast, or grate into baked goods! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Choice:
Green Beans: The classic taste of summer - these green beans are flavorful and ready to rock. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Bok Choy: So versatile! Use in Asian-inspired dishes like soups and stir fries, or just chop and add to anything for a bit more flavor and nutrition. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Head Lettuce: Beautiful crisp lettuce heads. Great for everything from lettuce wraps to salads and sandwiches. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Choice:
Broccolini: Tasty tender broccoli shoots - eat them leaves and all. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Kale: Hearty yet still tender, the kale is tasting great this summer. Maybe time for some kale chips? Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Farm Mix Salad Mix: A diverse mix of tasty red and green lettuces. Delicious with just olive oil and salt, or dress it up! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Choice:
Dill: Fresh and herbaceous, this dill is a great addition to sauces and salads. Store in a bag in your fridge (in a cup of water, if possible!)
Parsley: A flavorful addition to dips, salads, dressings, marinades, and more. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Scallions: The white and green parts of these beautiful green onions are both edible - use the white like an onion, chop the greens as a garnish or hit of flavor in your dishes! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Celery: Crunchy celery shoots full of flavor - almost a completely different vegetable from the tasteless, water-filled stuff you find in stores. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Cherry Tomatoes: A rainbow of flavor, packed in a pint. Store on the counter - never in the fridge!
Choice:
Tomatoes: The tomatoes are still cranking, although they’re starting to slow down slightly with the shorter days. Store on the counter - never in the fridge!
Potatoes: Tasty petite russets - great baked, fried, steamed, or mashed. Store in a dark, dry place.
Delicata Squash: The first winter squash of the season - really more of a late-summer or early-fall squash! Edible skin means you can just halve, take out the seeds, and then roast & eat! Store on your counter.
Choice:
Eggplant: Versatile and tasty. Make some baba ganoush or grill for a sandwich, pasta, or parm. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Garlic: The best cooking advice we ever received? When a recipe calls for a clove of garlic, use two or three! Store on your counter.
Basil: The perfect partner for tomatoes and other summer veggies! Herbaceous and tasty. Store in a glass of water outside the fridge.
Full Share Choice:
Cucumbers: Crunchy and refreshing, chop up for a salad, add to sandwiches or just eat raw! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Walla Walla Onions: Sweet onions ready for fresh eating or caramelizing! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Poblano Pepper: Tasty, a little spicy, and amazing in soups or sautés. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Kitchen Inspiration
We’re riding out summer with as many fresh flavors as we can. This pepper and cherry tomato salad with tapenade fits the bill, as does this chickpea orzo salad with harissa-roasted eggplant. These grilled tomato pizettes look as cute as all get-out, and it feels like a base recipe that could be improvised on in any number of directions.
We made kale chips last week and they barely lasted 5 minutes before disappearing. We roast ours on wire racks on top of baking sheets to get them extra crispy. And we’ve been loving the recent boom of bok choy on the farm - so good sauteed with some garlic and soy sauce!
Please remember to check your name off on the list! And please bring back your Purple or Blue bag each week! Thank you.
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