Summer CSA Week 2 | Storing your veggies

Week 2: June 26 - June 29

It’s officially summer. Not just because we’ve passed the solstice, although that’s certainly true. Instead, the official start of summer for us happens when we turn on the tomato cooler! We harvested the first few pints of cherry tomatoes this week, which means tomato season is right around the corner. We’re hoping to have cherry tomatoes in some shares next week as we ramp up to full production in July.

Tomatoes are a bit of a finicky crop - unlike most other veggies, they don’t want to be refrigerated to extend their shelf life. Instead, tomatoes like to hang out at around 55-60 degrees to maximize flavor and longevity. So we actually have a separate space dedicated to storing tomatoes: we call it "the cool” as opposed to our walk-in cooler which is, well, cooler. Yesterday, as we readied that space to receive tomatoes, we thought it might be a good time to talk about storing your veggies to maximize their freshness!

Generally, most things in your CSA bag will be happiest stored in an airtight bag or container in your fridge. In many cases (microgreens, salad mix, beans, etc.) we pack veggies directly into bags, so you can simply place them in the crisper drawer of your fridge. 

In an effort to minimize our single-use plastic usage, we pack some veggies (e.g. root crops, cucumbers, cabbages) directly into your CSA bag without plastic. In those cases, your best bet for maximizing storage life is to put them into a bag or container prior to putting them into your fridge. With root crops, we generally include the tops, since some people like to use them in their cooking & eating. If you’re not going to eat your carrot tops or turnip greens, though, please cut off the tops prior to putting the roots in your fridge - this keeps them crisp for longer (and nobody likes rubbery carrots)!

A few crops prefer to live outside of the fridge - tomatoes, basil, potatoes, storage onions, garlic, winter squash, etc. If you ever have questions about how to best store a vegetable, we include optimal storage notes in each week’s newsletter in the crop-by-crop breakdown of what’s in your bag. 

One last tip: If you ever find yourself with wilted kale or slightly sad lettuce, it’s likely because they have become dehydrated from too much time out of the fridge. You may be amazed by the power of some cold water. Fill a bowl, submerge the vegetable for 10-15 minutes, and most of the time it will return to its original vitality!

Have a well-preserved week,

Chris, Ashley, Hallie, and the 10th Street Farm Crew

We're holding our Saturday Patisserie this weekend from 8:30-11:30. Swing by for some fresh-baked sweet and savory pastries and locally roasted coffee!

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In Your Bag This Week

Farm Mix Salad Mix: A mix of red and green lettuce with just a splash of mustard greens. Delicious with just olive oil and salt, or dress it up! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Garlic Scapes: This loopy fella is the flowering part of a garlic plant - chop it up and use it just like garlic. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Broccolini: Tasty tender broccoli shoots - eat them leaves and all. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Arugula microgreens: Peppery micros add a little punch to pizza, salads, pestos, sandwiches, eggs, and more. Store in your fridge.

Carrots: These carrots are sweet, crunchy, and oh so addicting! Remove tops and store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Kohlrabi: These alien-like roots are a cousin of radishes and salad turnips - mild and delicious. Peel and eat raw or cooked! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Flavor Mix microgreens: Mild and tasty, these make an easy salad on their own or can add some color to any other salad. Try them on eggs or sandwiches – or anything, really! Store in your fridge.

Kale (full shares): 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.

Beets (full shares): 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.

Cucumbers (full shares): 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.

What should I make with what’s in the bag?

Garlic scapes are here! This seasonal favorite is the flowering stem of the garlic plant, and it tastes just like a milder garlic. If you’re feeling fancy, whip up some garlic scape pesto or garlic scape butter, or otherwise just chop it up and use it in any recipe that calls for garlic!

We’ve also got kohlrabi in the bag - a tasty radish cousin that is crispy and refreshing. Try it raw dipped in hummus, or together with apple in a kohlrabi and apple slaw. It’s also amazing roasted with parmesan.

And if you’re new to broccolini, we find it to be an even more delicious alternative to broccoli, with tasty and tender stems, crunchy florets, and edible leaves. Try it roasted or sauteed with a little lemon and red pepper - and toss those garlic scapes in here as well!

If you've found a recipe you're loving, please send it our way. We're always looking for new things to cook and share with other members!

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We wash everything in your bag but we wash them in bulk so some things may need an extra rinse at home. Thanks!