Summer CSA Week Six | No Panic, We're ORGANIC!
- 10th St. Farm & Market
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Week 6: July 23rd - July 26th
"You’re at the base of a mountain of paperwork.” That’s what the person in the organic certification office told me back in February, when I called to make sure I understood the application process. We are thrilled to share that now, five months later, we have reached the summit of that mountain. 10th Street Farm is officially certified organic!
Ashley and I have thought long and hard about whether or not to certify the farm. As many of you have no doubt read, organic certification is not a perfect system. It favors big operations over small, can be prohibitively expensive for some farms, and is seen by some as doing the minimum in terms of mindful land stewardship. And we know that many of our customers - especially our CSA members - are already aware that we go far above and beyond the organic requirements, no logo or stamp of approval needed.
That said, we believe that the organic system, flawed or not, pushes growers to do the right thing. We get asked regularly about how we grow - Do you spray synthetic pesticides? Do you spread biosolids on your fields? Do you plant genetically modified seeds? - and now our answers are immediately obvious and independently verified (no, no, and no!). For new customers encountering our veggies in a local co-op or visiting the market for the first time, the organic symbol does carry weight. It assures a level of thoughtfulness and sustainability in our practices, and is a shortcut to knowing they can trust where and how our food is grown.
Which brings us to that mountain of paperwork. Essentially, to become certified, farmers are required to describe, in detail, every single thing that happens on the farm. For each crop, we need to record where we purchase the seed, where we plant the crop, how we manage the plants in the field, any potting soil, compost or fertilizer we use, how we wash the crop, how we store it prior to sale, and when and where we sell (or donate) the final produce.
Now, that would be plenty of work for a farm growing 100 acres of 3 varieties of corn. But as a small diversified vegetable farm, we need to log that information for each planting of each variety of each of the 72 vegetables we grow on the farm. Oh, and as first time applicants, we needed to provide that information for each of the last three years.
Yeah. Quite a mountain.
Fortunately, we already kept most of those records. But there were a number of i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed to make our best practices evident to an outside certifying body! Now that we've done it, we can say that the view from the summit is worth the climb. Big thanks to Sam and Margarito at MOSA (Midwest Organic Services Association), our certifier, for helping us through the sometimes daunting process. And a huge shoutout to my parents Cynthia and George for generously covering the cost of becoming certified so that we can do so without even thinking about increasing prices. And of course, our never ending appreciation to all of you who have supported this farm for months and years as we endeavor to grow great vegetables the best way we know how.
Have an undoubtedly organic week,
Chris, Ashley, and the 10th Street Farmers
A NOTE ABOUT FOOD SAFETY:
As you have no doubt seen in the headlines, a pretty nasty bug called cyclospora has been making its way around the country. We want to assure you that our produce is not affected! This parasite is transmitted through human feces, and likely originated at a farm or food processing facility with improper water management practices and/or poor labor conditions. We are food safety certified through FSMA (the Food Safety Modernization Act) and our farm is certified through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. We follow best practices by (of course) providing a bathroom with running water to our employees and emphasizing hygiene on the farm. All of our produce is washed with clean well-water (the same well we use for our own home) and we test that well regularly to ensure its safety. So go forth and eat salad! And tell your friends to support local farms!
In Your Share This Week
Choice:
Cipollini Onions: These fresh white onions are perfect in any recipe that calls for an onion! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Tropea Onions: Our favorite fresh red onions - mild and versatile. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Choice (full shares take 2):
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.
Summer Squash: Green zucchini and yellow squash - delicious sautéed, grilled, or baked. 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.
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.
Choice:
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.
Romaine 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.
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
Cilantro microgreens: Zippy micros to add a little flavor to whatever's on your plate! 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.
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 of One Larger or Two Small Slicer Tomatoes: The taste of summertime! Store on the counter - never in the fridge!
Cherry Tomatoes: A rainbow of flavor, packed in a pint. Store on the counter - never in the fridge!
Full Share Choice:
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 an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Power Greens Micro Mix: Our newest micro mix! A nutrient-dense blend of broccoli, kale, daikon, and bekana sure to power up any dish!
Arugula microgreens: Peppery micros add a little punch to pizza, salads, pestos, sandwiches, eggs, and more. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Full Share Choice:
Broccolini: Tasty tender broccoli shoots - eat them leaves and all. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Cauliflower: This versatile veggie is tender and delicious - we love it in curries and stews, roasted, or fried up as a wing substitute! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Cabbage: A staple across cultures, cabbage is equally tasty in a fresh cole slaw and roasted in the oven. Versatile, storable, and beautiful. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Kitchen Inspiration
Lots of choices this week - hopefully you’re having fun exploring the variety of veggies coming off the farm this summer. We’ve been eating tomato and cucumber sandwiches for a couple weeks straight, and it never disappoints. On the side, maybe try this mixed greens with green beans salad? An interesting mix of flavors that comes together really nicely.
If you’re looking for something a little heartier, this kale, zucchini, and lemon pepper pasta is making my mouth water right now. Or maybe try some different veggies in a lemony grain bowl. And a mixed vegetable frittata is always a great way to go!
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!
Please remember to bring back your Purple or Blue bag each week! Thank you!
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