Mountain Bounty Farm News 

Dear Friends,

Last week Mountain Bounty had a four hour food safety inspection by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. We passed the inspection, and I wanted to share a little bit about it as a window into what we face as small and idealistic farm swimming in a much bigger agricultural world. It can be easy to assume that our biggest concern as farmers might be the condition of the tomato crop. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more to it. In addition to food safety, we have a yearly Organic certification inspection with a shocking amount of associated paperwork. And over the years we’ve also been inspected by OSHA, multiple Nevada County departments, and then of course there are Workers Compensation audits, and so much more. All of this requires that we, of self declared good intentions and humble actions, need to actually prove these things to the many powers that be.

This particular inspection was the final result of a new federal law called the Food Safety Modernization Act, enacted in 2011, which finally took effect for us a couple of years ago, and is just now being enforced. I won’t attempt to get into the details of the law, as there are plenty of devils in those details. Suffice to say that we are subject to regulations and enforcement that are probably a good thing for large farms that package and ship produce to distant places. But for us, who have more in common with a garden than we do with those farms, it can defy common sense. In order to comply, we need to spend countless hours documenting basic food safety procedures (in a nutshell its all about hand washing, sanitizing surfaces, staff training, and yearly water testing) and comically, we need elaborate protocols to ensure that during harvest, all produce doesn’t come in contact with the same soil we are harvesting it from. I know I’m supposed to be more tolerant and professional about this.

Huge gratitude to our harvest manager Abby Nash for diligently helping us comply with the regulations, and gracefully handling the process, while I’m squirming and trying to take deep breaths and be quiet. We just gotta keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

Thanks for hanging in there with us,

John

Farm Box Contents

(Contents are subject to change depending on harvest and weather conditions at Mountain Bounty and our Partner Farms.)

Please check the delivery list at your CSA site and sign your name indicating you have picked up your shares. We deliver exactly what is on the delivery list.

Vegetable Share CSA

Provided by Mountain Bounty Farm and our partner organic farms

Small Box (Feeds 1-2 people)

• Scallions (Mountain Bounty Farm)
• Tomato (Mountain Bounty Farm)
• Lettuce (Mountain Bounty Farm)
• Melon (Mountain Bounty Farm)
• Cabbage (Mountain Bounty Farm)
• Cucumber (Mountain Bounty Farm)
• Shishito Peppers (Mountain Bounty Farm)

Fruit Share CSA

Provided by Frog Hollow Farm

NOTE ON FRUIT SHARE BOXES - Due to delivery delays on box reorders, Frog Hollow will be using a different type of Fruit Share Box - one that does not break down easily.

We are asking members to be sure to recycle these at home, as they take up a lot of space at the sites.

We appreciate your cooperation!

• Summer Lady Peaches (Frog Hollow Farm)
• Fantasia Nectarines (Frog Hollow Farm)
• Chums Pluerries (Frog Hollow Farm)

A Pluerry is a hybrid fruit, specifically a cross between a plum and a sweet cherry. They combine the sweetness of a cherry with the flavor and texture of a plum, and can be eaten fresh, cooked, or added to desserts, jams, and even cocktails. The sweet, subtly tangy flavor of pluerries pairs well with ingredients like vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, as well as other fruits. We hope you enjoy their unique flavor!

Mushroom Share CSA

Provided by Grass Valley Mushrooms

This week will be Lion’s Mane Mushrooms.

These Teriyaki Lion’s Mane Mushroom Steaks (click here) would be a perfect topping for a noodle or rice bowl. Use with other veggies from this week like green peppers, scallions, and eggplant!

Bread Share CSA - Now Bakers Choice!

Provided by Deer Creek Bakehouse Nevada City

The Bakers Choice Bread Share is a year round, weekly delivery of Deer Creek Bakehouse's Country Sourdough or Whole Wheat Bread, with a rotating cast of inclusions. All loaves are hand made with 100% organic flours, much of which is locally milled.

This week's Baker's Choice bread will be a Multigrain Porridge Loaf (oats, wheat, rye, barley, and triticale.)

Summer Flower Share CSA

Provided by Sweet Roots Farm, Grass Valley

FINAL WEEK of Summer Flower Share!

CSA Bouquet tips from Sweet Roots Farm:

This final bouquet will include some beautiful, large focal flowers, and amaranth. Yes, the same as the grain that you eat! You can even peel apart and find the little immature seeds that look just like the seed that was in your five grain cereal this morning.

Bummed that the flower share is ending?

Then you’re in luck! We will be offering another (yet shorter) flower share SOON!

Stay tuned and keep an eye out in our upcoming newsletters.

Coffee Share CSA

Provided by Remedy Coffee Roasters, Auburn

We are thrilled to offer up our own signature coffee - the "Mountain Bounty Blend" from Remedy Coffee in Auburn, as a weekly or bi-weekly CSA. Available in both Regular and Decaf. Each bag contains 12oz of whole beans.

Recipes, storage tips and inspiration on how to "Use Up" leftovers from last week:

• If you’re feeling adventurous and have a little bit of time, use up your scallions in these deliciousy flaky Scallion Pancakes (click here.) They make an amazing addition or appetizer for any Chinese meal, or a wonderful savory snack on their own.

• These Stuffed Green Peppers (click here) are a hit with both kids and adults! Stuffed with rice, your choice of protein, tomatoes, and spices, this dish is both hearty and comforting.

• This Cabbage Salad (click here) is a great way to use your cabbage this week! It’s crunchy, tangy, nutty, and would be a great side dish for a summer BBQ!

• If you subscribe to a Regular Box, use your eggplant and garlic to make this delectable Eggplant in Garlic Sauce (click here.) Serve with rice and maybe some scallion pancakes (see above) for a Chinese feast right at home!

• "Feed the Fam" Baby/Kid/Pet friendly recipes - Depending on what melon you get on your box, you can either make these Watermelon Popsicles (click here) or these Cantaloupe (or musk melon) popsicles! (Click here.) Popsicles are a great way to make sure you or your kids are staying hydrate on hot days.

USE IT UP" WEEKLY RECIPE!

You can use last week’s corn, shishitos, onion, and tomato in this delicious Shishito salad! (Click here.) Feel free to serve over some lettuce or sautéed chard if you still have any of that leftover, too!

info@mountainbountyfarm.com

Mailing Address:

14579 Blind Shady Road, Nevada City, CA 95959

Phone:(530)292-3776