The First Apples of the Year
Crop Talk: July 21, 2014 
The Newsletter of Great Country Farms
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U-Pick, U-Play, U-Grow
Week 8 CSA Shares include:

 

Potatoes

Squash

Cucumbers

Green beans

Swiss chard

Golden plums

Pristine apples

 

You-pick bonus: plums and peaches

 

The first apples of the year are a variety called Pristine. Here's the story of that variety, according to the Salt Spring Apple Company:

 

"This is yet another of the modern 'co-op'-produced apple varieties from the good people at Illinois, Indiana and Purdue Universities. Their track record of producing fine new apple varieties that don't need to be sprayed with tons of chemicals to produce well is remarkable and Pristine has got to be one of their best. This is a high-quality apple coming from trees that are extremely productive. The fruit keeps better than most early apples, although that's admittedly not saying a whole lot. But for an apple that's ripe this early, Pristine is a pretty incredible find."

 

Note that the name Pristine was chosen to commemorate the horticultural work done on these apples at Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois universities (Pri). It does not necessarily describe the condition of the apples. In fact, you may find a few spots on the apples in your box because they're more sensitive this wet year.

 Loudoun Farms in Loundoun Restaurants

Farm to Fork Loudoun, "a dynamic 11-day celebration of locally sourced foods," starts this week and continues through August 3. During the celebration, 23 local restaurants will feature food from 14 local farms. 
 
Great Country Farms will be supplying produce to Rangoli Thai, Belmont Country Club, Fireworks Pizza, Buffalo Wing Factory in Leesburg, Savoir Faire, and Salamander. Stop by one of those establishments and taste these wonderful chef's creations with our fruits and vegetables.

A few of our Partners for Dog Days Peach Festival 

August 9 &10

 

Sit Stay Dog Training offers a variety of dog-education packages,

Meghann and Luc
ranging from basic leash training to advanced work on obstacle courses. Owner Meghann Weller-Redmer, a graduate of the National K9 School for Dog Trainers, has been education dogs for 15 years. She offers sessions either at Blue Ridge Veterinary Hospital in Purcellville, or in a dog's own home.

 

 

 

 

Vet Wagon owner Susan Cooke, VMD, brings modern veterinary medicine to your pet's home. Vet Wagon offers a full range of laboratory services, minor surgical procedures, vaccinations, microchipping, wellness consultations, and chronic illness management. 

 

NOVA Dog Magazine is the love-labor of publisher Angela Meyers and managing editor C. Claiborne Linvill. They describe their mission thus: to celebrate the canine-human bond with informative and insightful articles written by dog-owners and experts alike. The magazine "is committed to creating and fostering an active and supportive community for local dogs and their owners to share, learn, interact, and engage."

 

Go Blueridge Travel offers comprehensive travel services for adventures or other leisure pursuits in Loudoun County's wine country, Wild West Virginia, The Shenandoah National Park, The Shenandoah Valley, and the Virginia Piedmont.

Vacation Requests Welcome!!
With vacation season in full swing, don't forget to take advantage of our CSA Vacation Request benefit so that you enjoy the full value of your share.  Just login .to your account via our website to add a vacation date and request the week you would like to receive a make up share.  Many members choose to take their make up shares when they are expecting company or in September and October when many items have a longer shelf-life such as apples, potatoes and fall squashes.  If a double share is just too much produce, we also offer the option to donate your share to Loudoun Interfaith Relief, our local food pantry.  The farm donates 4 shares each week and are glad to take vacation shares to help those in need in our community
Farm News
In The Farm Market July 15 - 21
Canteloupe ~ $3.99 each
Cucumbers $1 each
GCF Peaches~  $1.99/lb
Watermelon ~ $5.99 each
Sweet Corn ~ $5.99/dz or $.69/ear
Tomatoes $1.99/lb
Summer Squash $1.29/lb
Zucchini $1.29/lb
Plums $2.89/lb
Potatoes $.1.50/lb
Green beans $1.29/lb
Egg plant $1.99/lb
Pristine apples $1.29/lb
Beets $2.99/lb

CSA U-pick Bonus
July 22 - 27
10 plums and
 6 peaches
*
CSA Bonus Ticker
Week 8 : $5.00
Year to Date: $38.70
 
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