Crop Talk, July 25: Week 8
Berry News

  The photo to the left is a picture of the future: next year's strawberry crop is taking shape out by the packing barn. Thousands of young plants are soaking up the sun and the water while developing root systems strong enough to thrive in the field. in a month or so, they'll be transplanted to one of three new locations, and we'll start cultivating the first harvest of 2017. We'll also transplant runners from this year's fields, and then we'll plow the old plants back into the soil and use those fields for different crops next year. 

   As the strawberry cycle begins again, we're opening our second blackberry field this week; it features a later-ripening variety which we hope to keep picking through the first week of August.

Week 8 CSA Shares Include:

Sweet Corn
Peaches
Green Beans
Summer Squash
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Broccoli

About this week's fruit:

   You may notice hail damage on some of your peaches -- little nicks or scars. A couple of violent thunderstorms in June pelted our orchards with hailstones the size of acorns, and a lot of our fruit wound up marked. We wish that weren't the case, but it is. The fruit is still perfectly good to eat, but it may ripen faster than usual, so either refrigerate these items or eat them right away.

   And please remember that In this hot weather, produce can spoil very quickly. We make every effort to pack produce at the perfect stage -- almost ready to eat, but not too ripe to travel. Unfortunately we miss that mark sometimes, and some items may spoil before they reach your kitchen. Some loss is inevitable -- conventional markets throw away 3 million tons of food each year, including 12% of their produce -- but we may be able to minimize waste on our end if we know there's a problem. So please let us know if something in your box is spoiled -- we're happy to replace those items the following week.

   Group site members, please remember that boxes must be picked up on the day they are delivered. Most group site hosts can't refrigerate boxes, so many items will be spoiled by the next day. Fragile items wilt quickly if left out in the heat.   
By Marla Vargas-Mundey

   Vegetable noodles are all the rage right now and are probably one of the simplest and most fun ways to make dinner exciting. There are a lot of spiralizing machines out there and so I recommend you read some reviews before you purchase. This recipe is one my family gobbles up every time. I add the chickpeas for protein, fiber, and to make it a little more filling.

Zoodles with Roasted Chickpeas

Read more here.

Cucumber and Sweet-Onion Salad

"The freshness of this salad offsets the richness of our Southern Pulled-Pork Sandwiches."

Read more here.

Pick-Your-Own Bonus

July 19 -- 25

2 pints blackberries
Wagon Rides from 9:15 through 5:00

This week's Bonus Value: $5.99
Year-to- Date Bonus Value:  $72.99

Got Allergies?  Eat Real Food
By Nicole Seevers, www.colesmoveablefeast.com

   My family has been visiting Great Country Farms for nearly ten years.  We love everything about it: the rope swings, the goats, pick-your-own! A few years ago I decided to take the next step and sign up for a CSA share.  We love getting our box of ripe local produce every week, and my kids especially love taste tests . . . our CSA cantaloupe vs. the grocery store cantaloupe that was picked 2000 miles away before it was ripe.  You can guess which one wins.

   Read more here.

Shenandoah Valley Cake Festival 

   Nibblins is excited to host the first annual Shenandoah Valley Cake Festival in Winchester!  Ms. Kerry Vincent from the Food Network will be here as the judge. Nibblins will offer cake-related classes on Friday night and Saturday in our demonstration kitchen with vendor demonstrations throughout the day.  The festival moves Saturday evening to the Reception Room at Omps for the Cupcake Gala, and to The George Washington Hotel on Sunday for the cake show.

Saturday, August 13

9:00 Introduction to Cake Pops with Beckaboo’s

9:30 Kerry Vincent Live at Dominion Tea in Purcellville

11:00 Magic Chocolate 101

1:00 Introduction to Sugar Cookie Decorating

7:00  Cupcake Gala

Location: Reception Room at  1600 Amherst Street Winchester, Virginia 22601

Sunday, August 14

10:00 Cake Show

Location: The George Washington Hotel 103 E. Piccadilly Street Winchester, Virginia 22601

Get your tickets here!
Great Country Farms | 540-554-2073 | [email protected] | www.GreatCountryFarms.com