Daybreak co-owner Colleen participated in a panel discussion on infrastructure in rural communities in Freeport. | |
Earlier this summer, Daybreak Growers Alliance’s co-owner Colleen (third from the right) participated in a panel discussion on investing in infrastructure in rural communities. The event, held at Freeport’s Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, was part of a visit by US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Colleen spoke to “the issue of finding viable markets for farms comes back to questions about distribution and infrastructure and must be balanced with sustainability. ‘At times I’ve said, I could use a fleet, or I could use a warehouse,’ Hanlon-Smith said. ‘ What that has translated to is an opportunity to work with trucks already on the road and warehouses that are already existing to figure out how to optimize loads, how to create efficiencies and how to have that translate to more revenue for those already transporting food and reducing overhead costs.’” Check out the Portland Press Herald article for the full story! | |
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Peppers have been enjoyed for over 6,000 years, originating in Central and South America before spreading across the world. Today, there are over 50,000 varieties, and we are lucky that many Maine farmers choose to grow these spicy to sweet treats for our own kitchens! We love how versatile peppers are, from the hottest habanero to the sweetest bell, peppers are peaking right now!
Fall is the perfect time to incorporate fresh, flavorful peppers into your meals.
Sweet peppers like bell varieties can be chopped into salads, stir-fries, and pastas, adding vibrant color and a crisp, mild flavor.
For those who prefer heat, spicy peppers such as jalapeños or cayenne can be diced into salsas, blended into sauces, or used to spice up soups and marinades.
Roasting peppers enhances their sweetness and brings out a smoky depth, perfect for adding to pizzas, sandwiches, or tacos.
Stuffing peppers with rice, cheese, or meat also makes for a hearty, delicious meal.
Beyond their flavor, peppers are packed with nutrients like vitamins A and C, making them a healthy addition to any dish. Whether you prefer sweet or spicy, peppers bring both flavor and nutrition to your fall cooking…add some to your next Daybreak Box!
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Briney Grilled Italian Corno | |
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Outside of scrolling through the vegetables when you customize your farm box and seeing the name, Italian Corno is a pepper variety you might not be familiar with! This exceptionally delicious, sweet, crisp pepper is an Italian favorite that can be eaten raw, fried, stuffed, or grilled. This recipe is a traditional, Italian preparation that can be served as a side, or tossed into salads or layered onto a pizza.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb sweet Italian Corno peppers
- 2 Tbsp Yost Farm sunflower oil
- ½ cup Sewall Orchard apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
- ½ tsp Maine sea salt
Directions:
- Heat the grill to medium high, about 425F
- While the grill is heating, brush the peppers with sunflower oil
- Bring the vinegar, water, and salt to a boil in a small saucepan, then reduce to a simmer
- Slightly char and blister the oiled peppers on the hot grill, turning as needed
- When the peppers are done, carefully place them in a clean and sterilized glass jar
- Pour the hot vinegar mixture on top to cover the peppers, pressing the peppers down into the jar so there is just ½” of headspace
- Seal the jar and allow to come to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight
- The longer the peppers chill in the brine, the more acidic and flavorful they will become - but use within one week
Recipe and photo from Savor the Best Blog.
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Site spotlight: Peaks Island | |
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If you live on one of the Casco Bay Islands that Daybreak services (Peaks, Diamond Cove, and Great Diamond), you know that the romance of remote, coastal living can be overshadowed by the inconveniences of everyday needs being met. Skip the hassle of making trips to the mainland for your weekly shopping and enjoy the ease of having high-quality, farm-fresh produce, meats, dairy, and pantry staples delivered right to the island! We deliver custom farm boxes every Friday on the ferry, easing the burden of lugging heavy groceries from the mainland home every week. Supporting local farmers while enjoying fresh, delicious groceries has never been easier for island residents!
Sign up today!
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Orders must be picked up during the published pick up times.
Don't see a pickup location that works for you? Start a new one!
Contact us if your community is interested in setting up a delivery location. If you are in Central or Southern Maine and near our current delivery route we’ll happily consider it! Learn more.
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Meet the farmer behind Seven Moon Farm! | |
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Seven Moon Farm in Etna is managed by Farmer Rachel, who has been digging dirt and growing amazing food since her arrival in Maine as a MOFGA apprentice in 2015. Rachel grows MOFGA certified organic vegetables and herbs on one acre of rented land with the help of two rockstar part time employees and two trusty (read: often mischievous) farm dogs. Daybreak is proud to crop plan with Seven Moon Farm, ensuring that our customers have access to the amazing variety of organic produce Rachel and her teams cultivate year round. This time of year, you can find greens, herbs, and most of our sweet and hot peppers coming from Rachel’s farm!
Hot peppers are one of Rachel's favorite vegetables to grow, for their bright colors, beautiful shapes, and wide range of flavor and spice level. You can usually hear her squealing in delight while picking hot peppers on a harvest day. Her favorite ways to enjoy hot peppers are in fresh salsas, pickled in citrus juice, or combined with sweet peppers and walnuts to make a spreadable pepper paste (great for marinades and sandwiches- check out the recipe in this newsletter!)...but it's hard to pick favorites because hot peppers are so versatile! She definitely still spices herself out sometimes and ends up needing a spoon or two of yogurt. It's part of the fun!
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Seven Moon Farm’s Walnut Pepper Spread | |
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Rachel shares her simple recipe for a seriously-flavorful and pepper-packed spread. This is based on the Georgian recipe for Ajika. Thanks, Rachel!
- Roasted cornos or sweet paprika, seeds and stems removed
- roasted cayennes, stems and seeds removed
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- toasted walnuts
- salt
We like it kinda spicy so I probably use 1/3 cayennes, but you definitely do less or use a less spicy hot pepper, like an aji or korean chili, probably even a serrano or hot wax would be fine too. Alternatively, its tasty with no spice. The roasting is key! Really gives it a richer flavor. It's basically like making pesto- similar texture and ratio of nuts to flavoring components. I’ve added fresh herbs like parsley or oregano before and that has been a lovely zip.
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Reminders:
Eating locally in Maine this time of year means embracing fall produce, but also trying out some of the pantry and freezer staples that keep your Daybreak box contents interesting and different every week. Here are a couple of tips to make your Daybreak Box ideal for you!
SET YOUR PREFERENCES
In your account select “Item Preferences”, use the slider to rate items we offer in boxes throughout the year, an algorithm builds your box according to your preferences and item availability.
DON'T FORGET TO CUSTOMIZE
Every Daybreak Box can be customized to your liking! Tuesday evening through Thursday at noon of the week prior to delivery you can log in and swap and add items in your box.
FIND THE SITE THAT WORKS FOR YOU
Whether you’ve stayed with us through the summer, or you’re just joining back as your own gardens transition into hibernation, check out all our farm box pick-up locations for the one most convenient with your schedule.
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Here at Daybreak, and beyond in the many fields and facilities of our producer partners, we work hard to keep local and organic food in your homes year-round. We love connecting you to a variety of Maine products, from the season’s best produce to your favorite pantry staples. What do you think would be a good addition to the Daybreak Box lineup? We would love to hear from you! Let us know in the form here!
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Reach out with any questions or for assistance! | We're always here to answer any questions you may have or to assist with online account navigation and subscription adjustments. | |
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Maine Grown Local & Organic Foods Delivered Year Round
www.DaybreakGrowersAlliance.com
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