U-Pick: Raspberries and Blackberries Open

Check out that beautiful jalapeno! Our chilli pepper plants are suddenly prolific and spicy. It's interesting to think that peppers, which originate solely in the Americas, have become a staple part of so many cuisines of the world. Think India, Thailand, Indonesia...really all of Southeast Asia! When Columbus went searching for a shorter spice route, little could he know that he would end up finding a new spice that would set the world on fire!

Columbus encountered peppers on his very first voyage to the Americas, and although it's not known if he returned with the plants or the produce, peppers quickly became known - and grown - by other spice-producing regions through trade with the Spanish and Portuguese. It was Columbus, however, who named the new-found spice of his travels pimiento, likely in an effort to tie it to pimienta - the Spanish word for black pepper. He couldn't come back to his royal sponsors empty-handed, could he? He had to have some spice!

As this new spice spread, not all parties were happy with Columbus' naming scheme. Dutch importers of black pepper became miffed that the cheap and increasingly common pimiento might displace the more expensive pimienta (black pepper), thus ruining their import business. So they began a campaign in Europe to use the Nahuatl word, commonly used in Mexico, for these new peppers - that being chilli. And it worked! (Pretty much.) Black pepper remained pimienta, and the spicy pimientos became known as chillies, and sometimes chilli peppers. Whatever you call them, we call them great, tasty, delicious, and spicy. Grab a few to spice up your life! (Or at least dinner...)

The field crew is harvesting a new bed of carrots, and the bunches are slender, sweet, and perfectly crunchy. Sweet and hot peppers are coming in fast and furious. Sweet red and orange Cornitos peppers are great raw and even sweeter sauteed. Jalapenos and serrano peppers are prolific and spicy, serranos being hotter than the jalapenos. More corn Tuesday - both in the harvest bag and at the stand. We will have a good amount of cucumbers, but only a bit of green beans until our next crop is ready. Apples from See Canyon continue with new varieties in almost every delivery. Certified organic lemons from Encino Grande will be back tomorrow. Valencia oranges are still hanging out as are those sweet Murcotts - all from Friend's Ranch in Ojai. The last of the navel orange harvest will also be here. Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries will be on our berry shelves waiting for you! The weather is perfect, so stop by soon and say hello!

-Eileen

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Harvest Bag

all for $25

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Fourth of July Tomatoes (see recipe)

Tomatillos

Red Cornitos Peppers (see recipe)

Green Cabbage

Cilantro (see recipe)

Persian Cucumbers (see recipe)

Corn (see recipe)

Carrots

Blackberries

Tomato and Corn Relish

Ingredients

• 3 ears corn, cut off the cob (yields about 2 cups)
• 1 cup 4th of July tomatoes cut in medium dice
• 1 jalapeno, diced fine
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1/4 cup purple onion, diced fine
• 2 small limes, juiced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt and Pepper

Directions

1. Stir together all the ingredients except the olive oil. Then slowly add the olive oil and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Homemade Pickle Relish Sweetened with Honey

4-6 cups

Ingredients

2 cups cucumbers

1/2 cup green pepper

1/4 cup red pepper

1 1/2 cups onion

1 1/2 cups celery

2 T cup salt

1 cup honey (7 oz.)

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed

1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seed

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

Directions

1. Gather ingredients. Finely chop all the vegetables.
2. Combine in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt, cover with cold water, and let stand five hours or overnight.
3. Drain thoroughly in a colander, pressing out excess liquid.
4. Combine honey, vinegar, and spices. Bring to a boil. Stir in drained vegetables and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Pack into hot sterilized jars to within 1/2 inch from the top and store in the refrigerator.

Thanks to https://commonsensehome.com/

Halcyon Farms | 1075 The Pike in Arroyo Grande | www.halcyonfarmsag.com