Strawberry U-Pick: OPEN

I hear the bird watching event was a great success! Our wandering watchers got to see not one, but two little Red-tailed Hawk chicks high up in their nest in the eucalyptus trees. Chris Hogue captured photos of both parent and one chick! (See below.) Also spotted was a hummingbird's nest and some open tree cavities being used as nests by woodpeckers and bluebirds feeding their young. It's truly the birds and the bees out in the fields right now! Altogether 32 species were identified from California Quail to the Western Flycatcher, from Cassin's Kingbird to the Violet-green Swallow. If this kind of thing interests you, join our next bird watching event in the fall.

Radishes are back at the stand - and in the harvest bag! Radishes are actually the large taproot of a flowering plant belonging to the mustard family. The taproots can take on different shapes depending on their variety. The typical red radishes that we grow are considered globular - shaped like a globe - but you can find others that are cylindrical or tapering. Radish skin color also varies, from the more common hot pink or red radishes, to purple, green, yellow, white, and even black! The differing pigments are dependent on the type of anthocyanin each variety produces. In the case of red radishes, the anthocyanin present is called pelargonidin. I had to include the usual tongue twister! Although anthocyanins determine a plant's pigment, for those who eat the plants (or roots in this case!), anthocyanins act as an antioxidant, protecting our cells from oxidative stress and cellular damage. It seems scientists are ever studying the positive effects of all the various anthocyanins, including pelargonidin! In the case of the red radish, studies find that pelargonidin appears to be neuroprotective and highly anti-inflammatory. Sounds good to me! Pelargonidin is not the only antioxidant in the radish, but I'll spare you more unpronounceable words for today! Just know, radishes are red and spicy - and that's a very good thing!

Our heads of lettuce are huge and ready for you at the stand or in the harvest bag. Kohlrabi is beautiful right now, and I've included another recipe for you below. More and more customers are catching on to the awesomeness of kohlrabi! You'll find lots of baby broccoli on Tuesday. Plus we'll have a tad more cauliflower on hand. Yay! Spicy greens, mustard greens, and arugula are very happy greens these days - time to pick some up. Bok choy is back in the stand and looking beautiful! Blueberries are out this week but should be back soon. We'll have lots of strawberries, however, to put on our berry table - don't you worry. Citrus deliveries arrived Saturday, so we'll have replenished stores of Tahoe Gold mandarins and Murcott tangerines. More Cara Cara's arrived too. We'll have a couple of varieties of kumquats to boot! Speaking of, jump into your boots and make your way to the farm. We'll be glad to see you!

Eileen

Photo credit: Chris Hogue

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Harvest Bag

all for $25

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Romaine Lettuce

Red Butterhead Lettuce

Kohlrabi (see recipes)

Carrots (see recipes)

Sierra Gold Potatoes

Baby Broccoli

Radishes (see recipes)

Avocados (Righetti Ranch, San Luis Obispo)

Strawberries

Grated Carrot, Kohlrabi and Radish Salad

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds mixed carrots, kohlrabi and radish, peeled and grated on the large hole of a grater (any combination of veggies will do, approximately 4 cups)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1½ cups water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ½ cup rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons slivered mint or cilantro

Directions

1. Combine the grated vegetables in a large bowl and toss with salt. Place salted veggies in a strainer and let them stand for 30 minutes.
2. Combine water, sugar and vinegar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Allow to cool to room temperature.
3. Rinse veggies and squeeze dry. Combine liquid with veggies in a bowl and stir. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. Lift veggies from vinegar bath with slotted spoon and arrange on plate. Top with slivered herbs.

Thanks to Martha Rose Shulman

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