News and blog
Dear Folks,
Welcome to our fall session CSA for 2015. We are very glad for your continued support for our farming venture.
Just a remind for folks who are new to the CSA.
If you pick up at one of the stands or markets - Please bring your box plus all the smaller quarts, pints, half pints, rubber bands, etc back every week. You can exchange an empty box for a full box or you can transfer your items from our box to your bags.
PLEASE RETURN THE BOXES!
If you get a delivery on Wednesday or Friday - please remember to return your boxes to the designated spot each week.
If you are not able to pick up at your normal location - here are your options.
1. Change your location to one of our Farm Stands or Market locations or The Wyoming on Wednesdays for the week that you will be missing.
2. Get a friend to pick up for you.
3. Let us know and we will donate your share to the DC Soup Kitchen for the week that you will miss. We can provide you with a receipt for your donation if you like.
Please remember that we are trying to pick fruits and vegetables fresh and ready to eat. Do not let them sit of long periods of time without refrigeration. We are doing the best we can, please try to help by putting your vegetable and fruits in a cooler, refrigerator or at the very least air-conditioning until you can eat them.
We love to farm. We love to meet our customers, and we love knowing that we are part of a large "local" community of farmers and supporters of farmers.
Than you for letting us provide your food for you.
A word about our online store.
You can order items from the online store at any time. You can pay immediately with a credit card or you can wait until the end of the fall session and pay with a check. We would love to have you check out the store. If you were going to get any of these items from the store anyway, we would love to have you support our farm by buying them from us. We will include all items in your share for the week.
if you have any questions or if you have a friend who forgot to sign up after they see your first box, please tell them to sign up, but DO NOT PAY with a credit card. When I see the subscription come through I will pro-rate the share and send an updated balance due email.
The shares this week will include;
Half and Full shares:
Bartlett pears
Cox Orange Pippins
white acorn squash
green beans
eggplant
tomatoes
mystery item
Personal shares:
green beans
eggplant
white acorn squash
Candy onions
Bartlett pears
The Bartlett pears are delicious right now. They are so sweet and juicy, Enjoy these. They will probably not even make it home!
The Cox Orange Pippin apple is a great tart apple to begin the apple season. Europeans know this apple well. I think it might be the national apple somewhere! It is a great eating apple.
The white acorn squash were a new variety for this year for us. These are used the same as a normal green or carnival acorn.
We are loaded with green beans right now! I mean loaded. Oliver, Juan and Julie are pickng them right now! What a better thing to do on Labor Day than labor in the bean patch! These are great beans. If any of you would like to can or freeze some beans for the winter, let us know and we can give you a bulk price. We also have them on the store by the quart. Check them out!
Now is the time to store for the winter. Remember the squirrels have got you beat, they have been storing up for weeks now.
We still have some great purple eggplant. Enjoy these and the tomatoes now. I know you might be getting tired of them, but in a month you will not get any more of them for another ten months! Make a good batch of eggplant parmesan to celebrate the summer season!
We are giving a mystery item because we have a lot of this and that. Everything is of good quality, but there is not enough of any one thing to go around. Be ready for a surprise. I think that all the possible vegetables that you could get will be recognizable, but if you do not know what you have, just let me know and I will help you.
I have added the Extended Fall session to the CSA sign up page on the website. This is a short session that will begin at the end of October and run through the week before Thanksgiving. It is four weeks long. Please keep it in mind and if you like the fall crops of winter squash, apples, pears, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, turnips, potatoes, carrots, and other fall vegetables, please consider it.
We will make all the same stops EXCEPT all FRIDAY stops will go to WEDNESDAYS for the EXTENDED FALL SESSION which begins on October 27. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Have a great week!
Gregg, Louise and Oliver Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
East Columbia Farmer's Market
East Columbia Library
Cradlerock Way
2-6 pm.
Rain or heat!! - We will be here to bring you fresh fruits and vegetables as they are picked!
Come out to check out the great vegetables and berries.
These are some of the items that we will have at the market.
Fruit
red raspberries-
PEACHES
Wickson plums
Wizard plums
Castleton plums- free stone
Ginger Gold apples
Zestar apples
Cox Orange Pippins
Gala apples
nectarines
blackberries
cantaloupes
watermelon
Yellow Bartlett pears
Vegetables
Kale
red beets
Swiss chard
zucchini
cucumbers
red and green cabbage
red tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
bell peppers
sweet peppers
Sweet corn - bi-color
spaghetti squash
eggplant
red shallots
sweet Candy onions
red potatoes
white potatoes
lettuce mix
Mexican Gherkins
butternut squash
green beans
hot peppers
Roma tomatoes - time for sauce!
Meat - our own home grown
beef - We have steaks - rib steaks, NY strip, sirloin, filets !
pork- We have chops, fresh ham steaks, 7 in grillers and breakfast links
Bakery
Raised Breads - honey oatmeal bread
Sweet breads - apple and zucchini - Pumpkin Bread
cookies
Homemade Pies
Peachy pies
blueberry pies
Home grown eggs
Homemade jellies and jams
HONEY
Shagbark Hickory Syrup
Cheese from Whispering Brook Cheese Haus
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the stand!
Gregg, Louise, Oliver Keckler - Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm
National Geographic Society - Tuesday, September 8 from 9-2pm in the courtyard.
We will have jellies, honey, Shagbark hickory syrup
Fruit
Wickson plums
peaches
Castleton plums - free stone
blackberries
red raspberries
nectarines
cantaloupes
Watermelon
Ginger Gold apples
Zestar Apples
Yellow Bartlet pears
Cox oOange Pippins
Gala apples
Vegetables
Kale
lettuce
red beets
Swiss chard
sweet candy onions
okra
cucumbers
zucchini
sweet corn!
tomatoes
red potatoes
cherry tomatoes
eggplant
red shallots
cabbage
bell peppers
spaghetti squash
Mexican Sour Gherkins
hot cherry peppers
mild sweet peppers
butternut squash
green beans
kiri winter squash
delicate winter squash
HERBS
mint tea
catnip
parsley
Meat - our own home grown
beef - we have steaks!
pork - we have chops!
Bakery
Raised Breads - honey oatmeal
Sweet breads
cookies
peach pies
blueberry pies
Home grown eggs
Homemade jellies and jams
HONEY
Shagbark Hickory Syrup
Cheese from Whispering Brook Cheese Haus
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at the stand!
Gregg, Louise, Oliver Keckler - Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm
We will be at DOT for the Farmer's Market tomorrow from 10-2 pm
Come out and get fresh vegetables. We will have these items available for sale.
Fruit
Peaches
plums - Wickson, Castleton
nectarines
cantaloupes
watermelon
blackberries
red raspberries
Ginger Gold apples
Zestar apples
Yellow barlett pears
Cox Orange Pippins
Gala apples!!!!
Vegetables
Kale
lettuce
red beets
Swiss chard
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
zucchini
red potatoes
cucumbers
sweet corn!
mild peppers
bell peppers
eggplant
spaghetti squash
okra
cooking onions
red shallots
garlic
Mexican sour gherkins
butternut squash
green beans
kiri winter squash
delecti winter squash
HERBS
mint tea
parsley
l
Meat - our own home grown
beef - We have steaks!
pork - We have chops!
chickens - whole $3.99/ lb
Bakery
Sweet breads
cookies
peach pies
blueberry pies
Home grown eggs
Homemade jellies and jams
HONEY
Shagbark Hickory Syrup
Cheese from Whispering Brook Cheese Haus
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at the stand!
Gregg, Louise, Oliver Keckler - Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm
Tomorrow September 5
Oliver will be at St Luke's Episcopal Church from 8 - 1 pm.
Gregg will be at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on South King's Highway Alexandria on Saturdays from 8-1 pm
These are some of the items that we will have tomorrow at the market stands.
Fruit
apples -Ginger Gold
apples - Gala
apples- Summer Rambo
apples- Zestar - Early Honey Crisp
plums
peaches
canteloupe
watermelon
nectarines
Pears - Yellow Bartlett
Vegetables
Sweet onions
Kale
lettuce
red and white potatoes
Swiss chard
Red Beets
cucumbers
zucchini
cabbage
bell peppers
Tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
Sweet Corn!
eggplant
spaghetti squash
hot peppers
butternut squash
delicate squash
Meat - our own home grown
beef - WE HAVE STEAKS! Filets, NY strips, Rib steaks, sirloin, flat iron
Fresh chicken - just butchered reduced price $3.99/lb we need to clear out the freezers!
pork - We have chops and ham steak, bacon, breakfast links and 7 inch grillers
Bakery
Raised Breads - Honey Oatmeal and cinnamon bread and herb bread
cinnamon rolls
Sweet breads - pumpkin, zucchini, and apple
cookies
Homemade pies - blueberry pies
peach pies
Home grown eggs
Homemade jellies and jams
HONEY
Shagbark Hickory Syrup
Cheese from Whispering Brook Cheese Haus
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at the stand!
Gregg, Louise, Oliver Keckler - Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm
Come out to check out the vegetables and fruits. We have sweet corn! .
These are some of the items that we will have tomorrow at the market.
Fruit
apples -Summer Rambo
apples- Gala
Apples - ginger Gold
Apples - Zestar - Early Honey Crisp
pears - yellow bartlett
Peaches!!
plums
cantaloupe
nectarines
watermelon
Vegetables
sweet corn!!
Kale
lettuce
red beets
Swiss chard
zucchini
cucumbers
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
sweet onions
peppers
okra
cabbage
butternut squash
spaghetti squash
delicate squash
Meat - our own home grown
beef - We have beef bologna!
Bakery
Raised Breads - honey oatmeal bread and cinnamon bread
Sweet breads -pumpkin, and apple, zucchini
cookies
Homemade pies - blueberry pies
peach pies
Home grown eggs
Homemade jellies and jams
HONEY
Shagbark Hickory Syrup
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at the stand!
Gregg, Louise, Oliver Keckler - Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm
East Columbia Farmer's Market
East Columbia Library
Cradlerock Way
2-6 pm.
Rain or heat!! - We will be here to bring you fresh fruits and vegetables as they are picked!
Come out to check out the great vegetables and berries.
These are some of the items that we will have at the market.
Fruit
red raspberries-
PEACHES
Wickson plums
Red Heart plums
Black Amber plums
Wizard plums
Castleton plums- free stone
Ginger Gold apples
Summer Rambo apples
Zestar apples
Cox Orange Pippins
nectarines
blackberries
cantaloupes
watermelon
Yellow Bartlett pears
Vegetables
Kale
red beets
Swiss chard
zucchini
cucumbers
red and green cabbage
red tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
bell peppers
sweet peppers
Sweet corn - bi-color
spaghetti squash
eggplant
red shallots
sweet Candy onions
red potatoes
white potatoes
lettuce mix
garlic
Mexican Gherkins
butternut squash
green beans
hot peppers
Roma tomatoes - time for sauce!
Meat - our own home grown
beef - We have steaks - rib steaks, NY strip, sirloin, filets !
pork- We have chops, fresh ham steaks, 7 in grillers and breakfast links
chickens - whole Reduced price $3.99/lb!!!
Bakery
Raised Breads - honey oatmeal bread
Sweet breads - apple and zucchini - Pumpkin Bread
cookies
Homemade Pies
Peachy pies
blueberry pies
Home grown eggs
Homemade jellies and jams
HONEY
Shagbark Hickory Syrup
Cheese from Whispering Brook Cheese Haus
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the stand!
Gregg, Louise, Oliver Keckler - Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm
We will be at DOT for the Farmer's Market tomorrow from 10-2 pm
Come out and get fresh vegetables. We will have these items available for sale.
Fruit
Peaches
plums - Wickson, Black amber, Red heart, Castleton
nectarines
cantaloupes
watermelon
blackberries
red raspberries
Ginger Gold apples
Summer Rambo apples
Zestar apples
Yellow barlett pears
Cox Orange Pippins
Vegetables
Kale
lettuce
red beets
Swiss chard
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
zucchini
red potatoes
cucumbers
sweet corn!
mild peppers
bell peppers
eggplant
spaghetti squash
okra
cooking onions
red shallots
garlic
Mexican sour gherkins
butternut squash
green beans
HERBS
mint tea
parsley
lovage
Meat - our own home grown
beef - We have steaks!
pork - We have chops!
chickens - whole $3.99/ lb
Bakery
Sweet breads
cookies
peach pies
blueberry pies
Home grown eggs
Homemade jellies and jams
HONEY
Shagbark Hickory Syrup
Cheese from Whispering Brook Cheese Haus
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at the stand!
Gregg, Louise, Oliver Keckler - Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm
National Geographic Society - Tuesday, September 1 from 9-2pm in the courtyard.
We will have jellies, honey, Shagbark hickory syrup
Fruit
Wickson plums
Red heart plums
peaches
Castleton plums - free stone
blackberries
red raspberries
nectarines
cantaloupes
Watermelon
Ginger Gold apples
Zestar Apples
Rambo apples
Yellow Bartlet pears
Cox oOange Pippins
Vegetables
Kale
lettuce
red beets
Swiss chard
sweet candy onions
okra
cucumbers
zucchini
sweet corn!
tomatoes
red potatoes
cherry tomatoes
eggplant
red shallots
cabbage
bell peppers
spaghetti squash
Mexican Sour Gherkins
hot cherry peppers
mild sweet peppers
butternut squash
green beans
HERBS
mint tea
catnip
lovage
parsley
Meat - our own home grown
beef - we have steaks!
pork - we have chops!
whole chicken - $3.99/lb
Bakery
Raised Breads - honey oatmeal
Sweet breads
cookies
peach pies
blueberry pies
Home grown eggs
Homemade jellies and jams
HONEY
Shagbark Hickory Syrup
Cheese from Whispering Brook Cheese Haus
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at the stand!
Gregg, Louise, Oliver Keckler - Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm
Dear Folks,
This is the last week of the summer session. If you would like to be sure to receive produce and fruit throughout the fall - SIGN UP NOW! You can make membership updates by going to the website www.orchardcountryprdduce.com and update your membership for the fall. The fall session begins next week, September 8 and runs through October 24.
We have enjoyed providing fruits and vegetables for you during the summer months. We hope that you will consider us next year for your CSA. We are planning great fall broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce, onions, roma tomatoes, peppers, green beans, winter squash - acorn, delicati butternut, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and of course apples and pears.
This week's shares will include:
Half and Full shares
watermelon
plums
sweet corn
tomatoes
hot peppers
kale
Spanish onions
Personal Shares:
plums
sweet corn
tomatoes
kale
green beans
The watermelon are seedless. They are incredible this year.
Enjoy!
We have been enjoying the many plums and also the very good sweet corn. We have a variety of hot peppers, habanero, cayenne, the Turkish hot.
Spanish onions are great cooking onions, They are NOT sweet, but flavorful. Use them in any cooking dish. They hold up very well in stir fry or sauce or soup.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone this week. It is hard too believe that this is the end of August. September is tomorrow! Wow! How time flies!
Gregg, Louise, and Oliver Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc