Dear Friends,

     Its hard to believe this year is flying by so fast!  The fall plantings are now coming in . . . such as fall lettuces, late cucumbers, red beets, kale, string beans, & squash.  Hopefully the sugar snap peas and the snow peas will be ready before we get hit with a frost.  Its always a gamble trying to time things with the late summer plantings.  Peas for example will not germinate properly when the soil is too warm but you must have enough days left in the season for the plants to mature or you'll never reach production. Sometimes you win & then again. . . :(   

    Its now Fuji & Braeburn time with apples.  We just started picking this week.  This weeks apples in your shares will be a mixture of  Grimes Golden (Heirloom), Nittany (Sweet), & Honeycrisp.

     We also have some deals available this week if you wish to order any.  Red Beets are $3.00 a quart box.  Northern Spy apples are $3.00 a quart or $6.00 a 1/2 peck.  These are great baking apples.  We also have some processed horseradish in the same sized containers as they were several weeks ago for $2.00.  Let us know if you want any of these in addition to your usual share.

     Regarding the "mystery items",  we are not inferring that they are mysterious.  Simply that we aren't sure how many of a certain crop will be available.  For example we have cushaw pumpkins but not enough to go around so you may get another item(s) instead.  Some of the items may be a mystery to you and if so just drop us a line & we'll try to help you with what it is and how to prepare it.
 
    This weeks share should include the following:

                                                                  Roma Tomatos                                                   
                                                                  Lettuce
                                                                  Homemade Applesauce (Unsweetened)
                                                                  3 Varieties of apples
                                                                  Cucumber
                                                                  Mystery vegetable
                                                                  Unpasteurized Apple cider

Dear Friends,

ATTENTION : TUESDAY CSA SHAREHOLDERS - There will be NO CSA deliveries on Tuesday Oct 5.  The DOT market for that day has been cancelled after much confusion on their part.  Again, there will be no home delivery, Gangplank,  or DOT market stand drop offs on that date.  We will make up your delivery on the last Tues. in October (26th) instead.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  This was beyond our control.

We have gathered most of the winter squash and are storing them in our garage in crates.  As long as the weather is cooperative we'll be picking fall tomatoes.  There are still quite a few apples to pick.  Speaking of which, this weeks featured apple is the northern spy.  It is an heirloom apple which dates back to the Civil War.  Its naming was directly connected to espionage during the war between the states.  Most farmers will not fool with this great apple due to the long time on "their return".  Its a slow grower. It takes at least 10 years before you get any crop!  Spy is worth the wait, however, as it is a slightly tart one that is a great baking apple. 

In response to those folks who are "Kaled out", please try Kale chips!!!!!  The recipe is simple.  Tear the leaves into 2-3 inch diameter pieces into a baking dish.  Drizzle either butter or olive oil w/garlic salt over the top of the leaf pieces.  Bake @ 350 degrees for about 4-5 minutes or until crisp like a potato chip.  They are addicting!  

This weeks shares should include the following:

Northern Spy apples
Nectarines
Jelly or Jam
Kale
Summer Squash
Mystery Vegetable or herb
Red Beets
Bell Pepper 

Se you all soon!

                                             Orchard Country Produce

Dear CSA,
     This is the first week of our Fall session.  As I have been saying all season, everything is coming in early.  So this week you will get Honey Crisp apples.  If you have never tried them-taste and see if these are ot the sweetest, crispest apples.  We are also starting winter squash this week as well.  For the first few weeks there will be a mixture of summer and fall produce.  We hope you will enjoy the cool fall weather and the vegetables.
    Please remember to return all cartons, jars, etc.
     Within the next few weeks we will be preparing horseradish.  If you would like some prepared horseradish, please email us.  No charge for it.  We just want to prepare enough for those that would use it.  Let me tell you a bit about preparing horseradish.  First we dug the roots.   Then they are scrubbed with a brush until they are white.  Then they are chopped into 1-2 in pieces.(These roots are hard so we have to use a hatchet to chop them.)  Then we use the Kitchen Aid processor with a fine shredder and shred them at least twice.  This is the worst part because the smell is so strong.  Oliver and Ryan have been seen wearing swimming googles, clothes pins on their noses, and mouth coverings.  The kitchen smells so strong of ammonia it can be unbearable.  Once it is shredded we put the horseradush in small containers and cover with distilled white vinegar.  Now you have prepared horseradish.  I wish we could give you the roots and let you prepare it yourself, but horseradish loses its strength within hours of being dug if it is not processed.  So it must be processed immediately.  If you would like some horseradish, let us know.  By the way once processed, it will keep for 3-4 weeks in the frig.
    This week's shares will include:  Asian Pears, Honey Crisp Apples, plums, summer squash, acorn squash, tomatoes, string beans, and broccoli.
    See you all this week!  Gregg and Louise Keckler - Orchard Country Produce

A few more comments about egglplant and also, a review from one of Oliver's chickens. 

We usually just slice the eggplant ~ 1/8 thick slices and grill it,
brushing with olive oil and seasoning with oregano, dill, and/or Italian
seasoning.  Goes well by itself or can be dipped in spaghetti or other
tomato sauce.

As for what to do with Eggplant, we were having a similar dilemma for a while and ended up coming up with a super-easy solution.  We slice it up into quarter-inch slices, sauteed them just long enough to start getting them tender 3-5 minutes, and then tossed them on a pizza crust covered in pesto, slices of our tomatoes and bufalo mozzarella and baked it all.  Deelish

Just wanted to say thanks for the awesome array of goodies last week. Everything is great! They didn't have a cooler for me when I arrived (too new I guess), but your son took charge and made me one on the fly. He also sold me a chicken and some eggs. Haven't tried the eggs yet, but the chicken was really good. I brined it first, then butterflied it (snipped out the backbone), and grilled it. Yum, so flavorful! I'm really enjoying this. Can't wait for next week's share.