News and blog
Dear Folks,
Sorry this email is so late. I have had to readjust my personal schedule for the fall. So do not be alarmed if the emails do not get out as promptly as before.
I will be sending out emails for folks who owe money as the week goes by, so please send a check or go to the website and pay your bill. Thanks.
We are picking apples, apples, apples. We are still picking cherry tomatoes and Mexican Gherkins.
Here is this week's shares:
Watermelon
Cantaloupes
Honey Crisp apples
Cherry tomatoes
Potatoes
Mexican gherkins
Sweet Candy Onions
Personal shares:
Watermelon
Honey Crisp apples
Potatoes
Mexican gherkins
cherry tomatoes
We have had a great year of watermelons. I just eat a couple bites of the BEST watermelon so far this year. Enjoy these watermelons now during the last weeks of summer.
We have also had some good cantaloupes this year. Oliver and Juan picked these this morning.
The Honey Crisp apples are fresh picked. We had an amazing year of these with 20 bins picked and at least 10 more bins on the trees. These apples are very crisp and have a sweet-tart taste.
We are still picking cherry tomatoes. Tomatoes are coming to a close - savour each bite!
Julie has been picking Mexican gherkins all day. These are great little cucumbers. Their nickname is "Barbie's Watermelons". They are delicious sliced in half with salt and vinegar. They are also good in cold salads. You can also just pop them in your month for a quick snack.
Have a great week.
We assume that if you are getting this email you are expecting to get a CSA share this week. Let me know if this is not correct. Sorry about the mistake in emails sent this morning. I accidently sent the Friday and Saturday deliveries an email that was only supposed to go to the Wednesday folks. This is truly a case where the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing:)
Let us know if you have any questions.
Gregg, Louise, and Oliver Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc.
If you are getting this email you are on our list to get a share at:
River Park
Gangplank Marina
Senate Square Towers
Flats 130
Suburban Hospital
77H Apartments
Local Delivery ( We will deliver to your house)
Your share will be delivered to the designated spot. Please contact the coordinator for your delivery site to find out where that spot is. It will be in a cardboard box. DO NOT TRASH OR RECYCLE THE BOX OR ANY ITEMS INSIDE! Please bring the box and all rubber bands, cartons, etc back the next week and trade in the empty box for a full one. Please return all boxes to the designated spot before the second delivery.
LOCAL DELIVERIES- We will deliver these shares on Friday. Gettysburg area will be on the way down to DC. Carlisle will be in the afternoon
If you cannot pick up for any reason, please arrange to have someone else pick up your share for you. We are not able to give double shares or add extra weeks. If you let us know ahead of time, you can donate your share to the DC Soup kitchen if you will not be able to pick up.
You may choose to change your pick up spot within the same week that you are missing if this would help you plan your schedule. For example: If you normally pick up on Tuesdays at DOT and you will be out of town that day, you can send us an email and pick up your share at St Luke's on Saturday. You must choose a site that is open to the public, usually one of the farm stands or Farmer'' markets. We have them listed on our website. www.orchardcountryproduce.com
Extras: We do offer extras that you can purchase in addition to your regular share. These items will be listed on the online store on the website. You can go to the store and order items that will be included in addition to your share. WE ARE GOING ON A TRUST BASIS HERE! We are delivering the extra items with the trust that you will pay for them at the end of the spring session. We do not have a way for you to pay with paypal for these items ahead of time because of the per pound prices not being exact. We also hate to have folks pre-paid for someting and then find out that we ran out of these and can not deliver. So we ask you to send a check at the end of the session. I will keep a running total and send you an email of the amount due. The store will be open by Saturday, May 31 for delivery next Friday.
Each Monday I will send an email with the listing of the items that will be in your share that week. We try very hard to keep to this list, but occasionally we do have to substitute when things do not work out. If you have any questions about what something is or how to use it, do not hesitate to send me an email and ask. I will answer your questions as promptly as possible.
Thank you for joining us this year for a great harvest. We are looking forward to meeting everyone again. We love what we do and we hope that you will love it too!
Gregg, Louise, Sarah, Virginia, and Oliver Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
If you are getting this email you are on our list to get a share at:
The East Columbia Library on September 11
You should come to the stand and give your name. Oliver will get your share. It will be in a cooler. DO NOT TRASH OR RECYCLE THE BOXes OR ANY ITEMS INSIDE! Please bring the box and all rubber bands, cartons, etc back the next week and trade in the empty box for a full one. There will be a check off list at the stand, be sure to check off your name showing that you picked up your box.
If you cannot come for any reason, please arrange to have someone else come to pick up your share for you. We are not able to give double shares or add extra weeks. If you let us know ahead of time, you can donate your share to the DC Soup kitchen if you will not be able to pick up.
You may choose to change your pick up spot within the same week that you are missing if this would help you plan your schedule. For example: If you normally pick up on Tuesdays at DOT and you will be out of town that day, you can send us an email and pick up your share at St Luke's on Saturday. You must choose a site that is open to the public, usually one of the farm stands or Farmer'' markets. We have them listed on our website. www.orchardcountryproduce.com
Extras: We do offer extras that you can purchase in addition to your regular share. These items will be listed on the online store on the website. You can go to the store and order items that will be included in addition to your share. You can pick these up at the stands and pay for them when you pick up. The store will be open by Saturday, May 31 for delivery next Tuesday. The items that are sold by the pound will be weighed out and priced at the stand.
Each Monday I will send an email with the listing of the items that will be in your share that week. We try very hard to keep to this list, but occasionally we do have to substitute when things do not work out. If you have any questions about what something is or how to use it, do not hesitate to send me an email and ask. I will answer your questions as promptly as possible.
Thank you for joining us this year for a great harvest. We are looking forward to meeting everyone again. We love what we do and we hope that you will love it too!
Gregg, Louise, Sarah, Virginia, and Oliver Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
If you are getting this email you are on our list to get a share at:
DOT Farmer's Market on Tuesday, September 9 or
NGS Farm Stand in the Courtyard on September 9
You should come to the stands and give your name. Either Gregg ( at NGS) or Oliver (at DOT) will get your share. It will be in a cardboard box. DO NOT TRASH OR RECYCLE THE BOX OR ANY ITEMS INSIDE! Please bring the box and all rubber bands, cartons, etc back the next week and trade in the empty box for a full one. There will be a check off list at the stand, be sure to check off your name showing that you picked up your box.
If you cannot come for any reason, please arrange to have someone else come to pick up your share for you. We are not able to give double shares or add extra weeks. If you let us know ahead of time, you can donate your share to the DC Soup kitchen if you will not be able to pick up.
You may choose to change your pick up spot within the same week that you are missing if this would help you plan your schedule. For example: If you normally pick up on Tuesdays at DOT and you will be out of town that day, you can send us an email and pick up your share at St Luke's on Saturday. You must choose a site that is open to the public, usually one of the farm stands or Farmer'' markets. We have them listed on our website. www.orchardcountryproduce.com
Extras: We do offer extras that you can purchase in addition to your regular share. These items will be listed on the online store on the website. You can go to the store and order items that will be included in addition to your share. You can pick these up at the stands and pay for them when you pick up. The store will be open by Saturday, May 31 for delivery next Tuesday. The items that are sold by the pound will be weighed out and priced at the stand.
Each Monday I will send an email with the listing of the items that will be in your share that week. We try very hard to keep to this list, but occasionally we do have to substitute when things do not work out. If you have any questions about what something is or how to use it, do not hesitate to send me an email and ask. I will answer your questions as promptly as possible.
Thank you for joining us this year for a great harvest. We are looking forward to meeting everyone again. We love what we do and we hope that you will love it too!
Gregg, Louise, Sarah, Virginia, and Oliver Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
If you are getting this email you are on our list to get a share at these places beginning
September 10
CSPI
NEA
BlueLabs
The Wyoming
Smith Group
HOK
DC Department of Health
Peace Corps
International Baccalaureate
JBS
Navy League Building
Calvert Foundation
Columbia Plaza
Your share will come in come in a cardboard box. DO NOT TRASH OR RECYCLE THE BOX OR ANY ITEMS INSIDE! Please bring the box and all rubber bands, cartons, etc back the next week and trade in the empty box for a full one. Each location should have a designated area to return the empty boxes for storage until the next week. Check with the coordinator about this.
If you cannot pick up for any reason, please arrange to have someone else pick up your share for you. We are not able to give double shares or add extra weeks. If you let us know ahead of time, you can donate your share to the DC Soup kitchen if you will not be able to pick up.
You may choose to change your pick up spot within the same week that you are missing if this would help you plan your schedule. For example: If you normally pick up on Wednesdays at CSPI and you will be out of town that day, you can send us an email and pick up your share at St Luke's on Saturday. You must choose a site that is open to the public, usually one of the farm stands or Farmer'' markets. We have them listed on our website. www.orchardcountryproduce.com
Extras: We do offer extras that you can purchase in addition to your regular share. These items will be listed on the online store on the website. You can go to the store and order items that will be included in addition to your share. WE ARE GOING ON A TRUST BASIS HERE! We are delivering the extra items with the trust that you will pay for themat the end of the spring session. We do not have a way for you to pay with paypal for these items ahead of time because of the per pound prices not being exact. we also hate to have folks pre-paid for someting and then find out that we ran out of these and can not deliver. So you ask you to send a check at the end of the session. I will keep a running total and send you an email of the amount due. The store will be open by Saturday, May 31 for delivery next Wednesday.
Each Monday I will send an email with the listing of the items that will be in your share that week. We try very hard to keep to this list, but occasionally we do have to substitute when things do not work out. If you have any questions about what something is or how to use it, do not hesitate to send me an email and ask. I will answer your questions as promptly as possible.
Thank you for joining us this year for a great harvest. We are looking forward to growing your food again. We love what we do and we hope that you will love it too!
Gregg, Louise, Sarah, Virginia, and Oliver Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Saturday Farmer's Market across from the High's Store in Westminster
We will have these items available this week!
Vegetables
cucumbers
sweet onions
Kale
salad Mix
cabbage
red beets
Swiss chard
cucumbers
zucchini
Summer squash
Green beans
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
yellow wax beans
lima beans
Sweet corn
heirloom tomatoes
plum tomatoes
garlic
spaghetti squash
Mexican Gerkins
butternut squash
carrots
Fruits
raspberries
blueberries
plums
cantaloupe
Peaches
nectarines
canary melons
sugar cubes
watermelon
nectarines
Zestar apples
Gala Apples
Rambo apples
Honey Crisp apples
yellow Bartlet pears
Seckle pears
Smokehouse apples
Meat
Pork
Beef
Chicken
Baked goods at Tamara's stand - She will be next to us!
Blueberry pies
Peach pies
Apple pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
yeast breads
rolls
sticky buns
cinnamon rolls
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
Fresh eggs
bunches of tea ( great for making a cold pitcher of summer tea)
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Saturday Farm Stands!
St Luke's Episcopal Church on Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA from 8-1pm
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church on Cedar Lane, Bethesda from 9-1pm
We will have these items available this week!
Vegetables
cucumbers
Mexican gerkins
sweet onions
yellow wax beans
kale
salad Mix
zucchini
summer squash
red beets
Swiss chard
cabbage
green beans
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
lima beans
Sweet banana peppers
Garlic
eggplant
Sweet Corn
Hot peppers
carrots
Fruits
raspberries
peaches
plums
cantaloupe
canary melons
sugar cubes
watermelon
summer apples - William's pride
Ginger gold
Rambo apples
nectarines
Zestar Apples
Honey Crisp Apples
Gala Apples
Yellow bartlet pears
Meat
Pork
Beef
Whole Chickens
Baked goods
Blueberry pies
Peach pies
apple pies
Sweet Breads
Teas and other herb greens
mint tea
lemon blam
basil
sage
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Dear Folks,
Just a reminder that tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the fall session which begins on Monday, September 8 and ends Saturday, October 25.
To check if you are already signed up, just go to membership status and check which sessions you are signed up for.
Sign up now! We have some great late summer and fall crops coming!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Between now and the middle of September is PEAK season for fruits and vegetables. Get them now!
We will be at the East Columbia Library on Cradle Rock Way Tomorrow from 2-6 pm!
WE HAVE PEACHES!
We have SWEET CORN!
We have Cantaloupe!
We will have these items available this week!
Vegetables
White potatoes
kale
Sweet onions
Swiss chard
Red Beets
Summer Squash
Zucchini
Cucumbers
yellow wax beans
green beans
Sweet corn
broccoli
carrots
sweet banana peppers
bell peppers
egg plant
okra
TOMATOES!!
cherry tomatoes
plum tomatoes
Red Norland potatoes
red and green cabbage
Hot peppers
snacking peppers
spaghetti squash
Butternut squash
Mexican Gherkins
Fruits
raspberries
peaches -Free Stone peaches are here!
plums - three varieties
cantaloupe
Rambo apples
William's Pride apples
watermelon
nectarines
Zestar apples
Ginger Gold apples
Smokehouse apples
Gala Apples
blackberries
strawberries
Meat
Pork - We have chops!
Beef
Chicken whole
beef bologna
Baked goods
Blueberries pies
peach pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Dear Folks,
You have until Saturday, September 6 to sign up for the fall session. We will be having Concord grapes, applels, apple cider, pears, Stanley plums, acorn squash, butternut squash, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, potatoes, sweet potatoes, red beets, cabbage and turnips and other fall crops.
We will be giving summer crops until the first frost (usually between the first of October the 15th of October 15th.) We would love to have you join us. The first week of our fall session begins next Monday, September 8. You can go to membership updates to change your membership for fall. If you want to see what your status is for fall, just go to membership status and you can see if you are already signed up.
I have added a few new items to the store this week including butternut squash, red raspberries, peach mango melons, and apples in bulk for apple sauce. Check them out.
If you are not coming back for the fall session, thanks so much for supporting our farm. We have enjoyed providing your food for this summer. Please remember if you are in the area to check us out for next spring.
Since this is the last week of the session, we are having a pick-off-the-table day for each market or stand.
Here is how it works - bring your box or cooler back this week. Also bring bags. You can create your own share from anything that is on the table! You can choose vegetables, meats, cheese, baked goods, fruits honey, jams, eggs, etc.
We have done this every year and it is a fun week. So if there was something you wished we would give in the shares, now is your chance to get it! If you plan to get meats, cheeses, or herbs, please order these on the store so that we will be sure to bring it to the markets.
We do not always bring everything because if we cut it and it does not sell, then it is a loss. Check the store for lists of most items. We will always have some other rare and unusual items at the stands as well.
We are looing forward to a great fall. I know that with the hot, humid weather, it does not seem like fall, but just last week I noticed that the Black Tupelo's leaves had changed to red, so Fall IS on the way!
Enjoy your week! Looking forward to seeing everyone this week.
Gregg, Louise, Virginia and Oliver Keckler
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc