News and blog
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 YEAH! Red and Hierloom
cherry tomatoes
lima beans
Sweet banana peppers
Garlic
eggplant
Sweet Corn
Hot peppers
Fruits
raspberries
blueberries
peaches!!!!!!
plums
cantaloupe
canary melons
sugar cubes
watermelon
summer apples - William's pride
Ginger gold
rambo
Meat
Pork
Beef
Whole Chickens
Baked goods
Blueberry pies
Peach pies
Sweet Breads
Teas and other herb greens
mint tea
lemon blam
basil
dill
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
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
broccoli
red and green cabbage
Hot peppers
snacking peppers
Fruits
raspberries
blueberries
peaches -Free Stone peaches are here!
plums - three varieties
cantaloupe
Rambo apples
William's Pride apples
watermelon
nectarines
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
We will be at NGS on 17th Street in the Courtyard from 8 - 2:30
Come out and get fresh vegetables. We will have these items available for sale.
Vegetables
summer squash
zucchini
salad mix
kale
Sorrel
Swiss chard
Red Beets
cucumbers
CHERRY TOMATOES
green beans
red tomatoes
banana peppers
cabbage red and green
bell peppers
Sweet Corn!
Heirloom tomatoes
okra
Mexican gerkins
Fresh cut herbs and flowers
basil
dill
flowers
Fruits
red raspberries
blueberries
gooseberries
Pink Lady apples
peaches
plums
Summer Rambo apples
Nectarines
cantaloupe
William's Pride apples
Strawberry apples
Meat
Pork
Beef
Chicken whole
Baked goods
Blueberry pies
peach pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
yeast bread
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
OUR OWN Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
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.
Vegetables
summer squash
zucchini
salad mix
kale
cucumbers
cabbage
Swiss chard
garlic
cabbage
red beets
cherry tomatoes
red tomatoes
bell peppers
sweet corn!!!
heirloom tomatoes
okra
Fruits
red raspberries
blueberries
peaches
plums
cantaloupe
strawberries
watermelon
Cut herbs
Basil
Dill
Meat
Pork
Beef
Whole chickens
Baked goods
Blueberry pies
peach pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
OUR OWN Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Dear Folks,
We have some new items on the store that I want to bring your attention to.
First - Mexican Gerkins aka Barbie's Watermelons. They actually look like little watermelons- doll house-sized. They are excellent sliced and drizzled with lemon juice and salt and pepper. They are cucumbers - not watermelons! Delicious - check them out.
We are also offering second tomatoes by the half bushel. Order them on the store if you plan to do any canning or preserving for the winter. Last week I made ketchup with some seconds. I used lovage instead of celery.
We are offering lovage on the store under herbs. It is a great substitute for celery taste. Lovage is not a replacement for a stalk of celery only for the TASTE of celery in soups, stirfries, etc. Check it out on the store.
I also added okra this week. We have a lot of it right now.
I also added strawberries. Yes, strawberries in August! We have ever-bearing strawberries and they are producing for the second time this year. These make a great addition to a salad or fruit tray. We are selling them by the half-pint since there are not many.
Speaking of strawberries - we are picking Strawberry Apples right now! An old heirloom apple yellow with blush of strawberry color very nice sweet apple. These are the size of lady apples.
We also have William's Pride apples right now also - just picked sweet apples.
We have added pints of baby carrots to the carrots on the store. Since everyone is getting carrots again this week, you may not need any this time, but keep it in mind.
When you order from the store you can pay immediately with a credit card or you can wait until the end of the session and pay by check ( and avoid the .50 transaction fee) or you can pay when you come to the stand to pick up.
This week's shares will include:
Half and Full shares
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
cantaloupe
blueberries
carrots
kale
red beets
Personal shares
cantaloupe
red beets
cherry tomatoes
carrots
kale
The cantaloupe are very good this year. We still have an over-abundance of blueberries - enjoy them!
We are digging a lot of carrots now. Some are bigger and some are smaller. Eat them raw or use in cooked stews or with roasts. Actually I grilled carrots with mint tea and they was delicious!
Red beets are good for you! They are great roasted - brings out the best flavor. They are great boiled - very sweet. They are great pickled - Pennsylvania Dutch style! I have never eaten one raw, but if you have good teeth I am sure it can be done.
Enjoy your week. It is hard to believe that we are into the middle of August. Enjoy your summer!
Gregg, Louise, Virginia, Oliver Keckler - Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Dear Folks,
This is it! We are finally ready to start the CSA for 2014. This year all vegetables and most fruits are behind schedule because of the cold, wet spring. This is good news because we should have spring things later in the year, but it is bad because its makes for a slow start.
This week's shares will include:
Personal Shares -
Jam
asparagus,
French Radishes
Rhubarb
Typhon Greens
Half and Full shares will include:
Rhubarb
Asparagus
jam
Pink lady apples
spring onions
French radishes
Kale
Rhubarb is a great fruit (?) not sure about that, but it makes delicious cobblers and crunches. I like to just stew it and add sugar and a thickener. I love the tart taste with the sweet sugar.
I am sure you have probably been eating lots of asparagus already this spring. It is great grilled or even in a pan with olive oil and garlic. My family likes to grilled just until the tips are blackened. It is great!
The jam could be any variety. Gregg makes many different kinds of jams each winter from fruits frozen the summer before. So enjoy last year's flavors and get ready for a great harvest this year. These are jars are sealed so they will keep. Once they are opened I would store them in the frig if you are not planning to eat them within the week. PLEASE RETURN THE JARS AND RINGS WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED WITH THEM! Thanks for reusing instead of recycling. Recycling takes much more energy and money then reusing.
Enjoy spring onions - the whole thing, not just the tops or the bulbs. I use the whole thing in salads, fresh or in stir fry. These keep very well in the frig. If the tops start to wilt and dry, just cut them down and keep using.
I love radishes fresh in salad. As a kid, we had a bowl of them on the table throughout the spring months and we ate them plain with salt. They add zip to any sandwich. Just slice them and add them to anything. Do not be afraid to add odd vegetables to a salad, sandwich or stir fry. You will be getting an extra vitamin and nutrient from the vegetable and you will be creating a new way of eating seasonal items that you may not like eating plain.
Typhon greens are large- leafed green. The stalk tastes like celery. Use it in salads and stir fry. The top greens are an excellent source of iron. I use them in stir fry or juicing them.
Kale is great in stir fry or juicing- excellent source and vitamins and nutrients for you.
The Pink Lady apples are stored from last year. These apples are still in good shape. They MUST be refrigerated. They have been in cold-storage so they are used to the cold and will not hold up in the heat.
I will be working on the online store this morning and should have it up and running by noon. If you would like add any of these things to your share you may do so then. Check an earlier email from me about how the store works.
Have a great week. Looking forward to seeing everyone again this year. If you have any questions, let send me an email and I will try to help.
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.
CSA starts TOMORROW! I will be sending an email to everyone about this delivery in a bit!
Vegetables
Fresh asparagus
spinach
salad mix
kale
stir fry greens (Typhon, arugala, masoona)
spring onions
French radishes
Fruits
stored apples
rhubarb
Strawberries (NEW)
Plants Get these now! We are almost out of all bedding plants!
bedding plants
herb plants
Meat
Pork
Beef
Baked goods
Strawberry/Rhubarb pies
Cherry pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
OUR OWN Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
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, June 3 or
NGS Farm Stand in the Courtyard on Tuesday, June 3
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 rubbe rbands, 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
We will be at the East Columbia Library on Cradle Rock Way Tomorrow from 2-6 pm!
Be Patient - Strawberries will be here soon!
We will have these items available this week!
The CSA will start June 5.
Vegetables
Fresh asparagus
Lettuce Mix
kale
potatoes
spring onions
French Radishes
Fruits
stored apples
Rhubarb
Plants
bedding plants
herb plants
Meat
Pork
Beef
Baked goods
Strawberry/Rhubarb pies
Cherry 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
We will be at National Geographic Society in the Courtyard TODAY for the Farm Stand
Come out and get fresh vegetables. We will have these items available for sale.
CSA starts JUNE 3!
Vegetables
Fresh asparagus
spinach
Frozen broccoli and corn
onions
potatoes
spring onions
French radishes
Baby kale
Lettuce mix
Fruits
stored apples
rhubarb
Plants
bedding plants
herb plants
Meat
Pork
Beef
Baked goods
Strawberry/Rhubarb pies
Sweet Breads
cookies
yeast breads
sticky buns and cake
Other items
jams and jellies
honey
Shagbark hickory syrup
Our OWN Fresh eggs
Cheese from Whispering Brook Farm
Come out and stock up with good food!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc