http://bostonorganics.com/newsletter/2010/news_30.html

http://bostonorganics.com/newsletter/2010/news_29.html

This week’s broccoli rabe from Pedersen Farms is looking really nice.

Use exactly as you would Broccoli – steam, roast, braise, sautée, and let your taste buds appreciate the difference

Broccoli Rabe is a bitter, zesty-tasting broccoli-like vegetable. Like the Chinese broccoli and broccolini that it resembles, broccoli rabe has long, tender stems that are topped by broccoli-like florets and a profusion of delicious leaves. It is prized in Italy, where it is known as broccoletti di rape or broccoletto, and it is becoming increasingly well-known in the United States thanks to its reputation as a great source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium, calcium, and iron.

Storage: Wrap in a wet paper towel in a plastic bag in the crisper.

We just received our veggie delivery from Atlas Farm (Deerfield, MA) for the first part of the week, and these greens are looking fantastic! Check out the lettuce, arugula, and kale below!

We’re psyched! Asparagus from Pedersen Farms (NY) and basil (out of stock) from the Happy Valley Coop (Western Mass) is here!

If all goes as planned we’ll have NY grown asparagus from Pedersen Farms in many of the produce boxes next week! We’re psyched to have more and more local items on the way!

We featured Pedersen Farms on our blog a while back, but here’s some more great backstory c/o Red Tomato…

Rick Pedersen knew he wanted to farm from day one. Growing up on his parents hobby farm Rick worked with all kinds of livestock but somehow growing vegetables really got his attention. Rick went on to work in forestry and earn a Bachelor of Science in vegetable crops – all the while working on farms and gaining the experience he needed to get out on his own. Along with his wife Laura, who also grew up on a farm, Rick found the right spot in 1983 and the Pedersen’s have been the owners, operators and masterminds of Pedersen Farms ever since. When they started, the farm spanned 60 acres. Today, they grow both organic and conventional grains and vegetables on 1,500 acres – 400 of which are certified organic.

Always interested in growing organics, the Pedersens got serious about it in 2002 when the National Organic Program was approved. Pedersen Farms does all of their business as a wholesaler, so increased consumer demand from retail stores helped seal the deal. The Pedersens now grow organic heirloom tomatoes, broccoli, eggplant, garlic, winter squash, corn, soy beans, barley, spelt, asparagus and cauliflower.

Since the wholesale market also demands non-organic vegetables Pedersen Farms obliges with many of the same crops for the conventional market. However, many practices from the organic standards are universal on the farm. We don’t use GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and we use organic fertilizer because it just works better,” says Rick. “If the crops are managed properly, you have yields that are about the same or even a little better [than conventional practices].” Another novelty that can be found on Pedersen Farms are 10 acres of hops which are harvested and sold to local breweries. With a roaring market for local, sustainably grown products, Rick and Laura Pedersen, as one of the largest organic growers in the state, can rightfully say that they are at the forefront of a movement.

Teather Fruit Snacks are on sale for $3.49 per package for all deliveries made by 5/14. Teather is based in Brookline, and we love their fruit leather!

Teather Berry Cherry Acai (1.5 oz)
Berry Cherry Acai offers a well-balanced blend of blueberries, cherries and acai berries with slight background notes of white tea and subtle hints of chocolate.
Ingredients: Organic Blueberries, Organic Dried Sweet Cherries (organic dried cherries, organic canola oil), Organic Dates, Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Raspberries, Organic Orange Peel, Organic Freeze-Dried Acai (organic acai, citric acid), Organic White Tea Leaf.

Teather Strawberry Pomegranate (1.5 oz)
Flavors of strawberry and pomegranate predominate Strawberry Pomegranate. Notes of white tea are less evident in this especially fruity and slightly sweeter version. Ingredients: Organic Strawberries, Organic Dates, Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Freeze-Dried Pomegranate, Organic Raspberries, Organic Orange Peel, Organic White Tea Leaf.

Here’s a video from customer Nina Manolson. She stopped by the warehouse to demonstrate how to make “banana candy”. Thanks Nina!

We just caught an article about Equal Exchange/Oke bananas in the Business section of the Boston Globe. Check it out!