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!

We’re psyched to announce that we’re offering two new add-on cheeses from Maine’s Longfellow’s Creamery! These cheeses are handmade in small batches at Second Chance Farm in Avon. Second Chance Farm is Animal Welfare Approved.

Tumbledown Mountain Tomme – A raw milk cheese that is rich, earthy, and buttery! It is great with crackers or bread, but also melts beautifully and makes a wonderful grilled cheese!

Grafton Notch Gouda – A dense aged raw milk cheese.

We love ‘em, try them out!

We received this picture of a "modest carrot" from a Boston Organics member last week! This carrot came to us from Wintermoon Farm, in Hadley, MA, and we have some excellent add-on rainbow carrots from them this week!

We’re now offering locally made salsa from Appalachian Naturals! They’re based in Goshen, MA, and they use produce grown by our friends out at Atlas Farm among others!

100% Certified Organic! Sugar-free/Vinegar-free!

Ingredients: Organic tomatoes*, organic onion*, organic jalapeño peppers*, organic cilantro*, Portuguese sea salt, organic lime juice, organic epazote (herb from Mexico). *MA grown!

Available in Medium or Wicked Mild!

Appalachian Naturals hand packs these jars with ripe organic tomatoes, fresh cilantro, lime juice, jalapeños, onion, and a few secret herbs to offer you a piece of New England’s fall harvest.

This is an authentic Latin salsa so you will see that the stems are still on the jalapeños and large chunks of tomato can be found is some jars. In most regions in Mexico salsa is pureed so that it is easily to pour, the idea of making it chunky to be used as a dip (or making it thick using tomato paste) emerged as the recipe traveled across the United States over the past century. For those of you missing the rustic mesquite infused meats and sauces from Boca du Vallaria, Caracas, Tepotzlan, or the Baja Peninsula, crack open a jar of Salsa Veracruz and serve it with some homemade plantain tamales or wood fired mahi mahi tacos!

Enjoy!

We have limited quantities of add-on organic popcorn kernels from the Merck Forest and Farmland Center in Rupert, VT! You can find them in Snacks and Specialties portion of the add-on order form. The kernels are from two different varieties. One is a yellow Robust variety that is know for its great eating quality – crisp and tender, light and flaky… And a white variety known as the Pennsylvania Dutch Butter Flavored. The Pennsylvania Dutch Butter Flavored is a pre-1885 heirloom variety that originated in Pennsylvania Dutch country.

If you order some kernels, here’s a simple way to make popcorn for 2-4 people:

1) Add a small amount of oil to a pan and add 1/4 – 1/3 of a cup of kernels.
2) With the lid on, shake the pan over the stovetop on medium heat and continue as the kernels pop.
3) Remove from heat when popping has slowed to a few seconds between pops and serve with butter, salt, etc.

Local Watermelon Radishes from Wintermoon Farm in Hadley, MA, have arrived! We’ve included them in a bunch of the boxes this week. They are peppery, mild, and delicious! Enjoy!