Navel Oranges: These are the last of the season and are ripe and juicy, so eat soon! These beautiful fruits are from our friend Nacho at Twin Girls Farm near Fresno and are QAI (Quality Assurance International) certified organic. We’ve been friends with this family farm for a long time and see them every week at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market and yes, they do have twin teenage girls. They sell some of their goods to Purity, so that will explain if it has a market sticker on it. Peel and enjoy!
Lemon Balm: Is a member of the mint family and pairs well with fruit and fish dishes. It also makes a great herbal tea. To make hot tea, remove leaves & pour hot water over them. Steep for 10 minutes, then remove leaves. Store fresh herb wrapped in damp paper towel or in a small bud vase with water in fridge. Check out this week’s recipes for ideas on how to cook with this lovely herb.
Italian Flat Leaf Parsley: The beautifully clean, crisp flavor adds depth to many a dish! Store in a plastic bag in the fridge and use rather quickly.
Sugar Snap Peas: The first of the year! Super tasty either raw or cooked. Eat the whole thing, but first snap off the stem and peel down the string. Store in plastic bag in fridge. Eat soon, as these won’t last long off the vine.
Green Garlic: This young garlic has a milder and less bitter bite than garlic cloves and sweetens when cooked. Can also be eaten raw! It has flat leaves with v-shaped cross sections. Store in fridge and use within a week. Enjoy!
Spinach: This tasty and nutritious green may be muddy (visit www.eatwell.com/produce/spinach for more info) To clean, first rinse quickly to remove mud chunks. Then fill up a bowl with cold water. Remove leaves from stems & all yellow leaves. Put in water, swish, & let soak for 5-10 min. Lift leaves out of water, rinse & blot/spin dry. Use the discarded water for your houseplants! Store in plastic bag in fridge!
Stir-Fry Mix: Bright and beautiful! This is a mix of kales, collards, and chard. Chop and sauté in olive oil or butter for a lovely side-dish. Also tasty raw. Store in plastic bag in fridge and wash well before using.
Spring Onions OR Leeks: You may receive either leeks or spring onions this week. It is the end of a joyous season of the leeks, so these will be the last you see of them for months. The large alliums are rather mild in flavor and simply melt to perfection when sauteed. Use in soups, stir-fry, or in place of onions in other dishes for a delicious and more subtle flavor. The green tops are great for making stock! Store in fridge and wash very well before using. The scallions (or spring onions) are wonderful raw in salads and can be added to omelets, soups, curries, stir-fry, and
Sandwiches. They have hollow, round leaves and make sure to wash well and remove bottom quarter-inch before consuming. Enjoy!
Lemons: These juicy dreams add a great touch to many a dish and salad. They are also from Twin girls Farm near Fresno and are QAI certified organic. Store in fridge.
Pink Lady Apples: These apples are from Smit Orchards in Linden, CA and are certified organic. Keep in the fridge or on the counter (depending on what you like) and wash before consuming.
Carrots: Enjoy these sweet and crunchy certified organic treats from our friends at Terra Firma Farm in Winters. Store in plastic bag and wash well before eating.