Thursday, June 13, 2013

Tasty and Healthy - June 13, 2013

Welcome to this week's Tasty and Healthy newsletter. Our photo to the left is Gran'ma Angie helping with the sorting of black-eye peas.

It is amazing how quickly the grass grows when the rains appear. It holds true with the crops and weeds on Beasley Farm as well. But too much of a good thing can mean trouble. The fields are flooded, preventing tractor work and picking. It is like slugging through mud wearing suction cups. Therefore, our U-Pick season is over :-(

Our Traditional Southern Field Peas are specialties at the farm, and a favorite in the community. Please phone if you would like us to bring the fresh-frozen bags to our satellite locations.

1. Beasley Farm pesticide-free Traditional Southern Field Peas are harvested:

2. If no reservations have been made for unshelled peas, the next step is the sheller:

3. Peas are then hand sorted, removing unwanted pieces:

4. To retain freshness and maximum nutrition, they are immediately bagged and frozen.

5. Bagged, frozen peas are $8 for a 2lb bag of pesticide-free peas.

Southern Field Peas - Conk Peas

Please phone your reservations to the farm if you would like unshelled Conk Peas. These are Pesticide-free. Unreserved peas will be immediately shelled and fresh frozen to preserve their flavor and nutrition.

Southern Field Peas - Black Eye Peas

have been shelled and fresh-frozen

please call to reserve if you would like Joann or Rolo to take these freshly-shelled peas to a satellite location.

For TEN WAYS to use Kale, click here.

SPECIAL on KALE - for juicers or freezers - $10 per case, please phone the farm to reserve. Not bunched, straight from the field.

We are enjoying the Beasley Farm Kale primarily in sandwiches and salads, though it is fabulous for juicing, freezing, in soups, stews and as a side dish. It is pesticide-free.

Community Supported Agriculture

CSAs are weekly produce "basket" programs, where a variety of vegetables and produce become available in predetermined "baskets" each week to a group of individuals who have planned ahead of time to purchase the baskets. If this appeals to you, or you'd be interested in more information, will you please advise Joann on Saturday or by phoning 352-232-3381. Thank you!

Because Kale is extremely perishable, we ask our customers to special order if picking up at a satellite location. At the farm, we keep them in children's swimming pools of water.

Also planted on the farm, but not ready for harvest are:

Okra
Conk Peas
Zipper Peas
Red and White radishes - (new crop)

Being Harvested on the Farm:

Pesticide-Free Kale
Pesticide-free Zucchini
Pesticide-free Eight-ball Zucchini
Pesticide-free Yellow Zucchini
Pesticide-free Yellow Summer Squash
Pesticide-free Scallop Squash
Pesticide-free fat pickle (cucumbers)

As always, please feel free to phone the farm for special requests or special orders. We'll do everything we can to accommodate you. If you need something from the Farmers Market in Plant City, it is best to phone by Wednesday afternoon.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services visits to our farm regularly to test our soil and plants. For more information about our farming techniques,

and the testing we undergo, please click here.

Thank You for recycling your shopping bags with us.

Please keep them coming!

This Week From the Farmers Market:

Mushrooms

Florida Tomatoes

Eggplant

Jalapeno Pepper

Florida Green and Red Bell Peppers

Green Cubanella Peppers
Poblano Peppers

Carrots

Sweet Potatoes

Baking Potatoes

Red Skin Potatoes

White Potatoes

Spanish Sweet Onions

Scallions

Purple Onions

Red Radishes

Green Cabbage

Florida Bi-Color Sweet Corn

Cucumber

Florida Romaine

Lemons

Limes

Pineapple

Bananas

Valencia Oranges

Cantaloup

A fun meal idea from Susan's Daily Dose:

As of February 1, 2013, we are no longer accepting checks unless prior arrangements have been made. "Bad Checks" have become a burdensome business expense.

We appreciate your understanding.

Attention Tarpon Springs visitors -

We are very sad to temporarily suspend our produce stand on Sundays.

We will advise when the stand reopens.

Thank you for understanding.

Everyday - until 6PM Gran'ma Angie, Nana Phyllis, Joann and Rolo will man the Produce Barn.

1st and 3rd Monday - 9AM - Noon We are now serving our north Brooksville customers in the Cloverleaf Farm Mobile Home Park - just off Hwy 41, across from the Hernando County School Compound and south of Croom Road in North Brooksville. Turn into Cloverleaf Farm's main entrance, on the right side by the golf driving range.

Friday - 7:30AM - 5PM Rolo will be at our Spring Hill Drive location next to the Chevron location. Be sure to phone the farm for any special orders!

Saturday - 10AM-3PM Joann and Rolo will be at the Hernando County Farmers Market on Hwy 19 with 40 other vendors! Enjoy live entertainment, wonderful food, browse, shop, and visit with your neighbors - it's an all 'round enjoyable time. You'll also be supporting local businesses by visiting their booths. Be sure to phone the farm for any special orders!