Thursday, May 9, 2013

Tasty and Healthy - May 9, 2013

Welcome to this week's Tasty and Healthy newsletter. (Please note the new hours and venue below)

So who is this handsome devil? Since Joann is always the one photographing, Rolo gets his day in lights - smile.

In addition to this awesome harvest, just take a look at what is happening on the farm (a picture is worth a thousand words, right?)

Yellow Squash in the fields:

Yellow Squash on the plant:

Yellow squash ready for your evening meal:

Zucchini freshly harvested today:

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!

Brand New Fields being harvested!

Lovely, pesticide-free yellow summer squash - freshly harvested!

Wanna see more?

How about some beautiful pesticide-free Eight-ball Squash?

Eight-ball squash has a short harvest, so give this sweet little item a try. It is one my favorite vegetables grown on the farm. Stuff it, fry it, bake it. You can't go wrong with it. Tastes great, and has a wonderful texture.

Wanna see even MORE?

Tender, sweet pesticide-free zucchini! I'm so happy the pesticide-free squashes are coming in at the farm. No need to peel these squashes to remove the insecticide residue!

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

Peas and Beans

Currently planted on the farm, but not yet ready for harvest:

Our fields are planted with three varieties of beans in preparation for the Big U-Pick in late May - early June!

Green Beans

Yellow Wax Beans

Pole Beans

The Bean Harvest will be coming VERY SOON, depending on rainfall, so be ready -- an e-mail will go out as soon as the beans are ready. Notification will not necessarily be on a Thursday. More details to follow in a few weeks.

Black-eye Peas and Conk Peas will also soon be available, depending on rainfall and warm temperatures. If you would like unshelled Black-eyes or Conks please phone the farm to place a reservation. Joann will phone you as soon as your peas are harvested to ensure they are extremely fresh.

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

Scallop Squash
Yellow Zucchini
Okra
Green Beans
Pole Beans
Yellow Beans
Spinach - new crop
Black-eye Peas
Conk Peas
Pink-eye Peas
Red and White radishes - new crop
Beets - new crop

We Support Our Troops

Being Harvested on the Farm:

Pesticide-Free Kale
Pesticide-Free Red and White Swiss Chard (phone to reserve for satellite locations)
Pesticide-free Zucchini
Pesticide-free Eight-ball Zucchini
Pesticide-free Yellow Summer Squash

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

Florida Grape Tomatoes
Florida Roma Tomatoes

Green Tomatoes

Eggplant

Jalapeno Pepper
Florida Green and Red Bell Peppers

Red Cubanella Peppers

Poblano Peppers

Carrots

Sweet Potatoes

Baking Potatoes

Red Skin Potatoes

Gold Skin Potatoes

Spanish Sweet Onions

Scallions
White Onions

Red Radishes

Green Cabbage

Florida Bi-Color Sweet Corn

Cucumber

Pickle cucumbers

Zucchini
Butternut Squash

Yellow Squash

Florida Romaine

Lemons
Limes
Mangos

Bananas

Valencia Oranges - Beautiful!

Pineapple
Watermelon

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.

On June 8 The Food Truck Rally

will return to the Hernando County Farmers Market!

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!