CSA 2018 - Week #6

Happy Fourth of July, friends!  Please remember that deliveries will take place as usual for all members this week. 

Crop update: The fields are looking good!  Plants love the heat, so we expect a lot of growth this week.  We also expect to spend a good deal of our time irrigating.  We use special monitors in the soil which tell us how much water is being held at different depths.  We can tell how quickly the fields are drying out and when each crop needs to be watered.  This constant monitoring takes time, but it has really helped us fine tune our irrigation systems and improve the quality of our crops.  This is especially important with fruit-setting crops like zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes. Our irritation pumps are running constantly these days! 

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES...

Fennel -  I happen to love the flavor of fennel, but if you don't - don't despair.  It mellows when cooked.  Try it braised - recipe below.  
Storage: In airtight storage in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw or Cooked  When to use: Within 5 days.  

Zucchini - The very first picking of the season!  While I love zucchini all ways, I still prefer it simply prepared by steaming until tender and serving with butter and salt & pepper.  Also great grilled!
Storage: In airtight storage in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked  When to use: Within 5 days.  

Cucumbers - Also the first harvest of this crop! Crispy, juicy and sweet!
Storage: In airtight storage in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw  When to use: Within 5 days.  

Red Kale - We are loving icy kale smoothies in this heat!  Kale, frozen fruit, orange juice or coconut water!  
Storage: In airtight storage in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked or Raw  When to use: Within 5 days.  

Green Romaine Lettuce - Have you ever tried grilling lettuce?  This hearty Romaine is perfect for it.  Recipe below.  Also fabulous in a Caesar salad!  
Storage: In airtight storage in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked or Raw  When to use: Within 5 days.  

Kohlrabi - We love all the feedback on the kohlrabi!  So glad you love it!  Another week and then it won't be back until the fall.  
Storage: In airtight storage in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked or Raw  When to use: Within 5 days.  

Napa Cabbage - OR- Radicchio - ITEMS IN ROTATION -- You'll receive whichever item you didn't receive last week!  The Napa is great in summer salads, the radicchio is bitter, but mellows if you cook it.  Also great paired with a sharp cheese and balsamic dressing.  
Storage: In airtight storage in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked or Raw  When to use: Within 5 days.  

FOR SOME MEMBERS (In rotation, so if you don't receive it this week, it will be coming next week!) -- Specialty Bunching Broccoli - The floret AND the whole stem are edible and delicious.  Just cut off the very base of the stem and stem until tender.  This bunching broccoli is new to our farm crop list this year.  We saw it in the seed catalogues this winter and thought about the possibility of harvesting broccoli in the summer for our members!  We just couldn't not grow it.  The thing is, it has a funny way of growing that requires picking every few days.  New shoots form and mature off the center stalk and it keeps producing as long as we keep picking.  So it's in rotation this week.  Some groups will receive it and others will receive it in a future week. Tell us what you think!  
Storage: In airtight storage in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked or Raw  When to use: Within 5 days.  

RECIPES

Fennel with Olive Oil and Parmesan
Braised Fennel
Great Caesar Salad
Napa Cabbage Salad with Almonds
Stir Fried Napa Cabbage
Radicchio Salad with Manchego Vinaigrette
Kale with Goat Cheese and Toasted Crumbs

QUICK NO-RECIPE IDEAS
Kohlrabi slices with sea salt
Kale Smoothie
Sliced Cucumbers