If you frequent the farmers markets that we attend, you no doubt have noticed that our displays have been rapidly shrinking the past few weeks, and we're not exactly knocking anyone's socks off with either an abundance or variety of produce. Most other local farms are experiencing the same. With endless rain and drastically lower than normal temperatures, I'm starting to think of this as the Summer That Never Was. I've seen more than a few highly experienced farms call it quits and shut down, at least until early fall; I see news articles on an almost daily basis discussing the impacts of this record wet summer on agriculture across the state. We're going to hang in there, because I do believe our crops are finally starting to turn around, and because we're just stubborn that way. The recent rains and cooler weather have been fantastic for the fall seedlings, but not exactly fabulous tomato-ripening weather. It IS still only the middle of August, though, and no doubt we'll see some warmer sunnier days before it turns cooler for good.
I picked more cherry tomatoes this morning than we've seen in some time - still not stacks of flats of Sungolds, but a move in the right direction at last. The larger tomatoes are re-blooming prolifically and the vines are loading up again with green fruit. The sweet peppers have gone through a lull these past few weeks, but there are definitely a whole lot more big, beautiful green peppers on the plants, which means a whole lot more big, beautiful sweet peppers shortly. And tender, first-cut baby arugula this week! BLT's are awesome, but we love BAT (bacon, arugula, & tomato) sandwiches even more - if you've never tried one, you're missing out! Green beans, lettuce, tatsoi, radishes, and sweet potatoes coming soon!
In other news, Zely + Ritz closed their doors after nine years of business last week. We'll miss them! Chef Sarig was an avid supporter of many small local farms, and tirelessly promoted our little operation through his restaurant. CSA members who used to pick up at Zely can now pick up at the Pullen Place Cafe, in Raleigh's beautiful Pullen Park, just a mile and a half away. Please note that pick-up hours are slightly different here, from 3-7pm. Many thanks to Holly and her staff for working with us to arrange for a new pick-up location of such short notice!
I picked more cherry tomatoes this morning than we've seen in some time - still not stacks of flats of Sungolds, but a move in the right direction at last. The larger tomatoes are re-blooming prolifically and the vines are loading up again with green fruit. The sweet peppers have gone through a lull these past few weeks, but there are definitely a whole lot more big, beautiful green peppers on the plants, which means a whole lot more big, beautiful sweet peppers shortly. And tender, first-cut baby arugula this week! BLT's are awesome, but we love BAT (bacon, arugula, & tomato) sandwiches even more - if you've never tried one, you're missing out! Green beans, lettuce, tatsoi, radishes, and sweet potatoes coming soon!
In other news, Zely + Ritz closed their doors after nine years of business last week. We'll miss them! Chef Sarig was an avid supporter of many small local farms, and tirelessly promoted our little operation through his restaurant. CSA members who used to pick up at Zely can now pick up at the Pullen Place Cafe, in Raleigh's beautiful Pullen Park, just a mile and a half away. Please note that pick-up hours are slightly different here, from 3-7pm. Many thanks to Holly and her staff for working with us to arrange for a new pick-up location of such short notice!
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