What’s Fresh News Janaury 15
Farm News
We have local mixed bean sprouts from Adam on Salt Spring Island this week. They are great to snack on or add to a salad or stir fry. We plan to offer Adam’s pea shoots – a favourite- every week as winter greens are hard to find and these are particularly nutritious. If you do not find them in your box you will be able to sub them in for another product. Eat them raw in sandwiches and salads! Local kiwi are in the boxes this week. They are from an orchard in central Saanich that has not been tended for many years. As the owners could not look after the crop, Brian and the folks at the Village Family Market took on the task of testing the fruit for sugar content, picking and ripening the fruit. We are supporting the process of trying to save this orchard by purchasing the fruit. Here at Share Organics we do this on occasion in the interest of general food security. We also make it known that we will continue to buy and support a product if it is naturally grown according to BC certified organic standard and encourage the grower to officially certify as this is the consumer’s guarantee of a pure product. We also have the California certified organic kiwi available.
Local beets are our third Vancouver Island product this week from Kingcott farm in Ladysmith. Farmer Joe had hoped to dig into the Chioggia (striped) beets this week but unfortunately they succumbed to the frost so he has sent the last of the red beets. This type of frost damage was unexpected as the frost was not really deep enough to harm the beets. Joe’s best guess is that the frost came in cold and fast and uprooted the beets leaving them vulnerable to damage. In farming there always seems to be unexpected weather incidents. Thank goodness farmers are perennial optimists!!
Tomato Tip!
Last fall I had some extra tomatoes and froze them whole on a tray. This winter I have been adding them frozen to recipes that call for one or two fresh ones. Could anything be simpler?
BC organic greenhouses are shut down for a month or two so no BC tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers for awhile. Most of these products are now coming from Mexico. We will offer single tomatoes most weeks as a sub. We have found the cherry tomatoes and roma hold and taste the best so may offer these in the box on occasion. We encourage you to use grated beets and red cabbage to liven up salads. Nuts, seeds and dried fruits are also great addition to greens. Peppers travel well but cucumbers are less reliable at this time of year and we do not offer them unless we hear about a batch with exceptional quality.
Cauliflower Cumin Soup
Steam together until just tender:
2 cups coarsely chopped cauliflower
1 cup carrot rounds
Sauté for a few minutes:
2 Tbsp. butter:
1 medium onion chopped
Add and continue sautéing for another minute:
2 tsp. Cumin seeds (whole… ground is ok)
Transfer all ingredients to a blender including the vegetable water, and puree until smooth. Return to pot and heat gently with:
1 to 2 cups of vegetable stock
Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley or minced scallions.
Serve with a Cheese and Garlic Baguette from Wild Fire Bakery!
