Welcome to Rutiz Farms
HAPPENINGS ON THE FARM  . 

The stand is now open on Saturdays...10am to 3pm.

I wish I could have better news about our strawberries for this week...too much rain and frosts ( yes, we did get a light frost on Monday morning...a bit unusual for April)...make for not much in the way of berries to pick for this week.  The plants are still looking healthy, so hopefully once the rains and cold temperatures are behind us, we should once again have some great strawberries.  In the meanwhile, the blueberries that we are getting from Gary Teixeira (grown on his farm south of Santa Maria) are tasting great.

For those of you who are thinking about planting their own garden, we now have plenty of tomato plants in 4 inch pots from The Growing Grounds Farm in Santa Maria.  We have old standard heirloom varieties and the newest hybrids.  Be sure to check out the "tomato variety info chart" that is posted on the wall next to the potted plant section.  You can read all about the various varieties of tomatoes that we have for sale and see a color picture of how the tomato will look when ripe.

We are now taking sign up for those of you who are interested to receive our weekly Harvest Box delivered to pick up locations in the SLO city area.  

If you would like to pick up your box at The Equilibrium Fitness Center in the Marigold Shopping Center...here's the info:
We will start deliveries on Thursday, April 19 and continue for each Thursday, ending June 7.
The cost for the 8 weeks of produce boxes will be $144 ( $18 per week).
You do not have to be a member of The Equilibrium Fitness Center to pick up your box at this location...they welcome anyone to come in.
To reserve your subscription please email me at info@RutizFarms.com and let me know of your intentions  and send a check made out to Rutiz Farms (for $144) to:

Rutiz Farms
333 Miller Way
Arroyo Grande,  Ca 93420
 To ensure that you will receive your box on the starting date, please make sure I receive your payment by April 16.

For those of you who are families or staff at the Montessori Children's School, UMCC,  Bishops Peak School and Pacheco School. If you are interested in picking up a weekly box at these locations, please check with your school's Harvest Box coordinator for sign up details.  Only those families associated with the individual schools may use these locations.

 WHAT'S  IN THE BOX THIS WEEK     This week's peas are the English "shelling" type.  These are not the edible pod type ( snap pea)...so you need to shell out the peas.  If you have kids around the house, put them to work doing the shelling...they will actually have fun and learn that raw peas are very tasty when fresh!
.The tomatoes come from the Southern California desert area near the Salton Sea. Debbie Chamberlain and her family grow these tomatoes "outside" ( not in greenhouses ), and pick them fully ripe for summertime like flavor. They are pesticide free ( except for a little sulfur dust which is permitted under Organic regulations).  I pick up the tomatoes from her each Wednesday at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market.
  The artichokes are large size...good for one or two people ( if you cut them in half).. lots of "meat" on the leaves and a big "heart".  Just be sure to steam them enough ( put them in a large sauce pan with a steamer screen and 2 inches of water )...steam maybe an half hour or so...until the outer leaves pull off very easily.  If you say your artichoke was tough and difficult to eat...it is because you under cooked it!   

  The  baby broccoli is an old fashion variety of broccoli that forms many small side shoots instead of one large main head ( like the broccoli in the supermarkets that may have a big, woody stem and sometimes bitter tasting ).  The stems on the sprouting broccoli are small and thin, with a sweet flavor throughout.  No need to cut off any portion, use the whole stalk and head in your saute or stir fry.

Sugar snap peas...sweet and crunchy!  These are the "edible" pod peas...so you eat the whole pod, no need to shell them.  Great to use in a saute or stir-fry or raw with your favorite dip.   

 The "Persian" cucumbers come from Ocean Breeze Farms in Nipomo.  They are grown using pesticide- free farming practices.  . The "Persian" cucumber is unique among cucumbers in that it has a thin skin that doesn't require peeling and has no bitter aftertaste.

      PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT OUR STAND FROM OTHER FARMERS AND BUSINESSES:
Almond Brittle from Paso Almonds of SLO...freshly made each week by Rusty and his crew. 

Tree fruit  from  Polito Family Farms of San Diego County
Avocados from Mallard Lake Farms of Nipomo

Blueberries from Gary Teixeria of Santa Maria 

Ciders and Juices "flash pasteurized" from Chadmark Farms of Paso Robles....pesticide free!..

David's Blue Ribbon Honey...regular honey, honey with comb and lemon and raspberry flavored creamed honey.