Rutiz Family Farms
Newsletter

     Welcome to Rutiz Farms
HAPPENINGS ON THE FARM 
. Stand
We will continue to have our strawberry field open for u-pick on Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesdays during regular stand hours.  The price for the u-pick berries is $2.50/ pound  ( one pound is about one small green pint basket...our already picked price at the stand is $3/ basket ).  Bring the family out for a fun time picking our delicious strawberries. Bring your own containers or use our baskets to pick into.  

   

 WHAT'S  IN THE BOX THIS WEEK

What to do with this bunch of basil that's in the box this week....see below under our recipe section for a simple pesto recipe. 

  The "fingerling" potatoes are great for steaming or roasting whole...my favorite is:
--scrub the dirt off the skin---no need to peel the potatoes ( the skins have much of the vitamins of the potato)
--place in a bowl and sprinkle with olive oil and seasonings 
--place on a cookie sheet or roasting pan, single layer
--roast in the oven at 425 degrees for about 35 minutes or until  the insides are soft.

  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: 

Kelli ( aka Sweet Pea) has her tasty baked cookies and cakes at the stand each Friday ...(you can reach her direct at Sweetpeabakeryag.blogspot.com).
Almond Brittle from Paso Almonds of SLO...freshly made each week by Rusty and his crew. 

Mandarin oranges from Bob Polito of Valley Center, San Diego County.
Tree Fruit from Mike Cirone in See Canyon
Avocados from David Righetti of San Luis Obispo

Blueberries from Gary Teixeria of Santa Maria 

"Artisan" breads from the Eclair Bakery of The Village of Arroyo Grande...every Friday
Vegetable and herb starts from The Transitions Mental Health Growing Grounds of Santa Maria...pesticide free!

Fish CSA with pick ups at our stand each Friday..call Margie at 481-5827 or email her at slofreshcatch@gmail.com

David's Blue Ribbon Honey from  Arroyo Grande

Sunflower "sprouts" from Carl and Ruth...one of our neighbors at the farm.
 

 

 


Available at the Standstrawberry
Here are the items that we should have on the "table" for this Friday along with the prices so you may plan your meals and your budget.
Green beans--$2.50/ pound
"Jerry's" strawberries--$3/ basket or $30/ flat 
"Sierra Gold" potatoes--$1.50/ pound
"rainbow" colored chard--$2 / bunch
"calvo nero" kale---$2 / bunch
broccoli--$2.50/ pound
Italian "sprouting" baby broccoli--$4 / pound
cauliflower--$2/ pound for white, $3/ pound for the green or orange color
carrots--$2 / bunch
"Persian" cucumbers--$2/ pound
beets--$2/ bunch, red or orange
leeks--$2/ bunch
baby mixed salad greens--$2/ bag of about 1/2 pound
baby spinach--$2/ bag of about 1/2 pound
fennel bulb--$1 each
Italian flat-leaf parsley, mint, cilantro, rosemary,  arugula, -$1/ bunch
Basil--$1/ bunch
sunflower sprouts--$3 per 1/4 pound
Mandarin oranges--$2.50/ pound
apricots--$2.50/ pound
Valencia oranges--$1/ pound
Blueberries--$4/ basket
 avocados--$1  each
 honey: 1 pound--$10 / jar          
        ( all honey products from David's Blue Ribbon Honey, Arroyo Grande)
eggs from our "free range" happy chickens--$5/ dozen
fresh flower bouquets---$5 to $9 / bunch
                         

Harvest Box Info
You are welcome to come by and pick out individual items from the table or continue to pick up your reserved Harvest box or both( add items that may not be included in your Box that week)..The Harvest Boxes, which cost $15 / week , will be available for pick up during the Stand hours on Fridays only. I would ask you to kindly let me know by Thursday evening of each week, with a E mail response( use the link in the right hand column of this newsletter where it says  Order Your Harvest Box)  if you want a Box for the week.    Please take note:  this ordering link is only usable for the current week's newsletter....After Friday morning of each week, the ordering link becomes unusable!

  
RECIPES


Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe

Ingredients
  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
  • 3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Special equipment needed: A food processor  

Method

1 Combine the basil in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using walnuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.

2 Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Serve with pasta, or over baked potatoes, or spread over toasted baguette slices.

Yield: Makes 1 cup.


 
EASY TIPS FOR PERFECT ROASTED VEGETABLES

adapted from The Santa Monica Farmer's Cookbook by Amelia Saltsman

  

 Roasting vegetables concentrates their flavors, develops and caramelizes natural sugars, and gives them that appetizing crisped look.  Best of all, the same technique works for just about any vegetable you've got on hand, any time of the year.  Follow these simple steps for great results.

 Keep vegetables or vegetables pieces a uniform size for even cooking.

 Toss cleaned, trimmed vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil, kosher or sea salt, and freshly ground pepper.  For convenience, do this directly in the pan.

 Always preheat the oven.

  Roast dense vegetables, such as beets or potatoes, at 400 degrees, quick-cooking ones, such as asparagus or tomatoes, at 425 to 450 degrees.

 Don't crowd the pan, or your vegetables will steam rather than brown.  Large baking sheets and heatproof-glass dishes are ideal for roasting.

 Roast vegetables uncovered in the upper third of the oven for better browning.

 Halfway through the cooking time, remove the pan from the oven and give it a shake or use a spatula to loosen and turn the vegetables.

When the vegetables are browned and tender, season again with your favorite seasonings...salt, pepper, garlic powder.
If serving the vegetables at room temperature, allow them to cool before piling them onto a serving dish( so they won't steam themselves and get soft).

 



Week of July 6, 2012


In This Issue
Available at the Stand
Harvest Box Info
Recipes

Order Your Harvest Box  
     Click Here
Harvest Box  
Produce in the Harvest Box this week:
 
broccoli 
 
cauliflower  
 
"Blue Lake" green beans 
 
carrots 
 
"Persian" cucumbers 
 
a bunch of basil 
 
fingerling potatoes 
 
onions 
 
"See Canyon" apricots

1 basket of our strawberries


 
PLEASE bring back the empty boxes each week.
Stand Hours 

Tuesdays and Fridays.. 1 to 6 pm
Saturdays..10am to 3pm

FARM STAND LOCATION:
1075 "The Pike" in Arroyo Grande.
We are located on the south side of The Pike, between Halcyon Road and Elm Street. Visit our web site at www.Rutizfarms.com for a map to the farm.

Our mailing address is:
Rutiz Farms
333 Miller Way
Arroyo Grande,  Ca 93420


 
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Thank you for choosing to support our farm and local, pesticide free, sustainable agriculture.

Jerry Rutiz
Rutiz Family Farms