We had an intense and thankfully short heat wave last weekend -- 105 on Friday and 107 on Saturday -- that really kicked some of our early summer crops into gear.  The weather settling back into a normal June pattern, we have a more pleasant atmosphere to get them harvested and into your boxes.

The red mini Watermelons in your boxes are the earliest we've ever had -- we actually started our harvest on Friday, June 7th.  Like all the watermelons we grow, these have seeds.  They also have a thin rind and fit easily in your fridge.

Sweet Corn season starts today!  We grow only bi-color varieties that have plenty of sweetness balanced by a good "corn flavor".

Lastly, Cucumbers are also getting an early start this year.  It's not a bumper crop yet, but there enough Painted Serpents out there this week to send one in every Medium box (Large boxes got them last week) and Small boxes should see them next week.

Painted Serpents are a type of Armenian cucumber with very few seeds, and a mild flavor.  While they do have a slightly fuzzy skin, it is tender and completely edible.  The serpents are not as firm as regular cucumbers; they may seem slightly rubbery.  This does not affect the texture, which is always crisp.

We grow these unusual cucumbers exclusively, for several reasons.  First and foremost -- they are extremely resistant to damage by Spotted Cucumber beetles, which are present in high numbers on our farm.  Regular (European) cucumbers, on the other hand, are extremely susceptible to damage from the beetles that renders large numbers of them unusable.  They regularly kill entire plants, and several times, have destroyed entire fields.

But we also think they are a wonderful vegetable.  Because the Serpents are technically a type of melon, they are well adapted to our hot and dry climate.  European cucumbers, on the other hand, turn bitter during hot weather.  After twenty years of farming, we have decided only to grow the Serpents.  We apologize to anyone who doesn't like them.

Apricot season is over, we hope you enjoyed it.  Peaches and Nectarines will dominate the tree fruit department of your boxes for the next two months.  This week's selection may include either yellow-fleshed nectarines or white-fleshed Donut peaches.  We will also have some figs later in the summer, and grape season will begin in August.

Valencia Oranges ripen here in June.  We have just a small crop this year due to cold weather in January.  These are sweet and tasty, but are generally tough to peel and have seeds:  that is why they are normally used for juicing.

Recipe:  Thai Style Corn and Cucumber Salad
You can make this salad with raw corn instead of toasting it.  You can also use summer squash instead of the cucumber.

Dice 2 large tomatoes.  Put the tomatoes and their juices in a bowl and sprinkle with salt.

Slice onion paper thin to make 1/2 C.  Place in a bowl and toss with the juice of 1 lime and 1 t. Thai fish sauce.  Sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Cut the kernels off 2 ears of corn.  Heat a cast iron skillet, add 1/2 t. canola oil, and cook the corn until it is lightly browned.

Boil water and salt it lightly.  Trim 1/2 lb. of green beans and cut into 2 inch pieces.  Drop into the water and cook for 2-3 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water.  Allow to dry.

Thinly slice 1 Painted Serpent cucumber on an angle.  Try to make the slices as long as possible.  Cut the slices in half widthwise.

Toss all the vegetables with the tomatoes.  Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes, tossing again.

Toast 1/2 C. or more of peanuts. Chop fresh cilantro, basil or mint to make 1 C.  Just before serving, toss both with the salad.  Taste and add more fish sauce or lime juice to taste.