Welcome to Rutiz Farms
WHAT'S IN THE BOX THIS WEEK
This week's blueberries come from the Gary Teixeria Farm, located just south of Santa Maria. They are pesticide free and picked every Thursday...so they are much fresher than the blueberries that you see in the stores this time of the year ( coming from South America...they have been on the boat for 2 weeks before they even get to the stores). The blueberries are much sweeter this week than they were a few weeks back..now that we have more sunshine and less freezing weather.
The sweet dumpling squash are easy to cook and delicious to eat. Cut the squash in half using a sharp knife, remove the stem, scoop out the seeds and strings from the center. Use a fork to poke a few small holes in the outer skin, place cut side down in a roasting pan (add a little water to the pan to help the squash steam and to keep the pan from burning) roast at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the squash are soft. Remove from pan and add a little butter, honey or sugar if you wish, scoop out the squash from the outer skin.
This week's green garlic...this is a true garlic plant, just harvested early, before it makes a bulb and dries out.
They are the size of a large scallion and have a sweet and mild garlic flavor. Use them the same as a onion scallion or regular garlic...raw cut up and added to salad, sauteed in a stir-fry with carrots, broccoli, Brussel Sprouts or potatoes... or coat them with a little olive oil and roast them on a bar-b-que or under a broiler. Use the bottom 3 to 4 inches, but not the leaves as they can be a bit tough.
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.
An easy way to get even Brussel Sprouts skeptics to enjoy these little "mini cabbages". Clean and cut the sprouts in half, toss with olive oil and seasonings, arrange single layer on a cookie sheet, roast in the oven at 400 degrees until nearly tender, then add some bread crumbs and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on the sprouts, cook until everything is crispy brown...delicious!
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).
Juices from Chadmark Farms of Paso Robles...apple, berry cider, pomegranate cider and 100% pomegranate juice..."flashed pasteurized" for best flavor and nutrient retention. Almond Brittle from Paso Almonds of SLO...freshly made each week by Rusty and his crew.
Oranges and Mandarins from Bob Polito from San Diego County Blueberries from Gary Teixeria of Santa Maria Kiwis from Mallard Lake Farm in Nipomo. "Artisan" breads from the Eclair Bakery of The Village of Arroyo Grande every Friday; and from "Little Red Hen" Bakery every Tuesday.
Vegetable and herb starts from The Transitions Mental Health Growing Grounds of Santa Maria...pesticide free!
Fresh fish and canned albacore for sale every Friday. 100% wild caught by San Luis Obispo County commercial fishermen. Or join the Fish CSA and get weekly deliveries; contact Margie at slofreshcatch@gmail.com or 481-5827." David's Blue Ribbon Honey from Arroyo Grande Sunflower "sprouts" from Carl and Ruth...one of our neighbors at the farm.
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Available at the Stand 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. Brussels sprouts--$2.50/ pound Celery root--$1.50 each "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 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 Winter squashes---kabocha, butternut, spaghetti---$1/ pound sweet dumpling---$1.50/ pound Italian flat-leaf parsley, cilantro, rosemary, arugula, -$1/ bunch sunflower sprouts--$3 per 1/4 pound Mandarin oranges---$2.50/ pound Kiwi---5 for $2 avocados--$1 each
honey: 1 pound--$10 / jar "creamed" flavored honey--$10/ jar, red raspberry and lemon "honey with comb"---$16/ jar Spicy Asian Honey BBQ Glaze--$10/ bottle ( 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
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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!
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RECIPES
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).
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Order Your Harvest Box
Produce in the Harvest Box this week:
"Persian" cucumbers
Spring "green" garlic
Sweet Dumpling squash
broccoli
Sierra Gold potatoes
a bag of salad mix
Brussels Sprout
Kiwis
Blueberries
PLEASE bring back the empty boxes each week.
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| Stand Hours
Tuesdays and Fridays.. Noon to 5 pm
Saturdays..closed for the winter
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 Our E-mail address is:
info@Rutizfarms.com
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