Rutiz Family Farms
Newsletter

WELCOME TO RUTIZ FARMS

SPRING HOURS AT THE STAND....We are open noon to 6pm every Tuesday and Friday. Saturdays from 10AM til 4PM.

Deadline for ordering SLO pick-up is MONDAY, MARCH 31!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GET YOUR ORDER IN BEFORE THEN.

FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN USING OUR PICK UP LOCATIONS IN THE SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY AREA ( ignore this info if you come to our stand in Arroyo Grande to pick up your box)

RUTIZ FARMS HARVEST BOX DELIVERIES FOR THE SLO CITY AREA FOR THE SPRING OF 2014
We will start deliveries on Thursday, April 3 and continue for each Thursday, ending May 29 .
The price is $162 for the 9 weeks of boxes.
Each week's boxes will be available for pick up after 2pm on Thursday at your pick up location. Please bring back the "collapsed" box from the previous week and leave it at your pick up location as you pick up your new Harvest Box...or you are welcome to transfer each week's produce into your own reusable bag and thus leave the box behind.
OUR PICK UP LOCATIONS: If you would like to pick up your box at The Equilibrium Fitness Center in the Marigold Shopping Center. or at Kristin Bridgeford's House ( 301 Broad St, at the intersection of Broad and Center St, 3 blocks west of the freeway)..here's the info:
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.
We will also be delivering at the Fidelity Office...check with Deena for sign up info.
To reserve your subscription please email me at info@RutizFarms.com and let me know of your intentions and which location you would like to pick up your box and send a check made out to Jerry Rutiz (for $162) to:
Jerry Rutiz
333 Miller Way
Arroyo Grande, Ca 93420

Please note: I must have a final box count no later than the evening of March 31 .

We also plan to use the following schools as pick up locations for SCHOOL FAMILIES ONLY: 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 info. Only those families associated with the individual schools may use these locations.

This week I would like to highlight SUGAR SNAP PEAS! We have all (I know it's an assumption) eaten them for years but start doing some searches on line for some new ideas. I cut them up into our salads, stir fry, roast and saute them on a regular basis. The new Sunset for April has some great recipes: "Salmon with Snap Peas, Bacon and Mint", "Shrimp, Snap Pea, and Chervil Salad" and "Spring Chicken and Snap Pea Soup". Since we have fantastic asparagus available at the stand I also noticed a recipe for "Asparagus Fried Rice", can't wait to try that, along with the Salmon recipe.

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT OUR STAND FROM OTHER FARMERS AND BUSINESSES:
Blueberries from Gary Teixeira in Santa Maria

Pomegranate juice and sweet potatoes from Rocky Canyon Farm in Atascadero

Almond Brittle from Paso Almonds of SLO...freshly made each week by Rusty and his crew.

Vine-ripened tomatoes from Debbie Chamberlain from the Salton Sea area of southern California.

Persian Cucumbers from Ocean Breeze Greenhouse Farm in

Nipomo.

Goat Cheese from Steve of Happy Acres Farm in Templeton.

Oranges, lemons and mandarins from Bob Polito of Valley Center, California.

Sweet Pea Bakery is at the farm every Friday, a little something to take care of your sweet tooth!
"Artisan" breads from the Eclair Bakery of The Village of Arroyo Grande every Friday and The Little Red Hen Bakery every Tuesday.

Vegetable and herb starts from The Transitions Mental Health Growing Grounds of Santa Maria...pesticide free! This week we will have tomato plants available if you would like some in your own backyard.

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."

Honey from Alisha of Rock Front Ranch near Cuyama Valley.

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

"At Rutiz Farms, our goal is to provide the highest quality fresh produce while using sustainable farming practices, including legume green manure cover cropping, organic fertilizers, no pesticides and no GMO crops." Our goal is simple...to bring to our customers ( and their families ).. fresh, nutritious, and safe food at a reasonable price and good value.

Available at the Stand strawberry

Here are the items that we should have on the "table" for this Friday:
strawberries--$3/ basket
sugar snap peas and English Shelling peas--$4/ pound

"Sierra Gold" potatoes--$1.50/ pound
green "spring" garlic--$2/ bunch
"rainbow" colored chard--$2 / bunch
"calvo nero" kale---$2 / bunch
Italian "sprouting" baby broccoli--$4 / pound
"bloomsdale" baby spinach--$2/ bag

broccoli--$2.50/ pound
carrots--$2 / bunch
beets--$2/ bunch
fava beans--$2/ pound
parsnip--$2/ pound
leeks--$2/ bunch
onions-$1.50/lb
baby mixed salad greens--$2/ bag of about 1/2 pound green ( spring ) garlic--$2/ bunch

cucumbers--$2/lb

fennel bulb--$1 each

fresh herbs--$1/ bunch...Italian flat-leaf parsley, cilantro, rosemary, arugula, chives, thyme, oregano, sage, dill
Mandarin oranges--$2.50/ pound
blueberries--$4/ basket
Navel oranges--$1/ pound
Honey: $13 for a 1 pound jar, Rock Front Ranch
Eggs-Free Range $6/doz
Flowers: tulips--$6 for 10 stem 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

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 Mar 28, 2014

In This Issue

Available at the Stand

Harvest Box Info

Order Your Harvest Box

Click Here

Produce in the Harvest Box this week:
Mandarin Oranges
Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes from
Wong Farms

Sugar Snap Peas

Spring Onions
Fennel
Sierra Gold Potatoes

"Persian" cucumbers

Baby Broccoli

Salad Mix

Carrots

PLEASE bring back the empty boxes each week.

Stand Hours
OPEN RAIN/SHINE

Tuesdays and Fridays

noon to 6pm

SATURDAYS: 10-4

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

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

Jerry & Maureen

Rutiz Family Farms