WELCOME TO RUTIZ FARMS
HAPPENINGS ON FARM:
Our stand is now on Spring Hours:
Open Tuesday and Fridays---noon to 6 pm
Saturdays---10 am to 4 pm.
Be sure to come by the stand this Friday and Saturday for your Easter shopping...we should have plenty of strawberries and flower bouquets for Sunday's dinner table.
Heather Teixeira will have their local beef cuts available for sale at the stand this Friday.
We have plenty of fresh chicken eggs from our own "happy" cage free hens...just in case you need to supplement the Easter Bunny's supply!
NEW ITEMS AT THE STAND
Goat cheese from Drake Family Goat Farm in Ontario, California. We have the "Chevre" type, packed in a resealable container....4 flavors: plain, herb, garlic and apricot/ honey. Very tasty!
What's in the box this week:
Artichokes are back in the box! My biggest suggestion is that you NOT use your microwave when steaming your artichokes. I highly recommend the "old fashioned" way and use a steamer on the stove top with lots of water. I feel it makes for a good, moist artichoke, cook until tender. Make sure a knife goes into the heart very easily and the outer leaves should pull off very easily. If you under cook them, they will be tough and inedible...but with the right amount of cooking, the artichokes should be delicious.
This week's peas are the English "shelling" type. These are the kind that you must open up the pods and take out the peas...don't try to eat the outside pods...they are tough and stringy...but the peas on the inside are sweet and tender.
Give the kids the job of shelling the peas...they will appreciate eating the peas after they put all the work into them.
The "Sungold" cherry tomatoes in this week's boxes are being grown by Debbie Chamberlain in the Salton Sea area ( the desert near Palm Springs ). They are outdoor grown, picked fully ripe for great "summertime-like" flavor and pesticide free.
This week's avocados are the Bacon or Zutano varieties grown by David Righetti of San Luis Obispo. Let them sit out on your kitchen counter ( or put them in a paper sack with a ripe banana or apple to quicken the ripening process ) until they are soft, but not overly squishy!
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).
Sweet potatoes from Rocky Canyon Farm in Atascadero...certified organic
Juices from Chadmark Farms of Paso Robles...apple and pomegranate cider . All of his juices are "flashed pasteurized" for best flavor and nutrient retention.
Almond Brittle from Paso Almonds of SLO...freshly made each week by Rusty and his crew.
Persian Cucumbers from Ocean Breeze Greenhouse Farm in
Nipomo.
Dates from the Flying Disc Ranch in Cochella Valley, pesticide free
Blueberries from Gary Teixeira of Santa Maria..pesticide free.
Oranges and
Mandarins from Bob Polito of Valley Center, California.
"Artisan" breads from "Little Red Hen" Bakery every Tuesday and Friday
Vine ripened tomatoes from Debbie Chamberlain growing near the Salton Sea --- pesticide free.
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 and honey from Rock Front Ranch