Welcome to Week 1 of Summer Share 2016!

We're so excited that it's finally summer, and what a beautiful week to kick things off! A few weeks ago, when we were trapped in the middle of all that rain, we were worried about our strawberries. But after these long, hot days we've had an excellent harvest. However, that brings us to one of the most important points we want to highlight in this newsletter:

Just like the weather (and usually because of it), bag contents are subject to change throughout the course of the week!

From Trevor's walks through the broccoli and strawberries patches on our farms, it's looking good so far, but there may be substitutions if we get a rager of a storm later this week. As always, we'll keep you posted at the stops and on Facebook if there are any changes.

There's a lot to cover in this first newsletter, but first and foremost we'd like to welcome you (or welcome you back!) to our program. Fresh Fork Market connects the bounty of local farms to the communities in the Great Cleveland area. We take great care in choosing which farmers we work with-- mostly small, Amish family-run farms that practice traditional and organic farming methods-- and we work really hard to bring you the freshest, best-tasting food available. Thank you for supporting local agriculture and keeping our farmlands clean and prospering for the generations to come!

Now to the fun stuff: what's in the bag?? This week we're featuring in the Omnivore Shares a big, juicy, pasture-raised chicken. Our whole chickens are raised entirely outdoors their whole lives-- foraging on fresh pasture and getting all the benefits and exercise of outdoor living. There's a big difference between pasture-raised (ours) and free-range (not ours), even if they're both organic: click here to read more.

The Vegetarian and Vegan Shares will get some custom-made Ramp Linguine from Ohio City Pasta as well as a bunch of fresh, early summer produce (rhubarb, broccoli, asparagus) to replace the chicken. At the bottom of this newsletter, you'll find the full list of bag contents as well as a PDF to print and bring with you to the stop.

We're really excited to offer everyone a slightly more unique and very versatile ingredient: spelt berries. Spelt is a grain (like wheat and oats) that is high in protein and grows well organically and locally. It does have gluten, but also contains a higher amount of protein, fiber and other nutrients than regular wheat. It has a delicious, nutty flavor and can be used as the base for many delicious meals- breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Just remember to store spelt berries in the fridge or freezer rather than the pantry. We do not chemically treat our grains to extend their shelf-life, so they are best kept cold till ready to use.

Organic strawberries grown at Wholesome Valley Farm. One quart not enough? Head down to the farm to pick your own! $3.75 per quart. 10 or more quarts for $3.25 each. Quantities are limited. Call 330-359-2129 first to make sure they haven't been picked over. Monday-Saturday, 9am-4pm.

Reminders

You don't need to arrive at the beginning of the stop. 

Especially during the first few weeks, we tend to get a rush at the beginning and end of each stop's scheduled time. Don't worry, we have enough food on the truck for everyone and we will be there until the last scheduled minute of the stop!

Please come at whatever time is most convenient for you, but if your timing is flexible, that would ideally be in the middle of the stop's scheduled time.

Not all weeks are created equal, but they will even out over the Summer. 

Some bags will be bigger or smaller than others over the course of the 22 week share: when the weather really heats up and the produce gets rolling, we have to take it as we can and each week's bag might vary in size and value.

Also a good reminder that every week's bag is different based on what's just been harvested!

Monthly Payment for June is due. 

For those of you on our Monthly Payment Plan (or who just signed up and need to pay your full upfront subscription cost) you'll be receiving an email letting you know about your payment.

As a reminder, if you're on the monthly payment plan you made an initial payment to sign up, and then you'll have regular payments due at on the first of each month for the rest of the share (6 payments total.)

There will be instructions on making a payment in that email, but you can pay online using a credit card or bring cash/check to your stop this week.

If you already mailed in a check, give us a couple of days to process it and check your account again soon.

Place a Special Order for extras! 

The quickest way to order your extras is by placing a Special Order, which need to be placed AND paid for in full by Tuesday (today!) at midnight to be on the routes. Click here for our guide on how to place an order online.

Of course, we will have tons of extras for sale at the trucks, too, so don't worry if you haven't made up your mind yet.

If you miss your stop, head to another one. 

It happens-- traffic, after school pick ups, falling asleep in the hammock-- we get it. If you miss your stop, check out our full list of 2016 Summer Pick Up Locations, and head to another one. You don't need to let us know (unless you placed a Special Order, which will go to your assigned stop)-- we always pack extras on each route to accommodate members who need to grab their bag at another location.

If you miss Tremont (the last stop of the week), we're really sorry but we cannot refund you the week. If you know the week ahead that you'll be missing a stop, schedule a vacation.

On Wednesday we post the pictures of what's in your shares. 

When everything is picked up from the farms on Wednesday morning and brought back to our warehouse for distribution on the routes, we take pictures of each bag and each item and post them online. Click this link to see last year's bags, and if you follow us on Facebook or Instagram you'll see the posts as well.

Tell your friends-- we've packed some extra bags on each truck. 

If you're receiving this newsletter but haven't signed up, we've ordered about 50 extra shares for this week.

If you're already a member, don't worry your bag is guaranteed, but if you haven't signed up yet bring a check to the stop and it's first come, first served!

OR SIGN UP NOW!

Announcements & Events

All the omnivores are getting a whole chicken in their shares this week-- but if you've only cooked with boneless, skinless breasts before, this might be a challenge!

Our first class of the Summer Share 2016 is coming up in just a few weeks-- Chef Parker Bosley's Chicken 101 at Market Garden Brewery in Ohio City. We'll be going over recipes, technique, eat some delicious chicken dishes, learn how to carve and best yet, you'll each get a chicken to practice on (and then take home!) This hands-on class always sells out, so sign up today!

$30 per participant includes instruction, take home recipe packet, whole chicken to take home, and lots of delicious food to sample.

MORE INFO
& RSVP

Featured Product

Golden Guernsey Milk

If you're new to the share, you might not know about our Guernsey Milk, but the returning members will tell you that the milk (and our eggs) are reason enough to be members. What makes our milk so special? An all Guernsey, certified A2-A2 herd. If that's all greek to you, click this link to learn more about why our milk is so darn good, and then order some to try.

PLACE A SPECIAL ORDER

What's in the Bag

Summer Share 2016: Week 1

Just like the weather, contents are subject to change!

Small Omnivore
Large Omnivore
Whole Chicken
Whole Chicken
Kale- 1 bunch
Kale- 1 bunch
Lettuce- 1 sleeve (2 heads)
Lettuce- 1 sleeve (2 heads)
Spelt Berries- 2#
Spelt Berries- 2#
Parsley- 1 bunch
Parsley- 1 bunch
Broccoli- 1 head
Broccoli- 1 head
Strawberries- 1 qt
Strawberries- 1 qt

Green Onions- 1 bunch

Pizza Dough*- 2 ct

Fresh Mozzarella- 8 oz

Italian Bulk Sausage- 1#

Small Vegetarian	Large Vegetarian
Ramp Linguine**- 1#	Ramp Linguine**- 1#
Kale- 1 bunch	Kale- 1 bunch
Lettuce- 1 sleeve (2 heads)	Lettuce- 1 sleeve (2 heads)
Spelt Berries- 2#	Spelt Berries- 2#
Parsley- 1 bunch	Parsley- 1 bunch
Broccoli- 1 head	Broccoli- 1 head
Strawberries- 1 qt	Strawberries- 1 qt
Rhubarb- 1#	Rhubarb- 1#
Asparagus- 1#	Asparagus- 1#
Tomato Sauce***- 1 pt	Tomato Sauce***- 1 pt
	Green Onions- 1 bunch
	Pizza Dough*- 2 ct
	Fresh Mozzarella- 8 oz
	Black Beans- 2#
	Grape Cider- 1 pint

Vegan
Canned Peaches- 1 qt (contains honey, ask for sub if needed)
Kale- 1 bunch
Lettuce- 1 sleeve (2 heads)
Spelt Berries- 2#
Parsley- 1 bunch
Broccoli- 1 head
Strawberries- 1 qt
Rhubarb- 1#
Asparagus- 1#
Tomato Sauce***- 1 pt

*Pizza Dough contains: Whole wheat flour, yeast, kosher salt, honey, sunflower oil, water.

**Ramp Linguine contains: flour, eggs, ramps, water, salt.

***Tomato Sauce contains: Heirloom and Roma tomatoes, onion, garlic, onion powder, garlic powder, dry mustard, celery seed, basil, oregano, parsley, pink himalayan salt, cane sugar, and extra virgin olive oil.

PLACE A SPECIAL ORDER

What's Cooking?

Recipes featuring this week's bag contents


Bag contents in recipe: whole chicken, parsley

Guide to Cooking a Whole Chicken

Our whole, pasture-raised chickens have so much flavor because of the way they are raised- outside on pasture. Check out our guide for some simple, easy preparations for a whole bird.

Click here for recipe


	Bag contents in recipe: spelt berries, kale, parsley, strawberries

Chard & Spelt Berry Salad

Spelt berries-- a high-protein whole grain--provide the base for this delicious lunch salad. Add a simple dressing, some blanched greens, and some fun toppings (steamed eggs, cheese, nuts, chicken, veggies) and enjoy!

Click here for recipe