Twin Springs Fruit Farm
Growing better since 1979
 
ButterCrunch, both green and red - On sale

For what's at market this week see the bottom section.
For times and locations please 

Lettuce Sale

     You guessed it - Twin Springs is quite long on lettuces, and it would be a win/win if many of our customers partook of the sale we are running, at least for the coming week, from Jan. 16th through the 21st. The sun has been out and about more than in the past few weeks and it has gotten the lettuce growing quite well. Both the green and red are available at the below discount.
    We don't wish to simply harvest it and store it in the cooler, preferring to move it while fresh. The roots are left in place, and Dan and the guys simply wrap them around themselves to get a nice looking display.
    The sale consists of lowering the price for two heads to $6.00, as we have done in the past when we wished to move a lot. The sale usually works pretty well, but if there is a lot left on display when you shop I'm sure that further discounts will be offered if requested for three or four heads, perhaps.

Butternut Squash Sale

    We are also feeling like we have too many Butternut Squash, relative to the Bon Bon, Sunshine and Spaghetti squash. While I usually recommend that customers try either of the other, meaning BonBon or Sunshine, as they are unfamiliar to many and are just super. There is, however, nothing wrong with Butternut; the most prolific of the winter squash, many grocery stores having nothing but. Also, most recipes, whether pumpkin pies, winter squash soup or casseroles almost always call for butternut, the old standard.
     Keep in mind that it is considered a superfood, which, despite its sweetness, has a low glycemic index.
     This season we are selling all of our winter squash for $1.49 per pound, but are going to offer butternut for .99 per pound, at least until we decide that we have gotten the balance we need in storage, of the four we have available. Hopefully you'll take advantage of the sale to test some of the great recipes you can find online, unless you are one of the Powerball winners and no longer consider prices.
    Actually, we ran the same sale on spaghetti squash, early on in the fall, and it did the trick, so well that we stopped in just a couple of weeks. Hopefully this will be a similar win/win situation which customers will take advantage of.

Caramelized Butternut Squash

Ingredients

2 medium TSFF butternut squash (4 to 5 pounds total)

6 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut off and discard the ends of each butternut squash. Peel the squash, cut them in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch cubes and place them on a baking sheet. Add the melted butter, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. With clean hands, toss all the ingredients together and spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, until the squash is tender and the glaze begins to caramelize. While roasting, turn the squash a few times with a spatula, to be sure it browns evenly. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.
Adapted, or perhaps downright copied, from "The Barefoot Contessa"

 
Now if that doesn't make your mouth water I'd wonder just what species you belong to.

Health benefits of Butternut squash
  • Butternut squash contains many vital poly-phenolic anti-oxidants and vitamins. As in other Cucurbitaceae members, butternut too has very low calories; 100 g provides just 45 calories. It contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; however, it is rich source of dietary fiber and phyto-nutrients. Squash is one of the common vegetables that are often recommended by dietitians in cholesterol controlling and weight-reduction programs.
  • It has more vitamin A than a pumpkin. At 10630 IU per 100 g, it is perhaps the single vegetable source in the Cucurbitaceae family with the highest levels of vitamin-A, constituting about 354% of RDA. Vitamin A is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and is required by the body for maintaining the integrity of skin and mucusa. It is also an essential vitamin for optimum eye-sight. Research studies suggest that natural foods rich in vitamin A help the body protect against lung and oral cavity cancers.
  • Furthermore, butternut squash has plenty of natural poly-phenolic flavonoid compounds like A and �-carotenes, cryptoxanthin-�, and lutein. These compounds convert into vitamin A inside the body and deliver the same protective functions of vitamin A on the body.
  • It is rich in the B-complex group of vitamins like folates, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, and pantothenic acid.
  • It has a similar mineral profile as that in pumpkin, containing adequate levels of minerals like iron, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
  • Butternut squash seeds are a good source of dietary fiber and mono-unsaturated fatty acids that benefit heart health. In addition, they are rich in protein, minerals, and numerous health-benefiting vitamins. The seeds are an excellent source of the health promoting amino acid, tryptophan. Tryptophan converts to the healthful GABA neuro-chemical in the human brain.

100th Pennsylvania Farm Show

     I find I have to mention the Pa Farm Show as it is the biggest agricultural show in the world. There are thousands of animals, hundreds of displays and shows as well as a jillion things to eat and drink. I'm wishing that I had mentioned it last week because it goes from Jan. 9 through Jan. 16, Saturday - tomorrow if you are reading this on the day you receive it.
     Tom Childs, our fantastic veggy grower, is there, at this time, helping to "man" the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers' Association booth, but will be back at our farm tomorrow. He just called and informed me that that booth alone raises about $40,000 per farm show, a huge percentage of which goes to vegetable research in Pennsylvania. They sell all kinds of foods, from "bloomin' onions to fried veggies.
     Below you can see Twin Springs' photo display and write-up. Paul, who is in charge at our Westover stand, and helped me all season at Mt. Vernon, was there today manning a booth for the Barn Preservation Society (Our home barn was on the tour a couple of years ago), and he took and sent the below photo. Sorry, but it is kind of hard to read the write-up, so here's what it says:


Twin Springs Fruit Farm is in Adams County

This business combines the best techniques and standards with a diversity of crops and growing practices.
Hydroponic greenhouses, raised-bed strawberries and blackberries are just a few of the ways Twin Springs brings fresh food to their customers.
A biomass boiler uses old apple trees and other locally recycled wood to produce energy on site.
One hundred percent of Twin Springs Fruit Farm produce is sold directly to retail consumers through farmers' markets.



     I know how unlikely it is for any of our customers to make the trek up there, but I felt that I had to make everyone aware of its existence. Google shows the trip, Bethesda to Harrisburg, as taking 2 hours, perhaps not too prohibitive for some of you.
     My thought is that it would be a great way to introduce kids to agriculture, something rarely done outside of a book in a classroom these days. The sights and sounds, and yes, smells to some extent, would be quite memorable. There are lots of "hands on" events for kids, as well as interaction with farmers and ranchers, including their children, who are often displaying the prize heifers, horses, sheep, etc. which they have raised "for show".
 I'm just sayin' - think about it. Here is a llnk to the show's website:


    The first page you view has a series of slides giving a pretty good idea of what it is like at the farm show. Plan on a long day if you choose to attend, as there is an incredible amount to see and do.







Wishing you and yours the best of health, Aubrey, Michael and Jesse,
and the fantastic crew at Twin Springs

WHAT'S AT MARKET THIS WEEK

HERE IS A LIST OF WHAT WE EXPECT TO CARRY AT 
ALL LOCATIONS THIS  WEEK.

Lettuce - We will have a huge supply of the greenhouse grown Green ButterCrunch and Red ButterCrunch for the coming week. Please note the sale mentioned above.
Green Garlic - Arturo tells me that we have enough of this fresh form of garlic for another two to three weeks.
Apple Varieties - GoldRush, Sun Fuji, Nittany, Pink Lady, 
Stayman, SunCrisp, Buckeye Gala, Jonagold, Golden Delicious and Cameo.
For cooking purposes I prefer a base of GoldRush, but in a pie or cobbler I generally also will use a couple from among the following: Stayman, Nittany, Pink Lady, SunCrisp and/or Golden Delicious. 
Hot Peppers - We still have a few Jalape�os, Anaheim, and two sorts of New Mexican chili peppers, fresh from the greenhouse.
Winter Squash:
BonBon - A very sweet, smooth deep orange, an award winning Buttercup squash. It is the green one, usually with a funny looking knob on top.
Sunshine - Also quite sweet and smooth, this one is a Kabocha squash, orange skinned, with deep orange flesh inside. Both are considered super-foods due to their being high in manganese, fiber, vitamin C and a good amount of beta-carotene.
Butternut The traditional winter squash used in many recipes. As noted above we are having a sale on these, dropping the price from $1.49 per pound to only $.99. 
Spaghetti Squash - Our spaghetti squash is bright yellow outside. 
Bagged Potatoes - These are mostly medium to large Vivaldi potatoes, bagged at five pounds and selling for only $7.50, therefore $1.50 per pound as opposed to our loose potatoes, which are priced at $1.99 per pound.
Brussels Sprouts - We will have plenty of sprouts everywhere, as fresh as can be!
Flower Sprouts AKA Kalettes AKA "Kaleidoscope" - We are still picking, and there will be plenty.
Apple  Cider - As always, pressed weekly, and has no added sugar, preservatives or flavorings. 
Tomatoes - ''Trust" tomatoes, still available in diminishing quantities.
Cherry Tomatoes - There are a few being picked at this time.
Arugula - We should have plenty for markets this week.
Sweet Potatoes - It turns out that we have another bin of the Bonita, white fleshed with a tan skin, as well as plenty of both the traditional  Beauregard, and the white fleshed purple skinned Japanese variety Murasaki.
Garlic - German White Hardneck. A reminder, in Jo Robinson's book "Eating on the Wild Side", she cites research which demonstrates that for maximum nutrition, when using garlic that you will be cooking, it is best to crush, press or dice it, let it sit for ten or so minutes, before introducing to heat.
Vivaldi and Red Norland Potatoes - small, tender and delicious. 
Onions - Both our mild red onions, and "Candy", our sweet onions, will be available for the foreseeable future.
Carrots - We have lots of bagged carrots: a new to us red variety as well as purple and orange, mixed in one pound bags, while the orange are to be found in 2 pound bags, at a bit of a discount. 
Pink Lady Dried Apples - Very popular as a good-for-you delicious snack, our dried apples have no sugar or preservatives added; many commercial ones use sulfites as a preservative.
Patty's Apple Cider Caramels - Made weekly from our current batch of cider. These are simply "to die for" if you are a caramel fan. We send these everywhere, but for Takoma, because Patty herself sells them there at her and Robert's farm stand, Audia Farm.
Twin Spring's Own Products - Jarred Peaches, Hot Pepper Jelly, Chipotle Ketchup, Marinara Sauce, Apple Butter and Apple Sauce. All may be purchased individually, or by the 12 jar case, for 10% off.

In addition, we will offer the following products at OUR OWN Markets, where we are the sole vendor, all of which are open to the general public, excepting Goddard Space Flight Center.


Elizabeth's Breakfast Loaves
Fresh Hard Pretzels - both Regular and Honey Whole Wheat, locally produced.
Michelle's Granola - Handmade and freshly baked in the DC area
Allen's fresh Eggs - Raised right outside Gettysburg, both brown and white, from "free walking hens". Delivered fresh to us every Wednesday.
Artisanal Cheeses - Twin Springs carries Ed's fresh local: Sharp Cheddar, Cheddar, Smoked Cheddar as well as Smoked Jalape�o; also available are his Goat Gouda and Goat Cheddar.
Local Wildflower Honey - Jim Small has kept us supplied with his pure, raw honey, much of it drawn from hives kept year-round at our farm.
Maple Syrup and Maple Sugar - tapped and bottled on the Patterson Farm in Pennsylvania.
McCutcheon's Products - We carry an extensive line of their jams, some fruit sweetened, ie. no cane sugar or corn syrup, and jellies, as well as many other great products created right in Frederick Maryland
Baked Goods - From Stonehearth Bakery, also in Frederick, all items are baked "that" morning: Baguettes, innumerable kinds of fresh breads, both sliced, and unsliced, as well as croissants, scones and cookies.


 Twin Springs Fruit Farm            717-334-4582 [email protected]  
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