Good Food from Healthy Farms
WOW: Washington Organic Week
Sep 9th
Washington Organic Week! aka WOW! is a week long, statewide, celebration of Washington organic agriculture organized by Tilth Producers of Washington. The goal of WOW! is to connect consumers to Washington organic growers and products. WOW! provides the public with opportunities to learn more about the healthiest, freshest and most environmentally friendly food available.
Tilth Producers plans and executes the WOW! campaign in an effort to increase the public’s understanding about the value of organic agriculture to their health, to the economy and to the vitality of their community.
Last week we highlighted the work of the PCC Farmland Trust and this week we want to tell you about the important work that Tilth Producers of Washington does to advance organic agriculture in this state.
Their flagship program is an annual grower’s conference which attracts businesses, educators, non-profits and farmers from across the state and beyond to gather and share the latest in organic farming techniques, trends and tales. For some in the industry, it is the event of the year – an opportunity to relax and reflect after a long, hard growing season and to connect with friends and take new ideas back to the farm.
In addition, Tilth Producers publishes a quarterly journal, again with the goal of expanding the knowledge-base and teaching new techniques of the trade. They have a placement service that works to connect new, aspiring farmers with established farms across the state. And they develop policy, create marketing and promotional campaigns and host farm tours, in conjunction with WSU, as a way to further propagate the technical and practical know-how of farmers around the state.
We thank them for the work they do on our behalf. If you’re inclined to support their work we will be including brochures in next week’s boxes and you, too, can be come a ‘friend of the farmer!’
Here are some of the highlights and specials for the upcoming week:
- WA-grown melons of all shapes and sizes – a juicy and sweet classic summer treat!
- First of the season NW-grown pears – choose from Bartlett or Tosca varieties
- More delicious WA-grown yellow peaches – Sweet Dream variety this week!
- Mediterranean delights – Eggplant, Basil, Peppers, Figs
- Sungold and Sweet Million Cherry Tomatoes – enjoy the local tomato season while it lasts!
If you have an order scheduled for this upcoming week, you will receive an email notifying you when the web store has been opened for your delivery day.
If you need to make any changes to your subscription, schedule a vacation or make a payment Click Here to Login to Your Account
Sincerely,
The Terra Organics Team
Announcing Healthy Kids Box!
Sep 8th
We’re proud to announce the addition of a new box to our roster of standard boxes. Introducing the Healthy Kids Box! This box contains easy to enjoy, easy to prepare foods for growing kids. Tasty organics like baby-cut carrots, apples, melons, corn, cucumbers and more. This box is perfect for lunch boxes, after-school snacks and play-dates.
The Healthy Kids Box will be available for you and your kids to try out starting next week!
Storage and Preparation Tips: Radishes, Red Bell Pepper, Rainbow Chard
Sep 7th
food-from-the-garden.com
Radishes: Separate the radishes from their greens and store each in a plastic bag in the fridge. Use the greens within 1-2 days of purchase. The radishes will keep for a few days longer.
Red Bell Pepper: Refrigerate, unwashed, in plastic bag for use within 5 days. You may wish to blot out any moisture on the surface of the pepper with a paper towel before refrigeration, as moisture can promote decay.
Rainbow Chard: Store unwashed chard, wrapped in a plastic bag, in the refrigerator for up to three days. Wash well before use to remove any dirt or sand. Chard can be eaten cooked or raw. When cooking the stems, add to the pan a little before the leaves, as the stems require more cooking time.
Week of Sept 12: CSA Box
Sep 6th
Some glamor shots of the week’s Tahoma Farms CSA Box including cucumber, radishes, rainbow chard, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and more goodies.
Act Now: Support Farm Lending Programs
Sep 6th
We just received this important note from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition urging us to support small farms by asking the senate to stop cutting of Farm Lending programs. These programs make a major difference in keeping young and smaller farms alive.
Please read the note below for more information:
America urgently needs new farmers – and to keep current farmers on the land. At risk if you don’t act in the next few HOURS are the dreams of farmers and aspiring farmers across this nation and the communities they strengthen.
Like any business – farmers must have access to financing to purchase things like farm equipment, fencing, animals, feed, and land itself. Without timely access to credit to purchase these necessities – farmers fail. Farm Services Agency (FSA) farm lending programs are ONLY available to farmers who cannot obtain credit from commercial sources.
After Congress slashed credit funding last spring, thousands of beginning farmers were approved for credit but unable to be funded because the USDA ran out of credit funding. Such a backlog often means the dreams of those young farmers are crushed – and the chance of a lifetime will disappear.
Unless Senator Patty Murray hears from you TODAY, USDA farm lending programs could once again be slashed in the Fiscal Year 2012 funding bill. This is particularly reckless because there is already a backlog of 28 applications in Texas because of previous cuts!
Also at risk is The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Account (BFRIDA) Program. This innovative program provides business education and a matched savings account to beginning farmers of modest means. Participants in existing IDA programs are 84 percent more likely to become business owners than non-participants. Several states have successful pilot initiatives, but the national program has never been funded.
Will you stand up for family farmers and prosperous rural and urban communities?
It just takes a minute to call Senator Murray’s office at (202) 224-2621.
The Message is Simple:
• Ask Senator Murray to support direct farm ownership loans at the program level of $600 million, and direct farm operating loans at program level of $1.05 billion. Farmers need access to affordable credit for the purchase of land, livestock and equipment and for annual operating expenses.• Also ask her to support the Beginning Farmer Individual Development Account program at the Farm Bill-authorized level of $5 million for fiscal year 2012. Existing IDA programs have a proven track record of increasing the success of new businesses.
Thank you for making this quick call, which is crucial to protecting affordable farm credit!
The Terra Organics Experience Competition
Sep 6th
Here at Terra, being able to provide families, businesses and everyone that loves organics with a selection of fantastic fruits and vegetables keeps us warm and fuzzy inside. We also love hearing about how much you’re enjoying your produce boxes and what you’re doing with ‘em. We love it when you Yelp us, post something on our Facebook page or Tweet your love for Terra, which is why we wanted to offer a way in which we could reward you for sharing your Terra Organics experience.
Here’s How It Works:
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Write an article or make a short video about an experience you had with Terra Organics (good experiences only please
). The more creative, the better chance you have at becoming a finalist. Your article/video may include:- Who you are
- How long you’ve been getting produce from Terra
- A recipe/cooking show starring you
- Relevant photos in articles* (*bonus points)
- What getting produce from Terra means to you
- A funny story that relates to your produce box
- Kids’/friends’/family’s reaction to produce box
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Email your article/video link (and any relevant materials) to etrotter@terra-organics.com by September 21, 2011 @ 5pm PST.
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Our panel will choose our favorite articles as finalists and post them on our blog over the following week.
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YOU vote for you favorite article.
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The top three voted submissions receive fabulous prizes.
Prizes:
2nd Runner-Up: A Terra Organics T-Shirt of your choosing
1st Runner-Up: $50 Credit (2 weeks of FREE standard boxes) & a Terra Organics T-Shirt of your choosing
GRAND PRIZE: $200 Credit (2 MONTHS of FREE standard boxes) & a Terra Organics T-Shirt of your choosing
We’re extremely excited to learn more about your Terra Organics experience. Whether you’re interest in participating in this competition or not, we always want to know how our produce is treating you. Email info@terra-organics.com if you ever have any comments.
We can’t wait to see your submissions!! (If you have a question about the competition, please let us know in the comments.)
Yellow-Colored Watermelon? You Bet!
Sep 1st
The Terra office staff was greeted by some fresh slices of Tahoma Farms Yellow Doll Melon this morning. This unique hybrid Melon has a pale yellow coloring and a mild, but familiar watermelon taste. It’s a nice departure from the standard pinkish watermelon. Try out this fascinating and unique treat in our webstore and CSA boxes next week. Great for the kiddos!
As you can see, the melon didn't last long.
Storage and Preparation Tips: Cherry Tomatoes, Yellow Peaches, Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons
Aug 30th
Cherry Tomatoes: Keep unrefrigerated and out of sunlight., as they will quickly lose flavor, nutrients and freshness. Use within a few days of receipt.
Yellow Peaches: Peaches can be ripened by placing in a paper bag punched with holes; store at room temperature in a spot away from sunlight. Check often for ripeness as they can go from under-ripe to overripe in a matter of twenty-four hours.
Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons: Store for a day or two on the countertop to ripen if needed. Melons are ripe when you can smell the melon’s sweet fragrance at the stem end. Ripe and cut melons should be refrigerated.
Featured Veggie: Fennel
Aug 30th
This aromatic member of the parsley family lends itself to a wide variety of culinary applications. The entire plant is edible, from its anise-flavored feathery fronds, to its celery-like stalks, to its crisp and slightly sweet bulb. A native to the Mediterranean region, fennel is not surprisingly a popular addition to that type of cuisine. Fennel is a good source of fiber and potassium.
Tips for using fennel:
- Fennel stalks can take the place of celery in soups and stews, and can be used as a “bed” for roasted chicken and meats.
- Use fronds as a garnish, or chop and use as you would other herbs, like dill or parsley. Try adding the fronds to salads for added flavor and dimension.
- Fennel and ginger make a good digestive tea –steep the fresh fennel leaves with a bit of sliced ginger for 5 minutes in boiling water.
- Add cooked fennel bulb to omelets, quiches, stuffings or sauces.
- Place stalks and leaves on barbeque coals—the fennel scent permeates the grilled food.
- Slice steamed or blanched fennel bulb, cover with a vinaigrette and serve chilled.
- Slice fennel thin and layer with raw potatoes, cream and cheese to make a special potato au gratin.
Seattle Times Article: Preserving Farmland (Featuring Tahoma Farms)
Aug 29th
Tahoma Farms and Terra’s Dan and Kim Hulse have been featured in a wonderful Seattle Times article about the PCC Farmland Trust. Here’s a link to this great read.
DAN AND KIM Hulse grow some 60 different vegetables and fruits on their family farm in Orting, re-evaluating each year where to invest their time and soil. Radicchio and escarole are out. Strawberries are always in demand.
But in the big picture, some decisions mean more than just market vagaries: There are the raspberry canes the young couple put in, and the 10,000 feet of riparian plantings to preserve water quality, and the designation as a Salmon-Safe farm. That’s all happening because the Hulses own rather than rent the 40-acre plot they call Tahoma Farms. And their plot exists partly thanks to the PCC Farmland Trust, a preservation program that sprang up from the serendipitous intersection of a carrot farmer and a grocery store.
