We are excited to share that cantaloupe is back in season and available in the Grab-and-Go coolers! These melons are sweet and very aromatic and make the perfect summertime snack. Since fruit is highly popular when we have it in season in the coolers, it often goes quickly so we highly recommend stopping by sooner rather than later if you’d like some cantaloupe! Aside from enjoying chilled wedges, we recommend pairing it with our cucumbers and basil and a sprinkle of feta for an easy salad. Or, for a frozen treat, try cantaloupe sorbet or popsicles. If you’re more of a watermelon fan, you’ll be pleased to know that the first watermelons are coming very soon!

Have you had a chance to try any of our Lunchbox peppers yet? These sweet peppers are miniature in stature which makes them perfect for snacking. We’re growing a mix of red, orange, and yellow varieties which are equally sweet and crisp with a mild fruity flavor. Lunchbox peppers, often called simply “mini peppers”, can be enjoyed both raw and cooked depending on your preference. Pair whole or sliced lunchbox peppers with your favorite dip for an easy snack. Or, stuff them with cheese and spices for a summery appetizer (recipe here). They also make great additions to stir-fries and can easily be pickled. 

In Season at the Farm Stand: Cantaloupe, Long Beans, Okra, Cherry and Slicing Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Jalapenos, Bell Peppers, Shishito Peppers, Poblano Peppers, Cornito Peppers, Lunchbox Peppers, Baby Butternuts, Basil, and Flowers

We’ll have something new for you at the Farm Stand next week: the first cantaloupes of the season! These summer fruits will be available for a limited window for about two weeks. The variety we’re growing is called “Sugar Cube”. Just as the name implies, this melon variety has intensely sweet and aromatic flesh! We highly recommend putting a scoop of ice cream, sorbet, or yogurt in the hollowed out seed cavity for a delicious summertime treat. Or, you can take a cue from Farmer Reuben and enjoy it with a squeeze of lime juice and sprinkle of tajín.

Before the rain arrived we were able to plant a block of summer crops. We transplanted a row each of Asian cucumbers, Armenian cucumbers, and okra. Even though we’re already harvesting cucumbers and okra, we like to sow multiple rounds throughout the season. This is called succession planting and it helps to lengthen our harvest window and maintain more of a steady supply of produce throughout the season. It’s also helpful during the summer when the extreme heat can cause more stress on our crops and affect their productivity.

If you’ve visited the farm over the past few weeks, you’ve most likely encountered Nick and his welcoming smile! Nick is the Director of Operations for Agmenity and assists with the different farms in our region. He is out at the farm regularly to help support the team and loves to chat about the care and intention that goes into farming, especially when it comes to the importance of soil health. If you see him around, make sure to say hello and ask him about his favorite summer crops!

In Season at the Farm Stand: Eggplant, Slicing Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Slicing Cucumbers, Pickling Cucumbers, Serrano Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Shishito Peppers, Poblano Peppers, Okra, Kale, Basil, and Cut Flowers (limited)

Coming Soon: Long Beans and Melons

Remember the Milan melons we planted back in June? We harvested the first of them this week! Milan is an Italian melon similar to cantaloupe with beige skin, longitudinal green stripes, and orange flesh (pictured both above and below). It is incredibly fragrant and sweet and has more of a crisp texture than a traditional cantaloupe. We highly recommend stopping by the farm stand to pick one up for some weekend snacking! Aside from enjoying it as-is, Farmer Alex recommends using these melons for a batch of sorbet or granita.

Have you had a chance to try any of our Armenian cucumbers yet? We’ve been enjoying experimenting with them in our own kitchens throughout the summer. Armenian cucumbers have a delicate flavor that is melon-like without the sweetness. The smaller Armenian cucumbers are great for slicing and enjoying raw in salads. Their firm and crunchy texture also makes them ideal for a batch of pickles. The larger ones can actually be cooked just as you would zucchini! Try them out in this grilled cucumber recipe with mint and feta.

We are excited to offer you a new sunflower variety in our bouquets very soon! It’s called “White Lite” and it has very pale yellow petals and a golden center. As you can see in the photo below, some of these sunflowers are already starting to open! We’ll most likely be pairing these with our other sunflower varieties for some lovely late summer bouquets. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as they’re available!

In Season at the Farm Stand: Delicata Squash, Spaghetti Squash, Egyptian Spinach, Roselle Greens, Malabar Spinach, Sweet Peppers, Jalapenos, Habanada Peppers, Fresno Peppers, Cayenne Peppers, Bolivian Peppers, Okra, Armenian Cucumbers, Korean Melons, Cantaloupe, Long Beans, Italian Eggplant, Asian Eggplant, and Basil

I tend to be fiery by nature. I’m much more comfortable in snow than sun. Since Houston isn’t exactly my ideal climate, I have plenty of methods in place to keep cool. In order to stay hydrated and get a little cooling action at the same time, I use mint and lime a lot throughout the summer. They make the perfect addition to this delicious, fresh melon agua fresca. I typically don’t like to sweeten mine but I’ll leave that part of the recipe up to you.