Join us in welcoming Sarah to the Farm Team! Before she made her way to Sunset Farm, Sarah was working on a farm that grew produce specifically for a restaurant located on the same piece of land. She considers farming incredibly special because it allows her to connect with the Earth and understand the importance of growing food. And, she finds it fulfilling to share knowledge about the time and labor that goes into every harvest. Sarah is looking forward to building her farm knowledge and providing the Jordan Ranch community with sustainably grown produce!

We have a delicious summer squash variety for you in the Grab-and-Go coolers! It’s called “Zephyr” and it is a straight-neck yellow summer squash with a band of light green on the blossom end. It has a lovely nutty flavor and tender texture that can be used in any recipes calling for yellow squash or zucchini. Zephyr summer squash is equally delicious raw or cooked. We recommend thinly slicing it along with some of our cucumbers and enjoying it in a simple carpaccio like this. Or, try sauteeing it in olive oil with minced garlic until tender and serve it with a garnish of some of our basil. 

In Season at the Farm Stand: Scallions, Summer Squash, Okra, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Lunchbox Peppers, Jalapenos, Bell Peppers, Shishito Peppers, Poblano Peppers, Lemon Balm, Basil (Italian, Lemon, Thai, and Tulsi), Baby Butternuts, and Flower Bouquets and Stems

Join us in welcoming our new Farm Manager, Chandler! Though originally from Houston, Chandler spent the majority of her farming career in New Mexico. She was most recently in Santa Fe, New Mexico before she made her way down to Sunset Farm to begin her 8th season farming. She enjoys the rhythms and reliability that farming brings: rain will fall, the sun will shine, and the plants will grow. Chandler is looking forward to trying out new varieties that will thrive in the micro-climate at Sunset Farm and tailoring the crop plan to fit the community’s needs. Make sure to say hi if you see her on the farm!

Long beans just made their way back into season at the Farm Stand! These lengthy beans are more heat tolerant than traditional green beans and have a similar flavor with less sweetness. Long beans are best enjoyed cooked and are perfect for stir-fries and soups. They can also be sauteed with some garlic and olive oil for a super quick side dish. Make sure to pick some up during our Farm Stand on Saturday from 9am-noon or pop by the Grab-and-Go coolers anytime it’s convenient for you.

The baby butternuts we planted at the end of April are ready for harvesting! These butternut squash are a convenient “single-serving” size with a sweet and nutty flavor. They can be used in both sweet and savory recipes depending on your preference. An easy way to enjoy them as a side dish is to cut them in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, then place them cut down on a roasting pan. Roast until nice and tender then season and serve with butter or a drizzle of olive oil. We’ll have them available for you at the Farm Stand on Saturday from 9am-noon so make sure to stop by!

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

Join us in welcoming our newest member of the Farm Team, Anne! She has a B.S. in Agriculture from Texas State University and has worked mostly in the horticultural sector since graduating. She has always been fascinated with farming and gets her love of growing from her great grandfather. He was an avid gardener and hearing stories of his rose gardens and thriving greenhouse helped cultivate Anne’s interest in agriculture. She is most looking forward to growing cut flowers on the farm (zinnias are her favorite!) and can’t wait to connect with the community. If you see her around, make sure to say hi!

Fall planting is in full swing on the farm this week! We transplanted several different fall crops from the greenhouse into our prepared rows in the field. All of the varieties we planted will be able to withstand these warm late summer and early fall days before it eventually cools off. Here’s what we planted: kale, mustard greens, Swiss chard, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, Napa cabbage, and pak choi. You can expect to see leafy greens like kale and Swiss chard make their way to the Farm Stand first so keep an eye out in the coming weeks!

Our baby butternuts are ready for harvesting this week! These butternuts are a convenient “single-serving” size that are perfect for enjoying as a side dish. They have a deliciously sweet and nutty flavor that works well in both savory and sweet dishes. An easy way to prepare them is to cut them in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, then place them cut side down on a roasting pan. Roast until they are nice and tender then season and serve with a garlic herb butter. Make sure to pop by the Farm Stand this weekend to pick some up!

In Season at the Farm Stand: Baby Butternuts, Korean Melons, Cucumbers, Zucchini (limited), Asian Eggplant, Roselle Greens, Okra, and Long Beans.

We are pleased to introduce you to our new Farm Manager, Matt! Before he made his way to us, Matt worked at an organic farm in Southern California that sold directly to the local community through farmers markets and restaurants. After 20 years away from home, Matt decided to return to his Texas roots and move closer to family and his hometown of Spring. He is looking forward to deepening the connection of the Jordan Ranch community with the farm and growing some delicious food for you. Make sure to say hello if you see him on the farm!

Join us in wishing Reuben a fond farewell as he heads off to begin growing a farm of his own! He will miss the community and is very appreciative for all of the friends and connections he’s made over the past year at Sunset Farm. He loved being part of our first CSA program and hopes the members enjoyed their weekly farm deliveries. Best of luck Reuben and we can’t wait to see what you grow on your farm!

Long beans are in season at the Farm Stand! These lengthy beans are one of our tried and true summer crops. They have a similar flavor to green beans but with less sweetness and a more pronounced nutty flavor. Long beans are best enjoyed cooked and can be stir-fried, steamed, sautéed, or pickled. Try them in this summery potato salad or this spicy stir-fry. 

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

Coming Soon: Korean Melons and Summer Greens

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

We’ve reached the point in the season where we can shift our focus to planting summer crops! Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be planting a mix of delicious summer varietals that will thrive in the gradually warming temperatures. The newly prepared beds that you see above will be planted with a mix of hot peppers, specialty cucumbers, okra, Korean melons, and eggplants. Which of these are you most excited to see return to the farm stand?!

Green garlic has made its way to the Farm Stand! Similar to spring onions, green garlic is simply immature garlic. As you can see below, it’s just beginning to form bulbs. Since it's still immature, the individual cloves haven’t fully formed so you can eat both the stalk and the bulb. Green garlic has a slightly less pungent flavor than mature garlic with flavor notes similar to a scallion. Farmer Anna recommends chopping it up and adding it to stir-fries or using it to make a garlic herb butter.

We noticed last week that our sweet peppers in the high tunnel are just beginning to get a blush of color. That means sweet peppers will be making their way back into season very soon! The variety in the photo below is called “Islander” and it’s the one we’re most excited about. It produces purple bell peppers with a mild, sweet flavor. We expect that we’ll be able to make the first sweet pepper harvest in the next week or two!

Join us in wishing Farmer Alex a fond farewell as she embarks on a new adventure in Florida! We are incredibly appreciative for all of the time and energy she gave to the farm over the past couple of years. Make sure to come to the Farm Stand on Saturday or our next Farm tour on May 20th to chat with Anna, our new Farm Lead, and our new team member Reuben!

In Season at the Farm Stand: Cucumbers (pickling and slicing), Summer Squashes (Zephyr, Magda, and Zucchini), Bulb Onions, Leeks, Green Garlic, Fennel, Celery, Collards, Cabbage, Lettuce Heads, Carrots, Turnips, and Beets.