Okra is officially back in season on the farm! Thanks to its ability to thrive during the heat, okra is one of our tried and true summer staples. We’re harvesting a colorful mix of green and burgundy varieties that are perfect for pickling, roasting, and frying. Farmer Reuben loves to give okra a quick toss with olive oil and lemon pepper then air fry it until crisp and golden around the edges. Make sure to snag some for your holiday weekend at the Farm Stand! 

In addition to okra, we’re harvesting three different pepper varieties for you: shishito, serrano, and jalapeno. Shishito peppers are on the milder side of the spice spectrum and are perfect for roasting and grilling. Serrano peppers (below left) are Farmer Reuben’s favorite! They have a grassy flavor and a medium spice level that is great in salsas and hot sauces. Jalapenos (below right) have a similar spice level to serranos but with a fruitier flavor. Try pickling them or adding them to your next batch of cornbread. You can find all three of these pepper varieties at the Farm Stand.

With summer swiftly approaching, we’re focusing on planting varietals that can take the heat. We planted two cucumber varieties last week that will keep us in supply over the summer: Armenian and Unagi. Armenian cucumbers are technically a melon so they have a subtly sweet taste that is unique. Unagi cucumbers (below) are an Asian variety that has a crisp texture and glossy, green skin. We can’t wait to harvest these delicious cucumbers for you soon! 

In Season at the Farm Stand: Slicing Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Serrano Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Shishito Peppers, Okra, Scallions (last week!), Kale, and Basil

Coming Soon: Eggplants and Zucchini

We are now deep into the Summer Season and with the high heat comes some new and interesting veggies for the Farm Stand. If you want a sneak peek at what’s to come, make sure to join us for our Farm Tour this Saturday (July 15th) at 10:30am. We’ll chat about what varieties will grow during the heat of summer and show you the ones we’re most excited about. And, you’ll be able to see all the gorgeous hues of our Benary Giant zinnias (pictured below) and a preview of the upcoming watermelon harvest! Our tours are open to the public and free of charge so we hope to see you there!

We’re beginning to harvest watermelons so we’ll have a few for you at the Farm Stand this weekend! Since our watermelons are just beginning to ripen, we’ll only have limited quantities available over the next week. Though there are many commonly used methods to test for a watermelon’s ripeness, we start by looking at the tendril nearest the melon’s stem on the vine. If it’s browning or dead, the melon is most likely ready! We also check to see if the spot where the melon has been resting on the ground is yellow which is another great indicator of the fruit being ready for harvest.

Hot pepper fans rejoice! These spicy crops are just beginning to trickle back into season with the first small harvest of both jalapeño and serrano peppers. While both of these peppers are green, you can easily tell them apart by their shape. Jalapeños (pictured on the left) are darker green with that quintessential chili pepper shape. Serranos (pictured on the right) are a lighter shade of green and are more slender in shape. Farmer Reuben loves to make salsa with these peppers or finely chop them and add them to ground beef for a spicy kick. You’ll be able to find limited quantities of each at the Farm Stand this weekend.

In Season at the Farm Stand: Eggplant, Watermelons (limited), Korean Melons, Long Beans, Okra, Sweet Peppers, Serrano Peppers (limited), Jalapeño Peppers (limited), Onions, and Cut Flower Bouquets (limited and only on Saturdays).