An inside look at our share packing process

FARM STORIES & UPDATES

---

Did you know that the highest quality produce on the farm is reserved for subscription shares?

We do a field walk at the end of every week in order to make a plan for the following week's share. We notice what's coming in for the first time, what we haven't eaten in a while, or what's in abundance. We make calculations to ensure we'll have enough of a crop to span the week (though sometimes this goes awry!). We account for favorites or fun new items to head to the free choice table. We budget to ensure the box will receive a dollar or two more than was paid into it.

Once we make our plan, we harvest specifically what we need for shares the day before pickup. Those items head directly into boxes and are hand-selected by various crew members along the way.

The first line of defense is the field crew, who inspects the items with a careful eye. They're trained not to harvest anything discolored, pest-ridden, shriveled up, or otherwise damaged. Everything is done according to the motto, "If you wouldn't choose it for yourself, don't choose it for someone else."

The items then head to the wash station, where they're cleaned up and inspected again. For example, beets need a ton of quality control. Not only do we remove wilted, yellowing leaves, but we also have to look at the roots again once they're sprayed off. Something that once looked beautiful in the field may be cracked underneath the mud, for example.

Next, the produce heads to the barn, where it's packed into crates. Our packing crew takes another look at the items to give them a seal of approval. If anything seems amiss, or our count is off, the field crew heads back out to harvest some more.

Anything that is mass harvested before shares are packed (like tomatoes, for example, which are harvested all at once instead of for an exact count), are carefully inspected. For example, our packing crew knows two things:

1) Never put anything less than the highest quality into a share.

2) Never put something into the share that weighs less than it was budgeted for.

So, if tomatoes were supposed to weigh 1 lb., then the scale had better say 1.00 or more! No .99s allowed! (Seriously!)

The most difficult time of year to pack is during the summer months, when the veggies are exposed to heat for longer periods of time. Washing and perking up greens in the tub can be an essential step. (You can do this at home, too, if you ever need to! Snip the ends off of your greens and soak them in cold water for a couple of hours. Voila!)

Finally, we check over crates to make sure we didn't miss anything. This happens more than you'd think. We then load the shares into the store cooler to be picked up the next day.

We truly believe that you paid into this share to support us, and you deserve the best the farm can offer in return!

P.S. One last thing to note (which is also posted on our website) -

Sometimes things do slip by us. We apologize if that happens. Please know that it is never our intention to give you something unpleasant or inedible. If we wouldn't eat it, we wouldn't intentionally give it to you. Send us a private email explaining the situation. Oftentimes, enlightening us will prevent it from happening to another member. While we do not refund for individual items, we are certainly happy to provide replacements in the event that you receive something inedible.

Similarly, in the event that we fail to place an item into your share that was included in the list of box contents in the weekly newsletter, please send us an email to explain our error. We apologize for oversights and are happy to coordinate providing you with the missing item(s) as soon as we can.

---

ANNOUNCEMENTS

---

• Bulk boxes of pickling cucumbers are now available!

Walk in during open hours and let us know that you would like a bulk box. We will bring one out to you until they sell out for the day. No pre-orders.

Bulk boxes are 25 lbs. for $34.50.

You are welcome to buy more than one box if available.

Boxes are expected to be available through August. Subscribe to our mailing list for up-to-date information.

• Seeking box donations!

Please bring in your gently used, clean boxes. We'll reuse them for farm orders! Simply rip off your address label first and drop them off during store hours. Think Chewy, Amazon, wine, unscented diapers, Target, small appliances, etc.

• Seeking bag donations (this week only!)

Please bring in your gently used, clean paper bags of all sizes. Ones with handles are most preferred. These will be used for customers who forget to bring in a shopping bag.

---

IMPORTANT DATES

---

• Our summer pick-your-own opportunities at The Fields at Laurel Glen Farm have concluded, but stay tuned for more events later this year.

• The Peak Season program runs through Saturday, October 3rd (13 total weeks).

• The Main Season program runs through Saturday, October 31st (21 total weeks).

• The Extended Season program runs through Saturday, December 5th (32 total weeks).

  Please inquire if you're not sure which program you selected.

• The Shelton Farmers' Market runs on Saturday mornings from 9-12 at 100 Canal Street. The Monroe Farmers' Market runs on Friday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. at 7 Fan Hill Road. Come visit us!

---

STORE INFORMATION

---

Here is the fresh produce we plan to have in stock while supplies last (through Sunday, 8/2):

• Arugula

• Basil

• Beets

• Bok choy (limited quantities)

• Cabbage

• Collard greens

• Cucumbers (slicing and pickling)

• Eggplant

• Garlic scapes

• Grape tomatoes (limited quantities)

• Hot peppers

• Kale

• Kohlrabi

• Napa cabbage

• Onions (fresh)

• Scallions

• Shishitos

• Swiss chard

• Yellow squash

• Zucchini

CURRENT STORE HOURS:

Monday: 10:30 to 3 p.m.

Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

​​Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Cash or check is our preferred method of payment as it allows our family's farm to keep 100% of the profits. However, we also gladly accept credit cards and Venmo.

---

VEGETABLE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

---

MAIN SEASON WEEK 8 OF 32

PEAK SEASON WEEK 4 OF 13

(Tuesday, July 28th through August 1st)

Share Contents (Listed approximately from shortest shelf life to longest)

Large:

• 1/2 lb. of arugula

• 1 lb. of beets

• 2 lbs. of cucumbers

• 1 summer squash (farmer's choice)

• 1 green pepper

• 1 fresh onion

• 2 free choice items: TBD

  
  

Small:

• 1/4 lb. of arugula

• 1 lb. of cucumbers

• 1 summer squash (farmer's choice)

• 1 green pepper

• 1 fresh onion

• 2 free choice items: TBD

Storage tips and recipes for all of the vegetables in this week's share can be located on our website, here.

---

VEGETABLE SUBSCRIPTION PICKUP POLICIES

---

• All pickups must take place within store operating hours. For many reasons, we can't leave shares outside the store. Pickup days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

• If you need to skip your share for the week, or change your pickup day, you must provide us with 48 hours' notice for any of the options below. This is because we pack shares the day before pickup. Once your share has been harvested and packed, we can not change or cancel your pickup.

• For Tuesday pickups being changed, we need to know by Sunday.

  • Wednesday pickups, we need to know by Monday.

  • Saturday pickups, we need to know by Thursday.

• You have the option to choose another pickup day in a given week: we offer share pickup on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday only. We can not have shares ready on any other days.

• You can skip a pickup and receive a double the following week.

• If you miss your pickup, we will hold your share for 24 hours after your pickup day, and then it will be donated to a local food pantry. With more members than ever before, we don't have the cooler space to hold onto shares longer than this. This is a great option if you miss your pickup - just come the next day.

• You can always send a guest to pick up in your place by simply notifying us of their name.

• Please send us an email to laurelglenfarm@gmail.com 48 hours before an anticipated change. You must submit your request in writing in order to leave a paper trail. This allows you to show proof to our store staff at pickup in the event that we need clarification.

• If a share is picked up outside of your scheduled time (aside from an approved change) or the 24 hour holding period without proof of a request, you will be billed for an additional share.