It's tomato time!

STORIES & UPDATES

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Hi members!

IT'S TOMATO TIME!

Right on schedule, after all. Historically, the tomatoes have produced enough for us to provide to members during this week in July. It's a long wait, but it's completely worth it.

This week, you'll be receiving slicing tomatoes.

And grape or cherry tomatoes.

We grow red grape tomatoes, yellow grape, and yellow cherries (called sungolds). Red grape tomatoes have more lycopene, which is known for its disease preventing properties. However, yellow tomatoes are less acidic and sweeter. At some point throughout the season, it's worth trying them all. My personal favorite is sungolds - they're like candy.

In addition to tomatoes, we're starting to see the first mature peppers. For now, they're green. We grow red, yellow, and orange peppers, but they all start off green and change color as they ripen. Did you know it's part of the decomposition process? When peppers turn, it technically means they're on their way out. The random yellow pepper here is a variety that eventually turns orange.

Beans are still producing beautifully from our second planting. I guess this newsletter is all about colors today, because here's another fun fact: green beans are green due to the presence of chlorophyll, and wax are yellow because of the absence. They differ slightly in nutritional content. For example, yellow beans have more iron and green have more vitamin A. This is sometimes why we like to mix bags with color.

Peaches are starting to ripen, too! We predict we'll be harvesting some in the next 2 weeks.

Peter farmed alongside us on Saturday, helping dad to uncover all of the plastic cups from the winter squash plants, which look fantastic. He also boosts morale by talking to the crew over walkie-talkies.

Speaking of morale, last summer we collected spare change to offer our crew an ice cream party, and it was one of the highlights of the year. I talk to so many of you who share words of encouragement and praise, but our crew doesn't often have the same interactions. While we periodically sponsor lunches, breakfasts, or popsicles for the crew, last year we asked if you'd like to contribute pocket change toward an ice cream party that came from our community of supporters.

It was such a sweet gesture and surpassed our expectations.

This past Friday, the heat index was around 100 degrees, and our crew continued on to harvest for weekend shares and store inventory. They truly never complain, make excuses, or back down from a challenge.

If you'd like to tip the crew to sponsor an ice cream party, we'll have a jar on the counter from Monday through next Sunday. Thank you for helping them to feel special!

And finally, this update is for the fall lovers:

Here's a view of the pumpkin crop and the ornamental corn behind it. I spotted quite a few pumpkins growing out there already!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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• Pick-Your-Own flowers at 475 Booth Hill Road in Shelton.

  • Friday, August 1 - 4 - 6 p.m.

  • Saturday, August 2 - 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

    

    Bouquets of flowers are $30, which includes tax and a collectible transport cup for your blooms. Bring the cup to use on a subsequent visit for $1 off! Your bouquet must fit into one hand when grasped around the stems. After you finish harvesting, please see us at the checkout station for a complimentary water cup, to fit into your car's cupholder on the journey home.

    
    

• The Shelton Farmers' Market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 100 Canal Street.

• The Monroe Farmers' Market runs every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m at 7 Fan Hill Road.

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STORE INFORMATION

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Here is the fresh produce we plan to have in stock while supplies last (through Friday, August 1st):

• Basil

• Beans (green/wax)

• Beets

• Blackberries (limited quantities)

• Broccoli (limited quantities)

• Celery (leafy variety)

• Collard Greens

• Cucumbers

• Eggplant

• Grape/cherry tomatoes

• Green peppers

• Kale

• Onions

• Scallions

• Swiss Chard

• Tomatoes

• Yellow Squash

• Zucchini

  

  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.

CURRENT STORE HOURS:

Monday: 10:30 to 4 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.

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VEGETABLE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

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MAIN SEASON WEEK 8 of 20

(Tuesday, July 29th through Saturday, August 2nd)

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

Large:

• 1 pint of grape/cherry tomatoes

• 1 lb. of tomatoes

• 2 lbs. of cucumbers

• 1 eggplant

• 1 lb. of green/wax beans

• 2 free choice items: TBD... but there will be some new & exciting choices!

  
  

Small:

• 1 pint of grape/cherry tomatoes

• 1 lb. of tomatoes

• 1 lb. of cucumbers

• 1 eggplant

• 1/2 lb. of green/wax beans

• 1 free choice item: TBD... but there will be some new & exciting choices!

  
  

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

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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.

• 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 accidentally 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 your anticipated pickup in order to make a 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, you will be billed for an additional share.