Farm To Table–New York, NY

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s a Farm Share pick up day!  We joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) that runs from June-October and the last few pick-ups have been amazing.  I brought my camera last week because it’s hard to put into words just how gorgeous all of this fresh produce is.  Our share comes from an awesome family farm on Long Island, Garden of Eve.  Each week, the farmers send us a report (tomatoes are in…potatoes are early…some harmless worms got to the sweet corn, etc) and let us know what to expect in the pick-up and why (last week everyone received double their normal amount of eggs because the chickens have been busy!), as well as tips for expanding the life of the fresh greens and flowers.  They even offer farm tours, cooking classes, and childrens education programs at the farm.  I made the pick-up signs last week and couldn’t help but add a little humor to them…what chickens don’t deserve a pat on the back every now and then?

The last few pick ups have included: tomatoes (regular, sungold, and cherry), potatoes, onions, purple/white/green peppers, hot peppers, sugar snap peas, basil, sweet corn, eggplant, broccoli, zucchini, arugula, kale, cilantro, fresh eggs, rhubarb, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, watermelons, sunjewel (honeydew) melon, and a beautiful mixed bouquet of sunflowers, celosia, and cleome.  Heaven!  As if that’s not enough, they also post a recipe page for cooking ideas for the weekly produce.  I am guilty of ordering a lot of takeout, but having so much fresh produce really wipes that idea off the map. With no excuse NOT to cook, I immediately panic about how much produce I have to use in a relatively short amount of time.  What to do? The obvious answer is to make a risotto with almost everything in it (see below).  Yum.  And per my father’s suggestion (he is an expert in the kitchen), I froze the extra.  Oh, and I introduced my daughter to fresh blackberries and she ate an entire pint in one sitting…the girl has taste!

Even if you aren’t in a CSA, I urge you to find that a local farm stand or farmer’s market and support your local farmers.  For those of you who are inspired to do so, here is a great guide to making your own farmer’s market bouquet. Happy Wednesday!