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Dear Friends,
Summer is tantalizingly close... and that means the
Puget Sound
region is getting ready to "pop" with farm-fresh bounty. Our local farmers are working hard to try and move the season along. So far, it's been a slooooooow Spring. Many of our local crops will be a little late this summer, but fear not! They will make it to market - maybe just a couple weeks late. Visit www.pugetsoundfresh.org to check out the harvest calendar.
With the extra lead time provided by the slow Spring, start making plans to enjoy and preserve Summer fruits and veggies. A little planning and elbow-grease can go a long way. Here's just a sample of useful and fun activities:
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Cut annual food costs by buying produce at the peak of the season when it's cheapest and canning or freezing it for later in the year.
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Keep your produce fresh by learning the best ways to store it. When you shop at a farmers market, ask the farmers for tips and tricks. Don't be shy!
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Buy basil in bulk, blend it into pesto, then freeze the pesto in an ice-cube tray. One of the best ways to brighten up cloudy NW days is to make a big pot of soup, then simmer in a frozen cube of pesto...WOW! Summer in a bowl, anytime of the year.
Check out the National Center for Home Food Preservation, a great resource for all your home processing and preservation questions and queries.
In this edition of What's Fresh NOW, we feature strawberry and early pea recipes, an interview with Terry's Berries farmer Terry Carkner, and some fun upcoming events, like the World Premiere screening of Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin's Good Food at the Seattle International Film Festival.
If you have any questions, please visit: www.pugetsoundfresh.org
Enjoy!
Puget Sound Fresh Team
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Quick Farmers Markets Update
Opening in June: Forks, Jefferson County/Port Townsend, Des Moines, Duvall, Kent, Lake City, Magnolia, North Bent, Queen Anne (Seattle), Renton, SeaTac, Snoqualmie, Orting, Mt. Vernon (Wed.), Rexville, Arlington-Legion Park, Bothell/Country Village, Everett, Lake Stevens, Mukilteo, South County (Maltby), Tulalip, Lacey, Tenino, Bellingham/Fairhaven, Mt. Baker.
You'll find details on days, dates, times and locations at: www.pugetsoundfresh.org
Many of our local CSAs (Community Support Agriculture) still have subscriptions available. Check out the complete listings of CSA programs on the Puget Sound Fresh CSA Brochure
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Strawberry - Yogurt Popsicles
INGREDIENTS
16 ounces of frozen/sweetened strawberries
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
2 cups plain Puget Sound Fresh yogurt
INSTRUCTIONS
Day ahead, freeze strawberry/sugar mixture. Allow 1 cup sugar for each 6 cups sliced strawberries. Mix the sliced strawberries with the sugar and allow to stand until the sugar dissolves, about 10 minutes. Package in plastic freezer containers, leaving 1/2 inch headspace, cover and freeze.
Thaw frozen strawberries, reserve liquid in a saucepan. Soften the gelatin in it and then cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the gelatin dissolves. Cool the mixture. Combine the gelatin mixture, the strawberries, and the yogurt in the processing jar of a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour into 12 3-ounce paper cups. Freeze the popsicles until they are firm enough to hold sticks upright, insert a wooden stick in each cup and finish freezing.
Yield: about 3 pints for each 6 cups of berries.
From: Bonnie Remlinger, Remlinger Farms, Carnation
Strawberry and Feta Salad
INGREDIENTS
Dressing:
2 Tblsp orange juice
1 Tblsp white wine vinegar
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
3/4 tsp sugar
Salad:
6 Cups salad greens
1 Cup quartered strawberries
1/4 Cup (1 oz) crumbled Feta cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Combine greens, strawberries and cheese in a large salad bowl. Toss with dressing and serve immediately
From: Terry's Berries Organic CSA and Farm, Tacoma
Gingered Sugar Snap Peas
Serving Size: 6
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp Unsalted Butter
1 1/2 lb local Sugar Snap Peas (ends trimmed)
2 Garlic Cloves, chopped
1 (1 inch) piece of Fresh Ginger, peeled and cut into matchsticks
1 tbsp Minced Candied Ginger
1/3 c Toasted Slivered Almonds
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat the butter in a large sauté pan on medium heat until melted and bubbling. Add the peas and sauté for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and fresh ginger, and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Add the candied ginger and almonds and sauté just until the peas are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Transfer to serving bowl. Serve warm.
From: Left Foot Organics
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Tickets are going fast -
we are almost sold out...the box office closes at midnight on June 3rd
Food Lust: A delicious way to support
local agriculture
Saturday, June 7
Fall
City
Farms
3636 Neal Road
,
Fall
City
Drinks, Appetizers & Silent Auction - 5:00pm
Dinner: 6:45pm
Followed by Live Auction
Tunes by Junkyard Jane
$85 per person
For details and to make a reservation,
click on the brown paper tickets logo.
All proceeds benefit Cascade Harvest Coalition,
a regional nonprofit organization promoting
sustainable food systems and healthy communities.
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Fresh Gear helps you make a bold statement about your support for local farms and food!
Purchases can be made by via email by clicking here. Prices don't include shipping.
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"Rosie the Riveter" Eat Local T-shirt
Rosie is a symbol of economic possibility and hard work - two qualities that the local food movement embraces and encourages. Rock out with Rosie and make a statement: Do it! Eat Local!
$15.00 - Available in sizes S-XL in White, Yellow, and Oatmeal.
"Get Fresh with a Family Farmer" T-shirt
It's a sweet-tart slogan with a great message. Let the world know that you're not afraid of a little dirt when you're supporting local farms.
$15.00 - Available in sizes M-2XL. Silkscreened American Apparel shirts.
"
Puget Sound
Fresh" Logo Ballcap
Dress your noggin in the freshest ballcap this side of Safeco field. Folks throughout the region will know that buying local is your prerogative when they spy this functional and stylish accessory.
$15.00 - Adjustable fit.
"Buy Local. Get Fresh" Reusable Shopping Bag
Everyone should have one. Show off your sustainable sensibilities with our reusable shopping bag. Strong enough for big trips to the farmers market, stylish enough to carry around town, this is the bag to buy for your everyday needs.
$5.00
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Thanks for reading!
Thanks for opening up the early June edition of
What's Fresh NOW. If you have any questions, please consult the website: www.pugetsoundfresh.org
In the next issue, we'll discuss u-picks, spotlight another local farm, offer more recipes and include more info and tips for enjoying the best in the Northwest: Puget Sound Fresh.
See you soon! Let's hope for more sunshine!
Puget Sound
Fresh Team
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- Vegetables -
Wild Mushrooms (Morels, Porcini, Oyster varieties)
Radishes
Bamboo Shoots
Onions
Greens
Lettuces
Kale
Baby Spinach
Chard
Baby Beets
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Garlic
Leeks
Artichokes
Sunchokes
Baby Turnips
Peas/Pea Pods (early crop
is coming in)
- Fruits -
Strawberries (just a few
more to come in
the next few weeks)
Rhubarb
- Local Farmstead
Cheeses -
Cow
Sheep
Goat
- Eggs -
Chicken
Duck
- Wines -
from local farms
Many varieties from
Puget Sound
appellation
grapes and other fruits
- Ciders -
Fresh and hard varieties
- Herbs -
Fresh and dried
- Shellfish -
Clams
Mussels
Oysters
Geoduck
- Dried Fruits -
Apples,
Asian Pears,
and more
- Dairy Products -
Milk
Cream
Ice Cream
- Meats -
Beef
Veal
Lamb
Pork
Goat
- Poultry -
Chicken
Duck
- Honey -
Wildflower & Berry flavors
(raw and unfiltered)
- Also -
Vinegar
Jam
Jellie
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June 4th and 7th
World Premiere of "Good Food" at the
Seattle
International Film Festival
Click here for the screening information
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June 7th
Food Lust 2008,
Fall
City
Farms,
Fall
City
Click here to buy tickets
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June 29th
Community
Alliance
for Global Justice
Strengthening Local Economies Everywhere
Dinner and Fair
Click here to for more information and to buy tickets
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July 18 - 21
King County Fair,
Enumclaw
Click here for more information
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July 28th
Tilth Farmwalk -
Alm
Hill
Gardens
Focus on diversified production and transition to cooperative ownership
Click here for more information
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Farm
Spotlight
Terry's Berries
Tacoma/Puyallup
Farmers: Terry and Dick Carkner
PSF: What's fresh at your farm now?
Terry: Not much! Everything's late! We've had a rough spring. But, we do have spinach, salad greens, and a few other things coming up.
PSF: Any news about strawberries?!
Terry: Strawberries are still about two weeks away.
PSF: Which farmers markets are you doing this year?
Terry:
Tacoma
and
Puyallup
PSF: And how's your CSA program going?
Terry: Our CSA subscriptions are going great. We typically stay open until we get full, though sometimes we just continue adding people!
PSF: What are a few things that you're excited about in 2008?
Terry:
So much (laughs) it's hard to think of specifics!
1. Once we have warmer weather, looks like it's going to be a great apple and raspberry harvest.
2. We are celebrating our 25th year on this farm, so that's a big milestone for us!
PSF: Congratulations! Anything else you want to tell "What's Fresh NOW" readers?
Terry: Come on down!
We have some great opportunities for children to see a real farm. We have school tours in the fall. CSA members get the chance to participate in a children's garden, where kids get to grow and pick their own veggies.
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