This week in our CSA

First, a reminder that membership in our Summer CSA – starting mid-May – is now open for sale!

The atmospheric river has returned! Our farm crew had a super soggy harvest the last few days, but they brought in another round of beautiful produce for our shareholders and single-pickup customers. In additional to the delicious veggies we’ll also have some beautiful dry beans and honey for sale at the pickup.

Also sending a shout out to the City of Portland who came through this week and graded the gravel road in front of our house. We really appreciate it and imagine that you likely do too!

Here are some highlights from today’s CSA box…

• David & Katie are some of the most enthusiastic dry bean advocates in town!! You’ll likely recognize them because they’ve both worked at the CSA pickups (and at the farm) over the years. They will be here tonight to share their vast knowledge of all things beans and give you the opportunity to buy some extra dry beans and/or their very fun Bean Zean (or Bien Zine?). Last summer we hosted them at Grand Island where they grew almost 10,000 sq ft of 6 different varieties for their very own Dry Bean CSA @lamerendafarm. We really appreciate that them sharing their creativity and passion for this delicious crop.
• Collard Greens are back! Try them in a Comforting Curry, Spicy Eritrean Stew, or with Leeks & Beans in Coconut Milk. They are also delicious in this Caldo Verde. All recipes are on our special, shareholders-only 47th Ave Farm page at Cook With What You Have.
• The green Pan di Zucchero, aka Sugarloaf is one of the last chicory varieties of the winter. Try it in a Hearty Salad or carmelized with beans (lots of those on offer today!) and leeks with crispy shallots on top. Want to learn more about all things chicory? Check out this Radicchio Zine from our friends at the Culinary Breeding Network. It includes much history, trivia and my favorite radicchio salad recipe Insalata Nostrana (pg 20).

Does this sound delicious, but you’re not a shareholder? That’s an easy problem to solve! Come on board for our amazing Winter/Spring CSA on a prorated basis at one of our two pickup locations (SE Portland or Lake Oswego) and take home fresh, local, sustainably-farmed produce like this every other week!