PLANT FOR FALL FARMIN’
Hello Chimacum Corner Community!
It is a cruel trick of farming that just as you get one season’s crop well established (i.e. summer), it’s already time to be planting out the next season’s crop. While it may seem counterintuitive to be planting cool-loving crops in the blistering heat of July and August, they need that planting time to get up to size in order to survive well into winter (and for some, spring!) and provide much needed late-season sustenance. Fortunately for all of us local gardeners, we have the amazing Midori Farm to keep our transplant timings on point for an abundant fall garden. The season hurtles at blistering speed to first frost, and many successions of local greens have already come, been harvested, and have gone, with many more still on the horizon. From the Produce Porch to our lovely Kitchen team across the street, we find all the ways we can muster at Chimacum Corner to champion the quality, integrity, and excellence of Local Greens. That’s to say nothing of the fact that we have hit peak Stone Fruit, Local Berries, and the arrival of the vaunted Hermiston Cantaloupes all at once! It’s a Party on the Produce Porch y’all! Get after it!
Local Greens Loop
The Produce Porch is chock full of local greens to delight any and all comers. We have gorgeous head lettuces from Stellar J and Red Dog Farm, from Red Butter to Frisee! For bunched greens, we have Rainbow Chard from Midori Farm, and a whole suite of Kales (plus Collards!) from Red Dog Farm. These plants were probably seeded way back in March, and really hit their stride in June and July. If conditions are smooth, these plants will last all the way until next March when they begin to flower and are enjoyed as Raab! Bunched greens are also a staple of farm income as they provide a continuous and stable weekly harvest for weeks or even months on end. Support your local farm by purchasing bunched greens and head lettuces all season long! Don’t forget the triumvirate of bagged greens: salad mix, arugula, and spinach!
Case Deals
We have some great case options with the influx of Tonnemaker fruit, see the list below!
Yellow Peach: Garnet Beauty
by the lb: $3.99
Half Case: $16.99
Full Case: $29.99
White Nectarines: Arctic Glo
by the lb: $3.99
Half case: $16.99
Full case: $29.99
Melon Madness IYKYK
Have you already caught the arrival of the Hermiston grown ORGANIC Cantaloupe from John Walchli Farm? That’s right. THEY’RE HERE!!! And they are eating well! Even when firm, they are carrying that classic melon flavor - not too sweet, a little creamy. The cool thing about melon season, is that it is extended by growing three different varieties of melon that ripen at different points throughout the summer.
Plant Now Pick Later
Midori Farm is an amazing local business. From their impeccable Garden Transplants program to their delicious Sauerkraut line-up, not to mention their absolutely “Cadillac” Produce, the excellence is always on display, and always executed with the humility and true grit of real deal farmers. Right now is the moment for y’all to take advantage of their reasoned selections for their Fall & Winter Vegetable Transplant program. This farmer’s personal favorite of the bunch are the Chicories: Treviso and Castelfranco Radicchios, and “Coral” Escarole. These plants can last well into the winter, even if their outer layers of leaves become rather schmooey. Don’t compost them, just peel back the layers to reveal the bright orb still living underneath! Midori also has some robust Purple Sprouting Broccoli on offer, as well as Afghan Collards, which are seedlings grown from local seed purveyors’ Saltwater Seeds stock! What a cool local collard-collab! Don’t forget last successions of head lettuces as well as a Basil plant or two for the window sill! Woohoo!
Samish Bay Succession
For this week’s Grocery plug we’d like to give a hearty shout out to Samish Bay Cheeses and Yogurts. Samish Bay is a legacy dairy farm in Bow, WA that has been owned and operated by Suzanne and Roger Wechsler since 1999. They are passing the farm on to Amber Hernandez, a longstanding employee and linchpin of their Sales Team. Business succession in farming has become a very important issue, as most farmers either don’t have children or their children aren’t interested in continuing to own and operate farms given the significant headwinds farms face in global economy. It is heartening to see a team come together to ensure the continued operation of a community food staple like Samish Bay. Check out this article on Amber’s succession plan for carrying on the legacy of Samish Bay and how you can help ensure the smooth transition of this business from farmer to farmer. Also, you can show support by buying one of their fabulous offerings of Gouda or their marbled Chipotle Cheddar from our Dairy department! Keep Calm and Whey On, Samish Bay!
Greens Acres
Thank goodness for farmers that understand succession planting planning! This ensures that week after week our Corner Kitchen salad program is filled with Local Greens. Shoutout to Space Twins Provisions and Stellar J Farm for holding it down and supplying the roughage needed for Country Store Salad, Blackened Chicken Salad, as well as all of the greens that go into our Deli sandwich program. Also, shout-out to Kitchen Production Lead Mike for staying committed to our core ethos of “Keeping it Local” however we possibly can!
Speaking of greens, our General Manager Nicole’s favorite way to make kale tasty quickly is one of our current deals via INFRA! Bragg brand Nutritional Yeast as well as their organic 24 Herbs & Spices sprinkle are both on sale. Massage these flavor augmenters into your favorite local bunched kale (or Stir Fry Mix from Red Dog or Chimalow) and watch the greens glow up! Nutritional Yeast is also a must in the popcorn flavoring pantry. Spice up your life!
We Hirin’!
That’s right, we’re back in the hunt for a few more wholesome souls. Chimacum Corner seeks a Level 3 Buyer for the Grocery Department as well as a Closing Clerk for the Front of House team. Come see what this rural natural grocery rodeo is all about! We’d be pleased to have you on the team. Check out the “Join The Team” page on our website for the skinny on both positions.
