HERM-TOWN HEROES
Hello Chimacum Corner Community!
Melon Madness has descended upon the kitchen counters of Chimacum. ‘Tis officially the season of the fruit fly, and also the season of whoops-I-just-spent-fifty-bucks-on-fruit-hastag-sorry-not-sorry. It’s hard to keep it all straight out there on the Produce Porch: do I get Rainier cherries, local raspberries, Tonnemaker peaches, or Tonnemaker Apricots, Walchli cantaloupes, or Ladybug black seedless? It’s enough fructose to make anyone’s head spin. Out in the Nursery, pollinators are dancing about through the rows of gorgeous blooms, capturing their own nectar. The chaotic energy of later summer is officially here, and it’s time to make hay (literally!). Here is how every day should start for the next several weeks: a Hermiston, sliced in half, a spoon, a little yogurt, and your favorite berry, consume, consume, consume. Of course, when you’ve come up for air from your musk melon, there is lots more to celebrate at the Corner, so come take a “written walk” with us about the shop.
HERMISTON MELON MANIA
Last Friday, July 11th, marked the hallowed return of that most melodious of musk melons: the Walchli Farms “Hermiston” vine-ripened cantaloupe. Melon Christmas came a bit early this year, and they are already slicing exceptionally well. What makes them so good? Hermiston is hot, and they have quite sandy soil, both key factors in melon production. The main thing, though, is letting the fruit actually ripen mostly on the vine. As with Tonnemaker Hill fruits, this jacks up the sugars in the melons and brings out all of the aromatics the melons exude. Then it becomes a race to distribute these little sugary bundles of joy throughout the northwest. Right now we are averaging roughly 700-800 pounds per day! Not too shabby for a three by three wooden slatted bin at the head of the Produce Porch. Our hand baskets are never heavier than at the beginning of Hermiston season. Huge shoutout to the Produce team for the tremendous lift they make every July and August to ensure that CCF is the premier outlet for Hermiston cantaloupes in practically the entire northwest. Don’t forget about our punch card system for Walchli cantaloupes: when you buy 10 melons, you get one free! I leave you with a summer dad joke from the all-time dad-joker and CCF-alumnus (and active string instrument shredder) Steve Bonnell: “Did you get your melon in this week?”
Need help finding a melon?
Just check out this video featuring Produce Guru Aaron.
CASE DEALS! TIME TO GET CANNING!
It is truly a best “case” scenario out on the produce porch. We have 6# and 13# apricot cases, all of which are Robada freestone fruit from Tonnemaker Hill. We also offer 35# cases of Hermiston cantaloupes for $42 (save $10) if your addiction has metastasized into a full blown Bacchanalia. Then there are still 5# and 20# cases of cherries as the sun sets on a stellar year for all red types as well as Rainiers. We also have 5# cases of pickling cucumbers from Midori if you are more of a high-volume savory type!
Ain’t No Cure For The Charcuterie Blues
How do meat lovers incorporate protein into the fruity times of summer? Charcuterie is often preferred. There was Adam and Eve, Bonnie and Clyde, and then there was cantaloupe and prosciutto. Salty ribbons of fine pork wrapped around the aromatic musk of a melon chunk/ball is a true delight. We have two great options for prosciutto in both Creminelli and also Salt & Twine brands. No nitrates/trites and “low & slow” as they say. Our cured meats section merely begins with prosciutto. A consensus favorite amongst the CCF marketing team is the Coro brand sliced Mole salami, tangy and earthy but also sweet from cacao notes. Then there’s Pork Pate and all of the Olympia Provisions salamis and the like that we carry as well! Beat the heat with quality meats.
Friends Of The Bees
How much dreamier would it be to say “I need to go water my meadow” instead of “I need to go water my lawn”? Lying dormant in every lawn is the potential for a beautiful pollinator meadow. We have a great selection of pollinator friendly plants at the Corner Nursery for building up gardens heading into fall (can’t you feel the light fading already?). A quick google search yielded this handy and compact brochure from the Puget Sound Beekeepers Assocation. In perusing it, I saw the familiars you think of, like catmint, yarrow, and echinacea, but was also stoked to reconsider common herbs like parsley, cilantro, rosemary, and spearmint as deserving of a place in a pollinator-meadow style planting. I also saw some cover crops on the list, like buckwheat and clover, which we have in stock in the greenhouse as well. Buckwheat is the ultimate summer cover crop, just ask Keith Kisler at Chimacum Valley Grainery, who has been known to pull off 8-10 foot tall buckwheat cover crop plantings! Of course, any discussion of summer pollinators would be remiss not to mention the Sequim Lavender Weekend, July 18-20! Get out onto some lavender farms and anoint yourself in lavender oils! With classics like Purple Haze, Victor’s, Kitty B’s, Jardin du Soleil, and Sunshine, there are so many ways to experience the herb which Ancient Greeks referred to as “Nard.” (lol) Did you know that the lavender wand, or fuseaux de lavande, was invented by French women in the 17th century? Nor did I! If lavender had a theme song, it would definitely be Outkast’s “So Fresh, So Clean.” Right?!?! Anyways, this week is all about being a “friend of the bees.”
On The Good (Ship Lolli) Pop
Shirley Temple’s dream has come true at the Corner Store. We have a bevy of delights from the earnest yet hard charging novelty frozen brand out of Austin, GoodPop. Far from their humble beginnings at Farmers Market in Austin, they now have brand partnerships with the likes of Star Wars and 4Ocean. They have even expanded into fizzy fruit juice beverages which we have a selection of for your enjoyment. The Hibiscus Mint fruit juice bar is a unique pairing that is extremely refreshing. GoodPop is pushing their industry forward in the realm of conscious manufacturing, and they make darn good products while doing so.
Little League Big Dumpers
As proud sponsors of East Jefferson Little League, we were extremely hyped when the East Jefferson Junior All-Stars remained undefeated on their season (25-0!) to become Junior League State Champions and punched their ticket to the JLB West Region Tournament in Bend, Oregon at the end of the month. Our boys have one of the top two seeds heading into the tournament, and will face either the district host team from Bend or Alaska in their first game on July 25th!
Let’s give them 3 cheers and while you’re at it drop some coin to support their tournament travels. (see Venmo below)
Also, it’s been a great week for Chimacum baseball, as the Farm Hacks (whose jerseys are designed by Katy our owner!) won their first playoff game in the Jeffco Parks & Rec Co-Ed Softball League, against the Uptown Barflies! Big Bomb Tom sealed the W with a true Willie-Mays-esque grab in centerfield, an exclamation point on a dramatic comeback from the Hacks. We look forward to all the tournament play our local sluggers get into this summer. And hopefully the Mariners and good ol’ Big Dumper in the fall!
P.S. - calling all Mariners fans and ball-sports-people: we got a limited edition “Jandy Rohnson” triple IPA from No Boat Brewing, and it is an amazing beer, and likely a collectable can, featuring the Big Unit himself! Snag one while supplies last!
