PUMP, PUMP PUMP IT UP!
Hello Chimacum Corner Community!
That familiar crisp of fall is back in the morning and evening mists. Fall is pretty much synonymous with apples and squash at Chimacum Corner, and this week we are singing the praises of those “cucurbit keepers,” the winter squashes! All over Washington state tractors are forklifting macrototes into their squash fields, and piling squash in, 700 pounds at a time. Some of the squash weigh 700 on their own! While not quite THAT large, the Corner Nursery has set their giant pumpkin on display once again for the fall season, and we are continuing in the delightful tradition of a “guess the weight” contest for the Big Boy. Whether you like to eat squash or decorate with it (or both!), we’ve got a little bit of everything in that department, from the teeniest Delicata to the most ginormous Hubbard. So cuddle up, perhaps with a Buttercup squash, get that oven roaring, and bust out your carving implements, it’s time to get out of your gourd about winter squash!
Squash Kosh B’Gosh
Local farms have been hustling hard to kit out the Produce Porch with a delightful smattering of winter squashes. Our pole producer of squash, Red Dog Farm, has thus far been supplying Delicata, Butternut, Hubbard, Buttercup, Pie Pumpkins, and Red Kuri. We also received our first macrotote of the ultimate crowd pleaser, Honeyboat Delicata, from none other than Midori Farm. Some of those honeyboats could be converted into canoes they are so grande! As with apples, the later curing varieties of squash will continue to be added into the mix, like Kabocha and the infamous “iron helmet” aka the Tetsukabuto. Soups, stews, pies, oh my! Winter squash add a sculptural element to the kitchen counter, and are an investment in your nourishment.
Case Deals
20lb Apples Cases!
Prices vary from $25 to $60 per case depending on variety.
Get Creative
Looking for an x-factor to level up a warming squash soup? We at the Corner are excited about a new label of miso we are stocking. We have two non-soy-based misos from Creative Koji, an “alt-miso” company based in Twisp, WA. Available in Pink Bean or Garbanzo Bean flavors, Creative Koji misos are the serious umami you want when you are simmering a beautiful butternut squash soup. Much like tempeh, miso is a seasoning made from fermented legume, salt, and a fungus called koji (hence the brand name). It is best to add miso at the end of seasoning your dish, as high heat denatures the healthy probiotics existent in well-made misos. Snag a jar and get to seasoning the new season.
Delicata in the Deli
Not the type to be left out of the autumnal squash conversation, the Corner Kitchen is rebooting the Fall Quinoa Salad featuring local Delicata squash! Pumpkin seeds and feta lend some crunch and tang to the fluffy quinoa base. In addition, just so you get some local greens in there as well, fine ribbons of lacinato kale are added to the mix. A very easy, clean, healthy grab-and-go option for those on the run about town!
Also, for something squashy and sweet, keep your eyes peeled for the return of Pumpkin Pie by the Slice, featuring a filling derived from Red Dog Farm Pie Pumpkin. When fall rolls around, the Baking team pulls harder than Jim & John, the draft horse duo of Chimacum Workhorse Project!
Pump House Gang
The Corner Nursery has transformed into the House of the Pumpkin! Turner and company brought in several macrototes themselves of a wide swath of fun ornamentals. In addition to classic orange J.O.L.’s (Jack-O-Lantern), there are some blushy pinks, brilliant whites, and creamy yellows. Don’t forget the witchy Warties as well! Pro-tip for selecting a pumpkin: all of the sizes are marked on the underside of the pumpkins and there are sizing/pricing charts conveniently located throughout the Nursery area. One other Nursery housekeeping note: the posted hours for the Nursery are 9am to 7pm, and you can reliably expect help/staff in the Greenhouse from 9am to 4pm-ish most days. As ever, the entire Chimacum Corner team is available to help to the best of our abilities in the case of any absence of our revered Nursery team, and Nursery items can always be purchased inside the Corner. So, grab your gourds on the way home from work, we’ll be around!
In support of all fall baking endeavors, we have some great deals on some core staples in the piemaking front. First off, there are significant savings on Pumpkin Puree from Farmers Market brand, to get that pie extra silky. Then, we have a great deal on Vanilla Extract from Flavorganics to add that je ne sais quoi that vanilla always brings to the table. Don’t forget we continue to offer our small but mighty bulk spices pantry as well, to add that extra edge to your oven creations. Have at it, Chimacum!
Pump Like a Truck
As previously mentioned, our annual Giant Pumpkin specimen has arrived in the Corner Nursery. Big thank you to Organically Grown Co. for sending us this gorgeous Atlantic Giant from Nottinghamshire Farms, a family-owned farm in St. Paul, Oregon (who also are a main supplier of our summer sweet corn!). As ever, y’all, our beloved customers, are encouraged to fill out a “guess the weight” slip and submit it to the basket on the main end cap of the Grocery zone. A special prize will be gifted to the closest guess!
