Edition 185

June 25, 2010

• Local Box Contents
• News & Updates
• Recipe Corner
• Greenling Tidbits

• Limited - Butter, from Way Back When
• Limited -Pork Tenderloin, from Richardson's Farms
• In Trouble -Kombucha, from GTs...the alcohol content eeked above .5% so the govt yanked it from the shelves. Try Buddha's Brew instead!
• Further Away -Apples, now being imported from outside the US...we suggest enjoying peaches instead. They'll be domestic again in the Fall
• Gone -Greenbelt Trail Mix, from Daily Juice, forever. Tell me about it
• New -Honeydew, local from Ringger farm
• New -Local Lamb, from a new local, grass-fed source, will add a few cuts and smooth out supply
• Coming Soon - Peppers, from local farms...why do hot peppers grow in the summer?
• Lotsa -Fruit, big bounties from non-local, certified organic farms

How To Cut A Watermelon

We learned a new trick from Chef Andrew at one of our Local Box Workshops for cutting up a watermelon - cut off a piece of both ends (just enough so it can stand up). Then cut off the outside like you would a pineapple. Just cut the rind. You can come back and trim more if you're left with some white flesh. You should end up with a huge melon ball! Then just slice however you want.

Also, it turns out you can eat the rind. If you start by just peeling the skin off...you can probably use an actual peeler. The cut off the rind in pieces it can be stir-fried with veggies or pickled.

Increase Your Fame with Your Own Quick-Shop Basket

You know how people get drinks named after them? You can have the same notoriety by helping us develop quick-shop baskets. I'll let you in on a secret that we're developing a load of new ones to make shopping faster. We need your help developing them. If you think everyone should order the same set of products you do or have created a cool collection of items for recipes, let us know! The best baskets will be immortalized on our Quick-shop basket page and you'll get a free local box!

Don't Make Baby Carry a Watermelon

It's not true that lugging it around in your cart, to your car, and finally home actually makes it sweeter. And the first time it crushes that bread or bag of chips it becomes a bittersweet affair. But no longer because we've got big, burly men to carry these amazingly delicious boulders right to your door (and into your kitchen if you like). Watermelons are the quintessential summer fruit and with temperatures rising above 100, now is the time to relish in their magical powers. Local, organic watermelon is one of the items I think has no comparison. I will eat an entire mega-size watermelon in one sitting. Since it's 94% water and a mild diuretic, however, I don't get to sit for long.

It's thought to have originated in Africa and I can only imagine the bliss this heavenly orb's discoverer felt as they cut open and tried it for the first time. Closer to home, the Carolina Cross has tested the limits of goodness with 65-150lb babies and the world record 262lb watermelon.

Though growing square watermelons feels like something Monsanto would try (more here), it actually only requires putting a box around it as it grows. I prefer mine oddly-shaped - not liking to sit still or conform to our myriad storage attempts. The best thing to do is cut it up and the half you don't eat while cutting can go in a bowl in the fridge. Check out our tidbit below for cutting tips and don't forget to add it to your order because they're in-season and abundant!

Vote Greenling 'Best Local Food Company' Again!

And not just because we ask nicely (pretty please?). We're working hard to grow the local food movement & are the largest single source for local food anywhere and are still able to work with any size farmer or producer - from a backyard gardener to hundred-acre farms. We also threw an awesome party last year when we won! We collected the best local food and beverages and threw a bash that hundreds of people attended and were able to sample what makes Austin food so good. We'd love to throw another party and need your votes! Here's what makes us the 'Best Local Food Company:'

• We have the largest selection of local, sustainably produced foods of any retail outlet, anywhere!
• We have 2x-10x the local produce of any grocery store
• We bring it all right to your door!
• We're the best outlet for local vendors with flexible receiving and the ability to work with any size producer from a backyard gardener to large local farmers
• We even work with many CSAs and buy crops before and after their CSA season to increase the farm income
• We help new producers get started with purchasing commitments and growing, year-round demand
• We also support local operations through fund-raisers and behind-the-scenes efforts like drafting legislation to make local, Organics easier and helping form Slow Money Austin which aims to bring more investment capital to the local food system

We hope it's an easy vote for you. Go here to cast it and ask your friends to vote for us too!

This Week's Box Contents & Local Items

Please remember to gorge on blueberries. They're so healthy and amazingly delicious while they're in season for a short while. Read here for my obsession with them.

Also, please note that while the Local Box may sometimes look a little smaller than other times, it's still the same great value. Summer veggies are denser, but packed with nutrition.

Here's what will be available from local farms on our website this week (the best selection of local produce in the state - guaranteed). Items with a (*) are only available in the Local Box:

In Local Boxes ($34.99) this week (Jun 28-July 2):

• Grape Tomatoes - Acadian
  
• Butter Beans - Just Peach
  
• Summer Squash - Gordan Taylor
  
• Blueberries - Berry Best
  
• Carrots - Acadian
  
• Garlic - My Father's Farm
  
• Basil - Various
  
• Watermelon or Cantaloupe - ABJ
  
• Swiss Chard - Texas Naturals

Last Week's (Jun 21-25) Local Box Video:

In Farmstead Boxes this week (Jun 28-July 2):

• Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish - Little Bluestem
• Fireman's 4 Mustard - Dai Due

Order Here

Fresh, Prepared Meal Selection for this week will by posted by Friday evening

Produce from Local Farms

• Arugula-Bluebonnet
  
• Arugula, Baby-Animal Farm
  
• Basil-Various
  
• Basil, Live-BellaVerdi
  
• Beets and Carrots Juicing-My Father's Farm
  
• Carrots with Tops-Various
  
• Chard-Texas Natural
  
• Corn- J&B Farm
  
• Cucumbers-Acadian Family Farm
  
• Garlic-Ringger Family Farm
  
• Green Beans-Various
  
• Green Cabbage-Naegelin
  
• Herbs-Pure Luck
  
• Parsley-Tecolote
  
• Leeks-Montesino, My Father's Farm
• Lettuce,Bibb-BellaVerdi
  
• Microgreens-BellaVerdi
  
• Mushroom, Crimini-Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, Oyster-Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, Port caps-Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, White-Kitchen Pride

Produce from Local Farms

• Pea Shoots-Bluebonnet
  
• Pepper, Green Bell-My Father's Farm
  
• Potates, Red-Naegelin
  
• Potatoes, Yukon-Oak Hill
  
• Radish, Watermelon-Ringger Family Farm
  
• Shallot-Lundgren
  
• Sprouts, All-Groovy Greens
  
• Summer Squash-Various
  
• Tomato, Cherry-Naegelin
  
• Tomato, Slicing - ABJ Farms-
• Tomato, Heirloom - Green Gate
  
• Tomato, Green-Ringger Family Farm
  
• Watercress-Bluebonnet
• Berries, Blueberries -Berry Best Farms
  
• Mango-G&S
  
• Peaches-Caskey, Lundgren

Events & Local Food Happenings Around Town

East Village Fourth Friday

-TODAY! 7pm!

-FREE

-Eastside (map)

Rare is excited to present the grand opening of The East Village, one of the most unique mixed-use projects in the epicenter of Austin's East End District. Greenling has had a soiree there and will be back tonight with yummy local goods incluing Mary Louise Butter Brownies!

The East Side Sampler, aptly named for its depiction of everything unique on the East Side, will have a variety of events all happening within one main event. DJ Manolo Black, Team Fabrication, Indian dancers, some Spoken Word, light show and fog machines from Switched On, and more. East End Fourth Friday will also be rocking into the night along East 11th simultaneously to our event, so come ready to have an entire evening of fun on the East side.

Complimentary cocktails from Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, TRU Organic Spirits, and Cavalino Tequila, Homegrown Margarita Juice as well as samplings from surrounding restaurants like East Side Showroom, East End Wines, Me So Hungry, Buenos Aires Cafe, Greenling, Hoovers, Hot Mamas Café featuring Ararat, and others. Sponsors for this event include University Federal Credit Union, TODO Austin, Whole Kids Lifestyle, and Pangea Beat.

Learn More here

Texas Showcase Fundraiser

-June 26, 4-8pm

-$40-$60

-Space 12, 3121 East 12th ST

Take part in this delicious revolution while sampling palate pleasing artisan foods that are all "good, clean and fair." Enjoy what makes our state taste great: from beers and breads, cheese and charcuterie, to coffee and tea! Live music, producer demos, a silent auction, and more are not to be missed at this family-friendly event.

RSVP to president@slowfoodaustin.org or click here to learn more

SFC Watermelon Fest

-June 26, 9am-1pm

-Free

-Downtown Farmers Market

Fun for the whole family! Come for the Watermelon Eating and Seed Spitting contests, and enjoy juicy cold watermelon slices for sale! Tap your feet to the on-site live music, and take part in our door prizes. We'll also host a Chef’s demo and "Taste the Place" Tent.

click here to learn more

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Eco-Series Smart Grid Project Launch Party

-June 27th, 2-5pm

-$5-$10 suggested donation to Southwest Key

-AGAVE, 5237 Sendero Hills Pkwy

Join Incenergy, Eco-Series, and a whole slate of green partners for a Smart Grid launch at Agave. Learn how Incenergy's Smart Grid technology can offer residential customers greater transparency into their power usage. Hear from the founder about their plans for deployment & growth. Also hear from homeowners, the architect, and university professors about smart grids and their benefits.

Learn more here

Recipe Corner

Summering Succotash!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
  
• 2 ears fresh corn, kernels cut from cob
  
• 1/2 cup diced yellow squash
  
• 1/2 cup diced zucchini
  
• 3/4 cup diced red onion
  
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
  
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
  
• 1/2 cup butter beans
  
• 2 tablespoons dry white wine
  
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
  
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  

Instructions:

Heat butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat; add corn and next 7 ingredients. Sauté 10 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.

Add white wine; cook 1 minute. Stir in basil, salt, and pepper. Serve immediately.

For More Recipes Check Out The Eating Out of the Local Box Blog. Also make sure to become a fan of Greenling on Facebook to get weekly recipes from Woman With A Whisk & The Best of Thymes food bloggers.