Edition 38

July 24, 2009

• Local Box Contents
• Best of Austin & Updates
• Recipe Corner
• Greenling Tidbits

• New -Coffee, multiple varieties, one good for cold-brew or iced coffee, from Austin Java
• New -Wholegrain Shortbread & Rock Buns from Full English (Local)
• Short Supply - Raw Agave - we're searching for a new source and will sub with Madhava Light Agave (not raw) for a few weeks
• Back in Stock, kinda - Vital Farm Certified Organic Local eggs - the heat is torturing these ladies and they're not laying much. Rinnger farms will help fill the orders

Did you know how much you're helping the planet by supporting Greenling?

The amount of fuel Greenling uses in a day is 86% less than all of our customers from that day driving to the grocery store and back! No kidding! Because we go to one area of town a day and drop up to 200 baskets, we use very little fuel per delivery.

Greenling of course uses renewable energy for all of its electricity and its web servers are powered directly by solar panels.

Greenling recycles everything it can (the shredded paper in your bin is recycled office paper) and almost never throws away food - if we can't eat it we donate it to soup kitchens, animal rescue operations, and compost companies. - check out this video of one of our food partners -

Newsletter Tip - Font a little too small for you? On a PC just hit 'Ctrl'and '+' to zoom in

Awesome Independent Blog Review by a New Greenling Customer

Excerpt from littleaustinite.com...

My kids are an easy sell for vegetables and fruits, and for that I am truly grateful that I do not have picky eaters. Hubby on the other hand grimaces at vegetables and fruits, and though he can always be persuaded to eat something in the name of good health, he does so in a completely forced manner.

When the box first arrived at our doorstep, I unpacked all items and decided to slice up one peach for the kids to share. I offered a piece to hubby, and to my surprise he was fighting the kids for the peach. This was either a dream where I was in Bizarro World, or the peach was something special. I snagged a piece for myself, and hubby kept saying that this was the best peach that he had EVER eaten. We grew up with a peach tree in our backyard, and I know what fresh peaches taste like straight from the tree at the height of the season. Greenling packed us two seriously awesome peaches. We had not even had our box opened for ten minutes, and both peaches were gone.

This is just a tidbit..read the whole, awesome review here -

http://littleaustinite.com/?p=3057

Let Me Figs That for You

Now, I grew up in a nature-lovin household. Dad had an organic garden my whole life and we ate out of it whenever it was producing. But figs....they could have actually grown in Newtons for all I knew. And I never cared for them in that form. In fact, I didn't really understand the value of figs at all.

Like a broken record....say it with me....that all changed when I had my first fresh, local fig. I especially fell in love with them for the lack of prep work or waste that accompanied fig consumption. Pop the whole thing in your mouth! I don't even rinse them off. Maybe I'm afraid I'll rinse off some of their magic crystals cause that's the only thing to explain their smooth, velvety yet crunchy texture and their perfect sweetness. Did you know they grow on a variety of ficus tree? Don't go looking for them in your indoor landscape, though, but you will find them growing all over Texas.

Put that box of Total away cause figs pack tons of fiber and they also are rich in potassium and manganese. Go google 'importance of manganese in diets.' Go ahead, I'll wait. Pretty amazing, huh? You need this stuff in ways you didn't know. So, add local figs to your order for next week! They're only around for a short time and we get daily deliveries cause they're so perishable. You won't find these in the stores.

Bake Sale Still Cookin'

Check out these hot specials (baking hot....we're not actually baking for the sale) and see Recipe Corner below for a recipe using them:

10% off all Wine & Beer (20% off Frog's Leap) - Travis county only

Couscous, Organic plain, Fantastic Foods - $2.00

Salted butter, OV - $6.29

Corn Chips, Garden of Eatin - $4.09

Ground Beef, Local Grass-fed, Bastrop Cattle Co - $6.89/lb

And many, many more! Just browse awesome.greenling.com to find them (hint - they'll say 'SALE' next to them)!

Summer Bin Round-up

Please remember to leave out your bins. If you forget, just give us a call and we'll come pick them up another time. Thanks!

This Week's Box Contents & Local Items

Here's what's available from local farms on our website this week (the best selection of local produce in the state - guaranteed):

In Local Boxes ($34.99) this week (July 27-31):

• Blueberries - Berry Best Farm
• Okra - Acadian Family Farm/Naegelin/Tecolote
• Eggplant - Tecolote
• Italian Sweet Peppers - Lundgren
• Figs - Oasis Gardens or Melon - Acadian Family Farm *It is hard to get those fig trees to produce enough for everyone
• Cucumber - My Father's Farm
• Mix Onions - Various
• Lettuce - Bluebonnet
• Basil - Pure Luck or Herb - Tecolote
• Crimini Mushrooms - Kitchen Pride
• Peaches - Cooper Orchard

Last Week's (July 20-24) Local Box Video

In Farmstead & Local Produce Boxes ($49.99) this week (July 27-31):

• Napalese Pasta Salad - Kala's Kuisine
• Napalese Seasoning - Kala's Kuisine
• Mango Chutney - Kala's Kuisine
• Marilyn Brownie - Mary Louise Butters Brownie

Produce from Local Farms

• Arugula, Baby - Animal Farm
• Watermelon - Acadian Family Farm
• Berries, Blueberries-Berry Best Farms
• Poblano Peppers - Acadian Family Farm
• Garlic - Naegelin
• Grapefruit - G&S Grove
• Herb, Asst - Pure Luck
• Herbs, Basil, Live - Bella Verdi
• Lentil Sprouts - Groovy Greens
• Tomatoes, Slicing - Various
• Sunflower Sprouts - Groovy Greens
• Anaheim - Arnold Organics
• Elephant Garlic cloves - Green Gate
• Lettuce, Baby - Animal Farm
• Lettuce, Bibb - Bella Verdi
• Italian Peppers - Lundgren/Acadian Family Farm
• Green Bell peppers - Acadian Family Farm

Produce from Local Farms

• Limes - G&S Grove
• Microgreens, Arugula - Bella Verdi
• Microgreens, Broccoli - Bella Verdi
• Mushroom, Crimini - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Portobello - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Shiitake - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, White - Kitchen Pride
• Onion, White - Acadian Family Farm/Tecolote
• Onion, Yellow - Naegelin
• Onion, Red - Rinnger
• Orange, Valencia - G&S Grove
• Peaches - Cooper Orchards
• Potatoes, Red - Naegelin
• Squash, Yellow - Naegelin
• Squash, Zucchini - Texas Natural
• Cantaloupe - Acadian Family Farm
• Shallots - Lundgren Farm
• Jalapeno - Lungren
• Serrano - Lungren
• Eggplant - Various Farms

News & Events

Operating Partner Search

No, I'm not leaving. Just looking for someone to run the show while I dig us deeper into our mission and Sustainability. But it's like dropping your kid at school for the first time. Probably bigger for you than for them. We have found something here at Greenling that we believe to be an important part of local food systems! I'm excited to be a part of this movement and Greenling's incredible growth so far is just the beginning and a glimpse into the food ecosystem that's being developed right here in Central Texas. And it's all because of you and your support of local and organic food. We've got some really awesome things coming for you this fall and with a little help we'll leave industrial ag in the dust wondering what happened.

Mosaic Local Box Workshop

-Wed. July 29th, 7pm

-Mosaic Apartments (map)

-$5

When Mosaic heard about our cooking classes, they wanted to get involved! They're a great apartment community with a cool grilling area at their pool. Come join us pool side with Chef Andrew for an evening Local Box Workshop. If you'd rather get your Local Box at the demo so you can take it home and recreate his recipes immediately, they'll be available. Otherwise be sure to add one to your basket and learn his recipes and tips by the pool. Feel free to bring a bathing suit and enjoy the class and some free Greenling Wine/Beer from in the pool!

Contact Melanie to order your Local Box for delivery at the Demo mcolpaart@greenling.com

Recipe Corner - Winning Soiree Recipe

We had a local food tasting Friday the 10th where about 75 people tried different local food dishes and voted on their favorites. This recipe won Healthy Choice....we're guessing people didn't see the sugar in it, but considering how much more can go into a dessert, maybe it is healthy. One thing is for sure - it was a very close second for Best Overall:

Healthy Choice - Basil Peaches & Blueberries

By Shaidri Alrich

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
  
• 1/2 cup water
  
• 1 bunch basil, leaves removed
  
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  
• 6 peaches, sliced
  
• 1/2 pint blueberries (about 1 cup)

Instructions:

In a small saucepan heat sugar and water over medium heat until sugar is disolved. Add 3/4 of your basil leaves and let sit for 2 hours.

Remove basil from syrup and add lemon juice. Chop remaining 1/4 of basil leaves. Mix peaches, chopped basil and basil syrup in a bowl and let sit 15 minutes. Stir in blueberries and serve.

Summer Treat - Watermelon Agua Fresca

Ingredients:

• 5 cups cubed peeled, seeded melon (from about 3 lb. melon; You can use any type of melon)
  
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar
  
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup lime juice
  
• Lime Slices for Garnish

Instructions:

In a blender, whirl melon, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 cup water until very smooth. Pour into a large pitcher (at least 3 qt.). Whisk in 1/3 cup lime juice, 7 cups water, and more sugar and lime juice to taste. Chill until cold, at least 1 hour or up to 1 day. Serve over ice.

Green Pepper Couscous

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp Organic Valley salted butter
  
• 1/2 medium onion, sliced (about 1 cup)
  
• 2 medium green bell peppers, diced (about 2 cups)
  
• 4 medium cloves garlic, crushed through a press
  
• 1-1/2 cups water
  
• 1 cup Fantastic Foods couscous
  
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:

Melt butter in a nonstick saucepan and add onion. Sauté gently for about 10 minutes, or until onion is golden. Add green peppers and garlic and sauté for another 5 minutes. Add water and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, cover, and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and add salt and pepper to taste.

For More Recipes Check Out The Eating Out of the Local Box Blog