SM23 (W5): Officially in Tomato Season

Dear CSA Members + Farm Community,

The near-constant rain last week has thrown a wrench in a lot of our plans: it’s been too wet to prep beds for our second succession of peppers and okra, it’s made harvest difficult or in some cases impossible. Even still, we hit some major summer farm milestones! We have harvested all of the alliums (garlic, onions, shallots) from the field, and they are currently curing (for alliums, storing them in specific ways to allow the outer layer to form a papery protective wrapper) on shelves and in hanging bundles. You’ll be seeing them for months to come!

We’re also officially all the way into tomato season. The plants are so tall that they’re bending over the top of their trellises and forming little tunnels we crawl through to harvest. They’re also playing host to some adorable and sort of alien-looking baby birds (see pic below) and other critters!

This week, CSA members will get both cherry tomatoes and slicing tomatoes! With the cherries, I love to throw them in a skillet with a generous amount olive oil, salt, pepper, a few cloves of garlic and a handful of rough chopped herbs and bake at 400 until they’re popped and saucy. Serve over pasta or just eat by the spoonful! With the slicers, a BLT or just tomato sammie- bread, salt and pepper, thick slices of tomato, and mayonnaise (Duke’s or bust!)- is all I want this time of year. If you want to expand your horizons, try this super easy tomato tart or maybe for a group project, make and can some tomato sauce!

Happy eating!
Diamond Hill Farmers

This week’s farm share:

$25 Share: Potatoes, Garlic, Sweet Peppers, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Slicing Tomatoes, Dragon’s Tongue Beans or Yellow Beans, Basil

$35 Share: Potatoes, Garlic, Sweet Peppers, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Slicing Tomatoes, Dragon’s Tongue Beans or Yellow Beans, Basil, Cucumbers, Onions