Can you believe another month has gone by?  Next week starts March already….Wow!  This week, we will be bringing you some shallots (if you so desire) from Finley Farms in Santa Ynez.  I thought I would include a little blurb about onions vs. shallots for you.

Shallots, like onions and garlic, are a member of the allium family, but their flavor is richer, sweeter, yet more potent. Like garlic, they grow in clusters, with several bulbs attached at the base. You’ll recognize them by their coppery skins and their off-white flesh, which is usually tinged with magenta. Shallots add a great depth of flavor to pan sautés, soups, sauces, and stews, and pair especially well with chicken and fish. To substitute one for the other in recipes, use half the amount of shallot that you would onion.

For next week, we have the following choices for you:

Mini Boxes:  Broccoli, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Winter Squash, Carrots, Limes, and Kiwi

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Shallots, Yukon Gold Potatoes, and Blood Oranges

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small PLUS Fennel OR leeks, Radishes, and Strawberries

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS Mushrooms, Bok Choy, tomatoes, Blueberries, and Navel Oranges

Half and Half Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits – your choice

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies from the list above

Still Available for Substitutions:  Cabbage, Cauliflower, Asparagus, Green Onions, Celery, Beets, Swiss Chard, Kale, Spinach, Zucchini, Bosc Pears, Tangerines,, Pink Grapefruit and more…..just ask!

Don’t forget to order your Great Harvest Bread Co. Breads, Organic Cheeses, Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars from Ojai Olive Oil Co. , as well as Farm Fresh Eggs, local honey, and Chivas Skin Care Products!

Take care, and have a wonderful week!

Lisette and Carol

Farmer Fresh To You

Our new Facebook page is up – check it out – Farmer Fresh To You. We will be adding more and more content to this page; i.e., photos of some of the farms, some of the farmers, vendors – and if Carol and I ever get ourselves dressed up – photos of us as well!!! Like us on Facebook – I think that is the term!!! We are excited about this and there will be links to the website and other websites as we go on.

On a Special Diet? – ask us to tailor your box to fit your needs!!  We are happy to help you with this.

Kids won’t eat cauliflower???  We can get you the orange kind and you can tell them it is Cheesy Cauliflower – or the purple type, which will not only change their minds, but will blow their minds!!

Don’t forget to add eggs, olive oils, breads, honey, and balsamic vinegars, meat and chicken to your order – these are all from LOCAL SOURCES – AND they are wonderful!

Next week’s box picks are as follows:

Mini Boxes: Carrots, celery, Swiss Chard OR Kale, Beets, Green Onions, Tangerines OR Tangelos and Apples

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Tomatoes, Asparagus, and Bosc Pears

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small PLUS Avocados, Yams, and Strawberries

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS Zucchini, Spinach, Cauliflower, Asian Pears, and Blood Oranges

Half and Half Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies from the list above

Also available for substitutions:  Collard Greens, Spring Garlic, Cabbage, Broccoli, Baby Broccoli, Rutabega, Turnips, Artichokes, potatoes of all sizes and types, Winter Squash (Butternut, Acorn, Turban, Fiesta, Delicata, Kohlrabi, Blackberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Lemons, Limes, and many more – just ask – if we can get it (that being in season and locally available) we certainly will.

I want to take a minute to everyone who took note and sent their picks via email as well as on the order form.  I am not sure how long we will have to do this, but it certainly worked MUCH better.  Remember, the email to send your selections to is:

lisettealiv@yahoo.com

This provides us with a clear list of ALL your picks, and you get what you want.  If we do not receive email with your list, you will most likely get the “standard box” for your size group.

Ever thought about why buy local? or why use a service like ours?  I know I am preaching to the choir here – but possibly when you are asked about the service, these are some bits you can talk about

Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally-owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms — continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community

Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution

Oftentimes we have heard that eating a teaspoon of LOCAL Honey each day reduces allergy struggles.

Finally, in using our service, you are definitely giving yourself more time in the day that used to be dedicated to shopping for many of the products we can bring you in your boxes.

We still can supply you with breads – from Great Harvest Bread Co. in Newbury Park, Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars from Ojai Olive Oil Company – located in Ojai, Somisberry Honey from Somis, and Chivas Skin Care Products made in Fillmore.  We can also supply you with organic free range eggs. free range organic chicken as well as grass fed Beef, Pork, and Lamb.  See our website for these items and don’t forget to add these to your orders as well.  Think of how many more trips you can save!

We still provide a $5.00 rebate in your next box every time a new customer orders AND gives your name as the referral point.

BOX PICKS FOR WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012 are:

Mini Boxes:  Broccoli, Turnips OR Rutabega, Mixed Salad Greens OR Arugula, Spring Onions, Tomatoes, Strawberries and Tangerines

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini Box PLUS cucumbers, Asparagus, and Asian Pears

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small Box PLUS Celery, Beets, and Navel Oranges

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium Box PLUS Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Portabello Mushrooms, Blackberries and Raspberries

Half and Half Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies from the list above

Yay!  We got some rain – the farmers are really excited about that, and followed by glorious weather!  Where else but in California?

Thanks to all who have returned their boxes and egg cartons and green baskets – we really appreciate it and it does help with the reuse, recycle efforts we all want to be a part of.

Once again, I have to mention that our website seems to be acting up a bit.  Some of your orders are coming through just fine, while others – well suffice it to say we wish things were working a bit better.

To ensure that we are getting your orders properly – if you want anything other than the standard box in the size you are ordering, it is best if you send a follow up email to

lisettealiv@yahoo.com

detailing exactly what you would like in your box.  I know this is kind of a pain and do apologize, but we REALLY WANT you to get what you order!

For next week our box picks are as follows:

Mini Boxes:  Winter Squash, Brussels Sprouts (these are coming to an end very soon), Red Onions, Thin Asparagus (it is the beginning of the season so they are really thin right now), Kale OR Swiss Chard, Apples and Pink Grapefruit OR lemons

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Bok Choy, Cauliflower, and Bosc Pears

Medium Boxes: All of the Small PLUS Colorful Carrots (these are yellow, orange, purple, red and multicolored and may or might not have tops – makes a beautiful presentation) Fingerling Potatoes, and Strawberries

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS White or Cremini Mushrooms, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Navel Oranges and Avocados (as a fruit this time)

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 of the above veggies

Half and Half Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Don’t forget you Ojai Olive Oil Company’s Oils and Balsamic Vinegars – we have Tuscan Oil, Signature Oil, Basil Oil, Garlic Oil, Lemon Oil, Rosemary Oil, as well as Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Pomegranate Balsamic, Peach Balsamic, Cinnamon Pear Balsamic, Blackberry Ginger Balsamic, Fig Balsamic and Mandarin Balsamic Vinegars.

And last, but not least – - Great Harvest Bread Co. Breads – see the website for the listings.

Eggs and Local Honey as well – All of these vendors are LOCAL – and provide wonderful products that we are proud to add to your basket

Still available for substitutions:  Parsnips, Sunchokes, Broccoli, Celery, Baby Broccoli, Tangerines, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Cheremoya, Turnips, Green Onions, Beets, Celery and more – just ask!

Thanks, as always, for being GREAT Customers!

Thanks to everyone who has returned their boxes – we really appreciate this.

Remember to check the website from time to time for your add-ons!  We have Great Harvest Bread Co. breads, Ojai Olive Oils and Vinegars, Somisberry Honey, Fresh Eggs, Grass fed meats and organic chicken, Organic Cheeses, Chivas Skin Care Products.  Why make trips you don’t need to – we can bring it with your box!

For next week our box picks are as follows:

Mini Boxes: Broccoli, Beets, Cabbage, Tomatoes, Carrots, Tangerines, and Asian Pears

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Celery or Celery Root, Fennel, and Apples

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small PLUS Spinach, Onions, and Navel Oranges

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS Avocados, Lettuce, Portobello Mushrooms, Raspberries and Blueberries

Half and Half Boxes are 5 fruits and 5 veggies from the list above

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies from the list above.
Still available for substitutions: cauliflower, bok choy, kale, swiss chard, cucumbers, brussels sprouts, artichokes, potatoes of all types and sizes, turnips, and much more – just ask and we will let you know!  PERSIMMONS ARE DEFINITELY GONE NOW -  but CHEREMOYA ARE BACK IN

Thanks, as always for being wonderful customers!

Lisette and Carol

This week our box picks are as follows:

Mini Boxes:  Swiss Chard OR Kale, Mushrooms, Bok Choy, Cauliflower, Artichokes, Kiwi and Apples

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Purple Potatoes, Avocados, and Navel Oranges

Medium Box:  All of the Small PLUS Sunchokes, Cucumbers, and Blueberries

Large Box:  All of the Medium PLUS  Lettuce, Tomatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Blackberries and Raspberries

Half and Half Box:  5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Small Veggie Only:  10 veggies from the list above

Still available for substitutions:  Beets, Green Onions, Leeks, Spinach, Broccoli, Onions, Cabbage, Green Beans, and more – just ask us!

Thanks as always for being wonderful customers!

Lisette and  Carol

Farmer Fresh To You

805.469.7604 or 805.377.0786

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup coarsely chopped shallots (about 3 large)
2 pounds celery roots (celeriac), peeled, woody parts trimmed and discarded, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 5 1/2 cups)
1 10-ounce russet potato, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
5 cups low-salt chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme

1/4 cup whipping cream
Additional chopped fresh thyme
DIRECTIONS:
Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add celery; cover and cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add shallots; sauté uncovered 3 minutes. Stir in celery root cubes and potato, then broth and 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme. Increase heat to high; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 40 minutes. Cool slightly.

Working in batches, transfer soup to blender and puree until smooth. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate.)

Stir cream into soup and bring to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with additional chopped thyme and serve.

We are back to our regular schedule now, with no down time for quite a while to come.  A couple of reminders:

Please set your boxes outside your door on delivery day – we will pick them up as we reuse them!

If you are paying by check upon delivery – please place your check either in your old box for pick up OR in the place you have told us you will be putting it.  (Under the mat, in the cooler, etc.)

Coolers!!!  Boy oh boy it was warm today.  If you don’t have a cooler out, your beautiful veggies and fruits just sit and bake at your door until you get home!!!  Please remember to place a cooler outside – we will transfer your produce into that for you to keep it all fresher on these hot (or rainy) days!

For next week our box picks are as follows:

Mini Boxes:  Brussels Sprouts, Winter Squash, Lettuce, Green Onions, Avocado, Blackberries and Tangerines

Small Boxes:  All of the Mini PLUS Carrots, Celery, and Asian Pears

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small PLUS Broccoli, Tomatoes, and Apples

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS Beets, Spinach, Leeks, Meyer Lemons and Navel Oranges

1/2 and 1/2 Boxes are 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Small Veggie Only Boxes are 10 veggies from the list above.

Still available for substitutions:  Pink Grapefruit, Raspberries, Blueberries, Persimmons (getting to the end of these), Zucchini, Cucumbers, Kale, Swiss Chard, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Mushrooms, Potatoes of all types, Parsnips, Sunchokes, and many more – just ask and we will let you know if we can get it.

Don’t forget to order your Great Harvest Breads, Ojai Olive Oil Co. Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars, Local Honey, and Farm Fresh, Organic, Free Range eggs.

Please also check our website for grass fed meats, organic cheeses and skin care products.  Imagine how much we can help you cut down on your running around (fewer car trips) if you add on our other products!

Have a wonderful week.  We really appreciate all of our customers!!

The good news is – the website is up and you can order on line again – Please make sure to clear your browser history of old bookmarks to the site.  We have transitioned to a new server, and if you are using an old bookmark, you will not get to us.  I am not including a link in this email in the hopes that you will all clear your browsers.  Please go to www.farmerfreshtoyou.net to order.

The bad news is – for this next week, you will have to send email regarding your box picks.  If you want the standard box, no need to send email, but if you want to customize your box you MUST send email to lisettealiv@yahoo.com to tell us what you want in your boxes.  This is temporary and should be completely fixed for our January orders.

BOX PICKS FOR WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011

MINI BOXES: Sweet chile peppers, Cucumbers, Brussel Sprouts, Winter Squash, Onions & Garlic (counts as 1), Persimmons, and Lemons

SMALL BOXES:  All of the Mini PLUS English Shelling Peas, Yukon Gold Potatoes, and Apples

MEDIUM BOXES:  All of the Small PLUS Broccoli, Tomatoes, and tangerines

LARGE BOXES:  All of the Medium PLUS Kale or Swiss Chard, Celery, Carrots, Blackberries and Raspberries

Still available for substitutions:  Green Beans, Cauliflower, Beets, Sunchokes, Parsnips, Spinach, Lettuce and more – just ask and we will let you know if we can get it for you

PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR ASPARAGUS  – IT IS DEFINITELY OUT OF SEASON HERE…If you request asparagus, we will substitute something else.  Thanks!

Farmer Fresh To You will be CLOSED for our annual Winter Break from December 24 through January 3.  We will resume normal deliveries on January 4th.

Carol and I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, and as always, thank you for being wonderful customers!

I cannot believe that it is already mid-December  — where has this year gone?

The website is recovering – it seems to be up again, but if you should have any problems whatsoever, please remember, you can always email us at:

lisettealiv@yahoo.com with your picks for next week, and you can go directly to Paypal and use their SEND Money feature to send your payment.  We also take checks upon delivery if that option works better for you.

Next week’s box picks are as follows:

Mini Boxes:  Yams, Turnips, Carrots, Spinach, Zucchini, Blackberries and Navel Oranges

Small Boxes: All of the Mini PLUS Mushrooms, Leeks, and Asian Pears

Medium Boxes:  All of the Small PLUS Tomatoes, Fennel, and Kiwi

Large Boxes:  All of the Medium PLUS Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Tangerines and Apples

Half and Half Boxes” 5 veggies and 5 fruits from the list above

Small Veggie Only Boxes: 10 veggies from the list above

Don’t forget about Ojai Olive Oil Co’s wonderful Olive oils and flavored balsamic vinegars – These make wonderful gifts and we now have gift boxes to place them in – all you have to do is add a ribbon or bow and a gift tag!

We carry:

Tuscan Olive oil, Lemon Flavored EVOO, Rosemary Flavored EVOO, Garlic Flavored EVOO, Ladera (peppery) EVOO

Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar, Fig Balsamic, Cinnamon-Pear Balsamic, Violet Balsamic, Blackberry Ginger Balsamic, and Peach White Balsamic

Just $14.50 for a beautiful cobalt blue bottle!  Wonderful gift for a friend, relative, or Christmas Exchange

Breads this month are as follows:  (Remember specialty breads need to be ordered through email and paid at time of delivery by check or cash

Kentucky Bourbon Bread – an American tradition:  Apricots, dates, figs, and raisins are soaked in lots of Kentucky bourbon for days, then baked into a rich loaf with pecans and California Walnuts – - $14.00

Stollen – Traditional German Christmas bread with hazelnuts, citrus and raisins – $12

Babka – From Poland, this traditional bread is often made with fruit – they pack theirs with chocolate and cocoa – $12

White Chocolate Cherry Bread – sweetened tart cherries and white chocolate! – $13

How about a gift of some of the wonderful Ojai Olive Oil/Balsamic Vinegar and one of these special loaves of bread???  You can also give a gift of a box of fruits and veggies – same price as usual – just give us the address of the friend you want to send this to!!

Reminder:  We will be closed for our annual end of year week from December 26 through January 3rd.  Deliveries will resume as usual on January 4th.

Thanks to all of you for being wonderful customers!