It's May, and everything is looking brighter. This week, we'll deliver delicious, sunshiny fruit, show you cabbage's fun side, and offer deals on Equal Exchange coffee, tea and chocolate. Read on to learn more about how things are looking up!
Some of this week’s boxes will include tangy and sweet pineapples. The name pineapple comes from the fruit’s resemblance to a pine cone, though botanically it is not related to evergreen trees (or apples, for that matter). As the pineapple plant develops, it produces many small flowers, which develop into berries that fuse together to form the larger fruit we think of as a pineapple. Pineapple is special to eat on its own, but it is also delicious juiced or mixed into sweet or savory recipes. We love this Pineapple Galette, which is as flavorful as it is beautiful. (If you need a refresher before taking on this recipe, check out this video for tips on slicing a pineapple. Be sure you cut out the brown "eyes" to avoid any mouth-stinging.) When you’ve enjoyed the juicy flesh, be sure to save the leafy top. Planting it in soil can yield a new pineapple plant!
Red Fire Farm of Granby, MA, will deliver red cabbage this week. Red cabbage ranges in color from reddish to purple depending on the acidity of the soil where it was grown. Speaking of acidity, red cabbage juice can be used as a simple (though not very precise) pH indicator test. Blend a few cabbage leaves and water to yield a purple juice. Pour this juice into glasses and add different substances to determine whether they are acidic (low pH) or basic (high pH). An acid will turn the cabbage juice pink or red, while a base will turn it green!
Once you’ve finished playing with your food, use the rest of the cabbage to make this delicious Red Cabbage and Avocado Salad. The avocado, cabbage and fresh herbs make this a refreshing side dish, perfect for fueling your brain so you can get back to your kitchen chemistry!
All during May, we will join Equal Exchange in celebrating World Fair Trade Day (observed on May 14). Fair Trade certification ensures that farmers and artisans are paid a fair price for their products and are assured safe labor conditions. Check out our blog post written in celebration of Fair Trade Month (which falls in October). It is a great source of information on Fair Trade practices and the positive impact of buying Fair Trade products.
This month, all Equal Exchange items, including tea, chocolate, coffee and more, will be on sale. Toast the farmer who grew your tea with a cold Chai Blossom, a refreshing, spiced mocktail perfect for a sunny evening. Mix Equal Exchange Chocolate Chips into zucchini bread batter for a moist and tender treat, made all the more sweet by the knowledge that you are supporting a fair wage for growers around the world.
See the table below for a complete list of this week's local produce.
Dwight Miller and Son Orchards(E. Dummerston, VT) Apples Happy Valley Organics(Whately, MA) Rosemary Red Fire Farm(Montague, MA) Beets Red Cabbage Carrots | Parsnips Purple Top Turnips |
Winter Moon Farm (Hadley, MA) Daikon Deep Root Organic Coop Nature's Circle |
All of the fruits and vegetables we deliver are grown without synthetic pesticides and are USDA certified organic. Interested in receiving produce that's both organic and locally sourced all year round? Check out our Local Dogma Box.
Similar to a CSA or farm share, our Local Dogma Box is filled with the best organic produce from local and regional farms and brought right to your door each week. It's the easiest way to eat like a locavore!