Author: Amy Levine

Due to public safety concerns, we will not be making any scheduled deliveries today. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Our Dogma Box includes produce sourced as close to Boston as possible throughout the year. Similar to a CSA, this box is filled with the best organic produce from local and regional farms.

Today marks the 117th Boston Marathon and the celebration of Patriots’ Day! We wish a safe and successful run to all of you who are participating! It’s the last week for blood oranges and Meyer lemon add-ons, but we’re bringing in delicious blueberries and California strawberries to fill your add-on fruit needs. This week brings basil galore! We have potted basil plants available as add-ons, and we have small containers of basil going out in boxes. Check out the newsletter!

Our Spring Produce Guide is hot off the press! This handy guide will help you use the transitioning bounty of spring as we wait for the local produce season to start up. It's chock full of cooking tips, descriptions, and recipes for some of our favorite spring fruits and veggies.

Spring brings the beginning of many new flavors, including fresh herbs! We're excited to begin offering fresh, locally-grown organic herbs in boxes and as add-ons from Happy Valley Organics of Whately, MA.

We're bringing in herb season with a bang. Our first herb of the season is a crowd favorite, and one of our favorite aromas - fresh basil! Not only will we have 3/4 oz containers of organic basil going out in boxes next week; we also have potted basil plants available as add-ons for $2.75.

Keeping a Basil Plant Alive:

Basil plants are fairly sensitive. Here are a few tips to keep your basil plant alive and healthy:

• Water: Keep the basil moist. Water regularly so the soil doesn't dry up, but don't let it get too soggy.

• Sunlight: Basil loves sunlight, so make sure it's kept in a place where it can get sun throughout the day. If you're keeping the plant indoors, a sunny window is best!

• Remove flower buds: Pick off any flower buds. When the plant starts flowering, all of its energy will go to the flowers, so pinch them off.

• Use frequently: Taking off big leaves makes room for little ones to grow. One trick we've heard is to leave the bottom two leaves on each stem. The good news is that it shouldn't be hard to use fresh basil on a regular basis!

• Find more basil tips here!

Basil Recipes

If you ever need recipes to help you get through the abundance of fresh basil coming your way, we have basil recipes galore! When in doubt, a big batch of pesto goes with anything and can be frozen for later use.

Click here to add a basil plant to your order!

Our Dogma Box includes produce sourced as close to Boston as possible throughout the year. Similar to a CSA, this box is filled with the best organic produce from local and regional farms.

With the warmer weather and longer days, it's a great week for a farm visit! This week we're sending a few of our team to Granby, MA to visit the folks at Red Fire Farm and get a glimpse of the early season activity.

The Dogma Box includes produce sourced as close to Boston as possible. Similar to a CSA, this box is filled with the best organic produce from local and regional farms.

It's finally starting to feel like spring outside! We're looking forward to seeing many of our favorite spring goodies over the next few months such as fresh herbs, leafy greens, garlic scapes, sweet onions, and more! This week we have a nice spread of veggies coming in, including zucchini, green bell peppers, green leaf lettuce, broccoli, collard greens, sweet potatoes, and rutabagas. We're approaching the end of winter citrus and blood orange add-ons. Check out the newsletter!

Last week Anthony Mirisciotta of Deep Root Organic Co-op made the trek down from Vermont to meet with us. Anthony is our point of contact for ordering produce from Deep Root, and we were happy to finally meet him in person after working with him for the past few years.

Deep Root Organic Co-Op is one of our main suppliers during the winter, providing access to quality crops from a number of small, family owned organic farms in Vermont. Founded in 1986, and they're one of the oldest co-ops of organic vegetable growers in the United States. The co-op exists to promote local, sustainable, and organic agriculture through its small, family owned farms. Member farms grow all manner of fruits and vegetables, but they’re best known for their coop namesake, root vegetables! We work with Deep Root mostly in the colder months, sourcing root crops such as potatoes, radishes, beets, rutabagas, and parsnips.

Anthony told us that they currently have 26 farm members, including farmers across Vermont and the eastern townships of Quebec. Being organized as a co-op enables members to focus on their individual farms, while negotiating with buyers and marketing their products as a group. Collectively, their produce is sold to retail establishments, restaurants, and other institutions.

With the demand for fresh, healthy produce on the rise, it’s no surprise that the co-op had their biggest year ever in 2012! We look forward to a continued partnership with Deep Root, which means more of that quality local, organic produce that our customers depend on. Thanks to Anthony and the crew for their hard work!