Welcome to the Purchaser’s Corner! Here you’ll find periodic updates from our Purchasing Manager on what’s new and exciting from our farm partners, as well insight into the world of our farmers.
Celebrating Local Season
Summer has been in full swing here in Boston for several weeks now, but the crops didn’t quite get the memo until now. Local cucumbers, summer squashes, and tomatoes have all made their debut, and our friends at The Kitchen Garden assure me that peppers and eggplants are not far behind. This year, The Kitchen Garden will be a primary source of the gems of summer for us at Boston Organics, so it’s worth getting to know them if you aren’t already familiar.
The Kitchen Garden Farm has been working with Boston Organics since 2015, and we have come to rely on them more and more for the most delightful crops of the summer. The Kitchen Garden is a 50-acre farm located in Sunderland, MA which attained organic certification in 2015. In fact, they are still in the process of attaining certification for all of their land, and as new plots reach the requisite three years of meeting organic standards, they have more and more gorgeous veggies available for Boston Organics customers.
The Kitchen Garden specializes in Italian vegetables and a range of specialty peppers. Also, they’ve been recognized repeatedly for their amazing Sriracha in magazines like Better Homes & Gardens, and they were winners at the 2016 Good Food Awards! Don’t miss out on this award-winning condiment, which is available as an add-on. We feel very lucky to work directly with such an amazing farm and to support their growth.
A married couple, Caroline Pam and Tim Wilcox are the powerhouses behind The Kitchen Garden. Caroline is our primary contact person for the farm, and she’s just one of a growing number of women farmers in Massachusetts. Caroline is also a writer for Edible Pioneer Valley, and in 2010 she wrote an interesting article about the growing and changing roles of women farmers. She draws a distinction between “women farmers” and “farmers’ wives,” highlighting the important role women do play, and always have played, in agriculture. Chew on this this food for thought while enjoying some of their fresh veggies. Caroline also has a lovely Instagram page, where you can follow Kitchen Garden happenings and get a little sneak preview of what might turn up in your Boston Organics box next.
Every summer is a bit different, but we’re expecting a great season this year, free of last year’s extreme drought conditions. Here’s what you can expect to see in the coming weeks: tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, hot peppers, summer squashes, fennel, corn, melons, and cucumbers. Whether you enjoy them raw, roasted, pickled, or grilled, be sure to get your fill of the most exciting crops of the year while they’re here.
Have a bounty of summer veggies? Try making ratatouille, grilled vegetable kabobs, or a veggie pizza loaded with all of your favorites!
