Let’s highlight 3 really cool food items this week.

1. The poblano pepper is a popular Mexican chili pepper, very dark green in color, ripening to dark red or brown. They are mild, large, and heart-shaped.

Honey Crisp Apples...the stuff of legend. Traditionally the most expensive apple on the market...opinions differ widely as to whether they are the absolute best apple out there or just an overpriced, overhyped, overmarketed flash in the pan?

Give us your thoughts as you try them this week.

First, thanks for letting us join you each week in your homes.

We realize that you are entrusting us with your hard-earned money each week and asking that we bring you the cleanest, closest, tastiest, healthiest food we can find.

We never want to waste your time with meaningless chatter, (except on Instagram stories when we put up meaningless chatter)(oh, and the Friday 5 which is really just my diary of meaningless chatter) but other than that (oops, just remembered the podcast), but really folks we try and limit the amount of SPAM we put out.

Caprese Box...we are a little late to the party, but let’s call it a “Saying Goodbye To Summer” party.

Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella...it’s like a holy trinity. This also gives you the opportunity to drizzle some of that new balsamic oil we picked up from The Olive Scene.

The First Fall Squash of the year is here to say "HI". Spaghetti squash is so versatile that you can literally use it as a spaghetti noodle substitute. It's a squash that dreams it's a pasta...(or maybe spaghetti pasta is dreaming it could be a squash??)

I usually cook all my fall/winter squash the same. Cut them in half and turn them upside down on an oiled pan and back until fork tender. From there you can season and use however you desire.

Welcome to week 37 of the year 2020...it’s been a good one huh? (snicker snicker)

What can we do but laugh? Answer: Cry...probably should be doing both at times.

Each week I write this newsletter, I try to check back into my optimistic self to talk about the good things we are seeing in terms of food security, personal health, and changing the world one bite at a time.

This week I want to highlight the “Italian Frying Peppers”.

We’ve finally got some 2020 apples in from Quarry Hill Orchard. The story about the “zestar” is as follows...

Finally, an early season apple with a crisp, juicy texture, and an exciting zesty flavor with a hint of brown sugar!

For generations, the University of Minnesota has taken great pride in developing high quality apples. Since 1878 when our breeding efforts began, we've brought you 24 new apple varieties including Haralson, Fireside, Honeygold, Regent, Sweet 16, Honeycrisp, and SnowSweet®. Zestar!® was introduced in 1999 from a hybridization of State Fair x MN 1691. We're confident that you will be pleased with this flavorful, crisp apple.

Folks, can you feel the shift in the seasons? I feel it most in the height of the sun...it must have something to do with the way the shadows change. What that means as always, is that our food is shifting again.

Out ahead of us we have hot peppers, sweet peppers, melons, peaches, plums, apples, grapes, beans, and brussels!!!

Corn and Blackberries again…#sorrynotsorry

These blackberries are the example of how each year is different. The strawberries were a bust this year for a few different reasons but these blackberries just keep on giving so we are just going to let them...keep on giving.

Last Monday I went to Groveport, OH to meet with Kendyl and Andy who we also know as Three Creeks Organic Produce. They live on 7 acres right in the middle of a bunch of warehouses and have carved out a serene food growing space. We had a discussion that we will release next Monday as a podcast episode.

Friends….Lend me your ears!...(so corny)
Cobbs in every box this week but you can also add more for next week right here.

Judging by people’s posts on social media, it looks like the summer boxes are finding their way into your belly in all kinds of fantastic ways.

This time of year I start to shift into eating a lot of “ratatouille” type dishes. For those of you that are not familiar with Ratatouille…

Early on in our vision for this company, we decided that we didn’t want to make fruit cost “extra”. This is usually the model that is used for doing what we do, primarily because fruit is waaaayyyyy more expensive than veggies.

We have always stuck by that desire to include the fruits in the box because like everyone, it is many of our favorite items!!

4 of our drivers went out yesterday like the 4 winds to the 4 corners of the state.

What they brought back around 7pm last night was over 32 varieties of produce from over 15 farms….

Logistical nightmare? Yes

Worth every minute and mile? Absolutely.