It’s been a while since we gave you a “State Of The Union” here at YB.
We just saw our first harvest of asparagus! Only around 10 pounds but that is a good sign for weeks to come…
We have been developing a new website/sales platform that will allow for a much easier shopping experience.
WE DID IT WE DID IT WE DID IT WE DID IT WE DID IT!!!!!!
Ramps are HERE!! FRESH FOOD!! The earth is producing again!!
This is the time of year I get really excited for - the start of Spring! Spring had always been my least favorite season growing up (so. much. rain.), but now that I really understand the fresh food cycle I realize those cool temps and rainy mornings are what marks the start of an incredible year of food.
Our business is one of constant communication. We have to know what’s happening in the fields and on the farms so that we know how to plan our boxes each week. We then try and communicate that to you so that you can know how to plan your meals and menus.
For months it seems that we have heard and seen the same things…the same things you have been patiently eating each week through the winter.
The temps are slowwwwly turning…when looking at the 10 day forecast, I see some consistent 60’s and 70’s on the horizon.
You know what that means??
Asparagus crowns!!...and you know what that means??
It’s that time of year. I’m almost positive that if I looked back at newsletters from prior years, I would see these same words.
Basically, we are stuck in limbo. We are living off of our stores from last year, eating fresh greens that can be grown under protection during the winter months, and WAITING on all the fresh stuff that Ohio has to offer.
Cod Liver Oil
-Salmon
-Swordfish
-Tuna Fish
-Orange Juice
-Dairy Milk
-Sardines
-Beef Liver
-Egg Yolk
-Mushrooms
-Yogurt
What a random list huh?
This is what I found when I googled, “foods high in Vitamin D”.
We are at that time of year in Ohio when it becomes perpetually gray. Theoretically, the sun is supposed to be out longer right now…but doesn’t it seem like the skies have turned to concrete and the temperature just always says 45 degrees??
For the past 18 months, we have been working behind the scenes on some SUPER SECRET STUFF.
Essentially it’s a bunch of stuff to make our customer experience much smoother when you are trying to browse, purchase, and pay for your orders.
It will allow us to create customer rewards programs, faster deliveries, lower delivery fees, and easier “sorting”, as you try and find the things that you are shopping for online with YB.
Pi Day
After a couple of months of gray skies, cold temperatures, and NEVER-ENDING ROOT VEGGIES, we finally are able to break it all up with Pi Day Box!
Next Monday is March 14th. That’s 3/14. 3.14. Pi. Pie. Pizza Pie…see how we got there?
After being sick in bed for a week, this week's box looks so important in terms of the nutrients we need in our house to get on the mend.
Anymore, the oranges and apples don’t even make it to the weekend. That’s just an easy lunch for the kids along with some chicken broth and cut-up carrots.
The onions and garlic go in absolutely everything, (even if they don’t belong) as they have so many healing properties…if you ask my wife, garlic could literally save the world..AND HAS!
I’d like to share a vague Yellowbird memory with you all because there’s a strong chance you’ve experienced the same thing or you’re experiencing it right now as you unpack your mini box.
A few years ago, I remember opening my mini box feeling waves of excitement paired with anticipation. The boxes were beautiful, the colors of the produce just so lovely and everything even smelled wonderful. The whole process really felt like I was opening up some kind of nutritionally charged gift.
Another beautiful freezing Ohio day!
Since Benji is on the road this week, the newsletter is coming to you via Erin.
If this is your first week with us, WELCOME! Below you will find the possible veggies in your shares this week, as well as storage tips and recipes. For past newsletters, you can always check the blog, where we post them each week after sending them to your inbox.
Thank you for the continued support of this foodshed, and we hope you enjoy the fun fruits and veggies we have headed your way!
Over the last couple of years, we have seen what it looks like to have shortages in the food supply chain. Whether it was beef, chicken wings, romaine, or cream cheese, we have seen what can happen when a few things collide to create a perfect storm of distribution issues.
We find ourselves in the middle of winter!
The snow fell hard last week and we were able to get all the food out!
Now, looking ahead, let me tell you about what will happen over the next couple of weeks and months.
It doesn’t have to be this way!
This line keeps going through my head today.
I just saw on Twitter that there is a national cream cheese shortage.
You can imagine the factors that are at play that are leading to this.
In our usual weird way of connecting with great growers, we have found a Mennonite group out of California that sent us some oranges and lemons to put up against our Thorpes products coming out of Florida.
We have an item this week that we have NEVER had at this time of year.
GREEN TOMATOES
“And now, the rest of the story…” (yes, I am definitely old enough to remember Paul Harvey)
We just got introduced to a farm that we have never bought from…Clark’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm down on the Ohio River.
When I say “on” the Ohio River, I mean ON.
The amount of amazing food that came through our doors this week is astounding.
-New varieties of apples (Granny Smith and Pink Lady)
-Every color of turnip, carrot, and beet you can imagine
-Asian Greens and Brassica’s that are so fresh and nutrient-dense
I sat down to type this and a truck showed up with citrus from Florida.
As a company, we have been meeting together to redefine who we are.
Not necessarily to change anything, although we are always open to change, especially if it
benefits the customer.
More to just circle back to the core of who we are. Why do we exist?
At the end of the day, we are floating around things like, “We exist to connect the consumer, to their food in a meaningful way.”
