What’s been going on!

Possibly the best week of the spring so far.  Cool mornings, low humidity, highs around 80 and no pollen, you can have the windows open day and night.  Makes for happy farmers and plants.  If we are lucky we have one week like this each spring and then it runs up into the upper 80’s with humidity, ugh.

There is always discussion about why California is the salad bowl of the nation and there are 5 main reasons why.  1) they have really good soils, up and down the state, 2) they used to have lots of really cheap irrigation water subsidized by you and me, 3) they used to have cheap labor and 4) they used to have cheap fossil fuels to ship it across the country.  The 5^th reason is they have the perfect climate, low humidity for some crops, coastal fog for other crops, with cool nights and sunny days.

The 5^th reason is why they can grow cool season greens so well, they can move production south to north or inland to the coast to always have the perfect conditions.  The ideal average temperature for optimum growing conditions for crops like lettuce is 60-65 degrees, we have that here in Central NC for about three weeks each spring, the last 10 days of April and the first 10 days of May.  Welcome to the perfect week.

So enjoy not only the weather but the bounty of cool season crops at market because they don’t get any better than they are right now and next week it is supposed to be in the upper 80’s.

Picture of the Week

The spring vegetables literally growing before our eyes

What’s going to be at the market?

Plenty of great produce and flowers for Mother’s Day and graduation.

The cool weather has extended the beautiful Anemones in blues, purples and reds but they are just about over.  More of the crepe paper like Poppies.  Dutch Iris in blue and yellow.  Sweet William and Bachelors Buttons.  Of course lovely mixed bouquets for the Mom’s and graduates.

Lots of nice Red Leaf and Green Leaf Lettuce, Little Gem, Green Boston and Romaine, and Salad Mix in the Lettuces.  Sweet and tender Japanese salad Turnips.  Green Onions. Red Radishes.  More of the tender Spinach.  Beautiful Lacinato Kale.  Cilantro, Dill, maybe Italian Parsley.  Plenty of the much talked about Celtuce stalk.

As a reminder if there is anything that you would like for us to hold for you at market just let us know by e-mail, by the evening before, and we will be glad to put it aside for you.

Hope to see you all at the market!

Alex, Betsy and Jennie

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