Welcome to Week 4 of Island Health’s Farm Stand

Sunny days are upon us which means we are moving into stone fruit season! Schuh Farm works with their friends in Eastern Washington to bring us a selection of crops which don’t grow as well here in Western Washington. The cherry harvest is just beginning which means these summer favorites will be available this week at the Farm Stand! According to Washington State University Extension, our state harvests 234 tons of cherries annually, making us the largest producer in the US.

While conditions were not ideal this spring for cherry production and will mean a smaller harvest, according to a report from the Tri-Cities Herald, prices may be a little higher for these stone fruits, but the quality of what is available will be top notch.  Read more about this year’s harvest: https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/weather-news/article262476707.html

Bunch beets can be considered two vegetables in one. The root vegetable plus the leafy beet greens. It is best to cut off the greens right away, rinse, air dry, then wrap in a paper towel in a zip top bag in the fridge. Store the beetroot in your crisper. Beet greens can be used in place of spinach in recipes such as soup, stir fry, pasta dishes, and quiche. Beets are excellent roasted, boiled, sautéed similarly to diced potatoes in a breakfast hash, or shredded or juiced raw. If you have a juicer, try making ABC juice. Process 1 apple, 1 beet, 2 carrots, and a wedge of lemon through the juicer. While juice can be a fun and refreshing way to enjoy fresh produce, it is best to limit fruit containing juices to no more than 6 ounces.

If you haven’t purchased a mushroom growing kit from Dog Island Mushrooms yet, we encourage you to give it a try! Mushroom kits make for great gifting or a summer science experiment with the kids. Easier to care for than a houseplant, you simply slice into the plastic wrapper and mist with a water spray bottle daily until mushrooms form. This process can be repeated several times before the mushroom medium is “spent”. Mushrooms are high in beta-glucans, a type of soluble fiber supporting healthy cholesterol levels and blood sugar management.

This Week’s Participating Vendors

• Schuh Farms will be providing their wide selection of Skagit grown produce, berries, flowers, honey, and cookies as well as choice items from family farms in Eastern Washington. https://schuhfarmswa.com/
• Water Tank Bakery is back by popular demand with their artisan breads and cookies made using craft techniques and Washington grown Cairnspring Mill flour. https://www.watertankbakery.com/
• Dog Island Mushrooms grows a variety of culinary mushrooms on Guemes Island and will bring mushrooms by the pound and mushroom growing kits. http://www.dogislandmushrooms.com/

Weekly Fresh-to-Go (FTG) Bags

Fresh-to-Go Bag Contents for Tuesday, June 28

• Cherries
• Apricots
• Greens of your choice
• Bunched Beets
• Radishes

How to Order Fresh-to-Go (FTG) Bags

• Send an email to farmstand@islandhospital.org by noon on Monday, June 27th to indicate you want the current FTG bag.

• • Please include a contact phone number (prefer cell phone) when placing your order.

• Pick up FTG bag from the Schuh Farms booth at Farm Stand on Tuesday, June 28th, 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

• • Please pick up your Fresh-to-Go bag by 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, unless you make a special arrangement when replying to this email.

• Pay at the Farm Stand.

  If you pre-paid for the entire season there is no need to respond to this email, we have you on the list!

The Island Health Farm Stand runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every Tuesday from June 7^th to September 6^th. The Farm Stand is held in the 24^th Street Courtyard on the Island Health Campus just to the east of the main campus entrance. Island Health employees and the local community are all welcome to attend.

Thank you,

Island Health Employee Wellness