Welcome to Week 7 of Island Health’s Farm Stand!

Did you know that Skagit County is highly regarded for our non-commodity wheat and barley production? Grains have always been an important crop for farmers as annual crop rotation is necessary for soil health, yield, and to suppress disease and weeds.

Historically, grains grown in Skagit County either entered the commodity market or were sold for low cost as livestock feed. This changed in 2011 when the WSU Breadlab was established under the direction of Dr. Steve Jones, a plant cytogeneticist from UC Davis. The Breadlab researches and breeds novel non-commodity grain with a focus on yield, flavor and nutrition. Ph.D. students from around the world come to Skagit County to do grain research. https://breadlab.wsu.edu/

Our weekly vendor, Water Tank Bakery, exclusively bakes with non-commodity grain flour that is milled at a business around the corner from their bakery. The dense and flavorful 100% whole grain rye bread is excellent thinly sliced and eaten as an open face sandwich!

This week Schuh Farms is bringing the first of their blueberry crop! While most of us are happy sprinkling these little orbs on our morning oatmeal or yogurt, we encourage you to shake things up with this yummy blueberry balsamic vinaigrette recipe: https://islandhealth.org/healthy-recipes/summer-salad-with-blueberry-balsamic-vinaigrette/

Please remember to bring a reusable bag to the Farm Stand. The statewide plastic bag ban went into effect October, 1, 2021. We have a limited number of Island Health Farm Stand bags available for purchase. If you are interested, please respond to this email!

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 Mills 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, July 19th

• Schuh’s Sweet Onions
• Summer Squash
• Greens of your choice
• Blueberries
• Surprise!

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

Email farmstand@islandhospital.org by noon on Monday, July 11th 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, July 12th, 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 emailing farmstand@islandhospital.org.

Pay at the Farm Stand.

If you pre-paid for the entire season there is no need to email farmstand@islandhospital.org by noon on Monday!

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